Tigers Open 1999 Hosting Kansas State

February 11, 1999

Clemson begins 1999 with a three-game set against Kansas State (1-2) on Friday (3:00), Saturday (2:00), and Sunday (1:00) at Tiger Field. The two teams have met just once, as the Wildcats defeated Clemson 3-0 in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Best-of-the-West Tournament in Fresno, CA on Mar. 19, 1993. Clemson enters the ’99 season with an all-time record of 2000-1127-29 (.638).

The Tigers return six of their eight position starters and four of their five starting pitchers from a season ago. Ryan Mottl, who is 19-7 in two seasons in Tigertown, will start the season opener and go against lefty Brandon Peck (0-1, 9.00 ERA). Saturday’s game will matchup 1998 Coastal Plain League MVP Pitcher Brian Adams for the Tigers and lefthander Derek Andersen (0-1, 18.00 ERA) of the Wildcats. The series finale will feature Clemson’s Mike Paradis against Jason Wells (1-0, 2.25 ERA). Tiger second baseman Kurt Bultmann went the last 24 games of ’98 without committing an error (105 chances).

Former Tigers To Throw Out First Pitches This Weekend Former Tigers Kris Benson, David Miller, and Matthew LeCroy, who were all members of the 1995 College World Series team and all first-round picks, will throw out a first pitch at this weekend’s games. Benson, the 1996 Consensus National Player-of-the-Year, and Miller will be available for autographs on Friday from 1:00-2:00 PM. Benson will throw out the first pitch on Friday. On Saturday, Clemson will unveil the Olympic Showcase at 1:30 PM and Miller will throw out the first pitch. Fans with a Clemson-Florida State men’s basketball ticket will receive free admission to the game on Sunday. LeCroy, who is Clemson’s career home run leader, will throw out the first pitch on Sunday.

Patrick Boyd To Miss 2-3 Weeks Entering this season, Clemson returned just one of its starting outfielders from ’98. Now the Tigers will be without the services of their lone returning outfielder in Patrick Boyd, as will have orthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in mid-February. Boyd will miss 2-3 weeks. Boyd along with Ryan Mottl played for the USA National Team this past summer in the World Championships in Italy. Boyd hit .264 in 39 games while Mottl was 3-0 with a 3.45 ERA in 44.1 innings pitched.

1999 Preseason Honors

Clemson

#21 recruiting class by Collegiate Baseball

#24 Patrick Boyd

#1 college prospect for the 2000 Major League Draft by BaseballAmerica First-Team All-American by Baseball America

#27 Ryan Mottl

#29 college prospect for the 1999 Major League Draft byBaseball America

#30 Mike Paradis

#42 college prospect for the 1999 Major League Draft byBaseball America

Clemson’s 246 Wins Since ’94 Fifth In The Nation The barometer of a great season in college baseball is getting to Omaha and winning 50 games. Since Jack Leggett took over as Clemson’s head coach in 1994, the Tigers have won 246 games (excluding ’99) for an average of over 49 per season. Leggett has led Clemson to three 50-win seasons and two appearances in the College World Series in five seasons. Included in that total is 61 wins over top 25 team and a 33-13 record against the SEC.

A Look Back at 1998 Despite the disappointing end to the 1998 season, Clemson went beyond expectations considering only having two seniors. Below is a list of accomplishments in ’98:

Won 40 games for the 13th straight season. Participated in theNCAA Tournament for the 12th straight season. Hosted a Regional forthe fourth time in the last five seasons. Set a national recordagainst Maryland on Mar. 21 by scoring 19 runs in the third inning.It was the highest scoring third inning in NCAA history. Scored 11or more runs in an inning five times in the span of 22 days. Was4-0 against the SEC. Was 8-5 against top 25 teams. Had 25come-from-behind wins. Was ranked in every week by all three pollsonce the season began. Had an incredible .434 team on base %. Had ateam fielding percentage of .965, its highest figure in 21 years.Had six players named All-ACC, tied for the most by any ACC team.Tiger Field was ranked as the eighth best facility in the countryin the preseason by Baseball America.

Clemson also had four All-ACC selections that return for the ’99 season. Kurt Bultmann (2B) was a first-team selection while Jason Harris (1B), Patrick Boyd (OF), and Ryan Mottl (SP) were second-team players. Boyd also garnered ACC Rookie-of-the-Year honors, becoming just the second Tiger to be so named.