Stanley’s Stance No. 8

May 29, 2000

Journal Entry No. 8May 29, 2000 – Clemson, S.C.

Hello Tiger baseball fans! Lets talk baseball. What a great weekend for everyone involved with Clemson baseball! The atmosphere was about as good as it gets at Doug Kingsmore Stadium this past weekend. I thank all of you who were able to attend, and those of you who followed us over the radio and through the papers.

Game one was a match-up between old roommates, as Ryan Mottl and former Tiger Jeff Parsons took the mound for their respective teams. Mottl, Parsons, and I roomed together our first semester at Clemson. After the season Parsons transferred to Middle Tennessee to get closer to home.

Friday’s game was very intense with the Tigers winning 4-0, behind the complete game performance of Ryan Mottl. It was Mottl’s second complete in a row, and also his second of the season. It was a courageous performance by the senior, as he pitched himself out of numerous jams. The defense was sound, and the hitting was just good enough. The Tigers were led at the plate by two home runs by Jeff Baker. Casey Stone added a run scoring single and a sacrifice fly to account for the four runs.

On Saturday we faced Illinois. This proved to be another intense game which we took control of with a five run inning late in the ball game. Kevin Lynn was marvelous in relief of Scott Berney, as Lynn pitched five and a third innings, allowing just two hits and one run, to pick up the win. The big hit came from Justin Singleton, who delivered a pinch-hit triple, that drove in two runs. It was a clutch hit, and is the type of hit that may prove to be very key in our push towards Omaha. We settled in after the blow by Singleton, and distanced ourselves, winning the game 9-3.

That win left us as the only undefeated team in the tournament. Middle Tennessee State advanced to the championship game by defeating Illinois in the late game Saturday night. Middle Tennessee would have to beat the Tigers twice on Sunday to claim the regional title.

Game one would be all Clemson though, as the Tigers collected 21 runs on 24 hits to win 21-3. Starter Jarrod Schmidt had a rough first inning, giving up three runs, but settled in after that to shut Middle Tennessee out over the next five innings. Steve Reba pitched a scoreless seventh, Matt Additon pitched a scoreless eighth, and Nick Glaser pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the day.

The Tigers brought their bats to the ballpark, as every starter had a hit by the fifth inning. Ryan Riley had five runs batted in. Patrick and myself collected four hits apiece. Casey Stone, Mike Calitri, Justin Singleton, Brian Ellis, and Ryan Hub each collected two hits. Overall, the weekend was good, as Ryan Mottl, Ryan Riley Casey Stone was named tournament MVP.

Our first mission is complete, as we move on to mission two against Mississippi State. We will find out this afternoon if we will host the Bulldogs, or have to travel to Starkville, Mississippi. We have the day off, so it will be time for me do what I like to do most during the summer, nothing! Not a lot of sleeping, but a whole bunch of sitting around. The president has invited us to his house this evening for dinner. It is great to see we have the support of our faculty and staff. They are often some of our best fans.

Once again I would like to thank all of you who follow Clemson baseball. Thanks for all the support, and I ask that you continue to root hard for your favorite baseball team. Omaha is within striking distance, and it is up to us to move in for the kill! Go Tigers!

P.S. Sorry it took me so long to get another article written! I would also like to congratulate my little brother, Mark. He was named the High School Sports Report 4A baseball Player of the Year for the state of South Carolina. Not bad for a junior in high school! Talk to ya’ll soon!