Clemson baseball held its final scrimmage of the fall session today. Here are some news and notes, as well as some of the things that stood out.
- Holt Jones started for the Purple. Looked closer to the pitcher we saw in first half of last season but still walks to many. Wasn’t as effective after his first couple innings. Went 4, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Jones is more suited to work out of the pen in my opinion.
- Freshman Mack Anglin got the start for the Orange. His first pitch hit fellow freshman Mac Starbuck, but this kid is the real deal. At 6’4, he brings the heat with a fastball in the mid 90’s. A true power arm this program has been lacking. Very effective change up and loves working right handed hitters inside. Struck out Teo twice looking. Got Hawkins looking as well. Finished with 3.2 IP, allowing 3 H and 2 R. Didn’t get any help from his defense in that fourth inning. Should’ve been out of it. He pitched much better than the box score would show.
- Freshman Regan Reid going opposite field with runner on first in the third. Shortening up his swing with two strikes. More of this please.
- Elijah Henderson with a great leaping catch against the wall in left to rob Starbuck of extra bases in the 3rd.
- Teo flashing the leather per usual. Diving catch in the 4th.
- James Parker playing SS for the purple. Made some nice plays with the glove, but one terrible throwing error.
- Bryar Hawkins and freshman Pierce Gallo were the third basemen. That’s a position of concern this season and both looked good overall. Gallo did miss a hot shot in the 4th that he should’ve had. Never even got a glove on it. Of the two, Hawkins looked the best.
- Freshman LHP Geoffrey Gilbert enters in the 4th relieving Anglin. James Parker took him deep. Gilbert is really good though. As one of the better baseball minds I know told me, “Think Charlie Barnes with a 12-6 hook.” Throws hard and that breaking ball is legit. He can contribute this season.
- Freshman Nick Hoffman enters in the fifth for the Purple and gets a 1-2-3 fifth. Hit hard in the sixth.
- Paul Labriola, another lefty freshman comes on in place of Hoffman in the sixth and gets out of a bases loaded jam.
- Evan Estridge comes on in the 7th for the purple. Right handed junior transfer from Newberry. Throws in low 90’s. Only pitched to one batter but was very effective.
- Freshman LHP Ryan Ammons comes on to pitch the final inning for the Orange and can’t hold the lead.
- The Purple wins it 4-3. Teo with a walk of single to end it.
- Either the pitching was lights out or this team still isn’t hitting the ball as well as it needs to be. I am going with the latter. Nine hits combined between the two squads. On a positive note, not as many strikeouts. Having said all that, this was just one game.
- The defense was very good for the most part. Two throwing errors but overall very good fielding. Guys were hitting the cutoffs and doing the right things fundamentally. This coming after an error filled scrimmage on Friday night.
- Adam Hackenberg and Drew Donathon were the catchers today but this job comes down to Hack or French, with Hack probably having the edge. Donathon did have a grand slam Friday night.
- As for the pitching, don’t expect Spencer Strider back before April.
- The hope is to have Carter Raffield back a little earlier than Strider, but probably not by the start of the season.
- Davis Sharpe didn’t pitch all weekend and is experiencing some arm or shoulder issues. He was playing first base but consistently making throws back to the pitchers with an underhand toss. Had a shot to gun down the tying run at home in the bottom of the seventh (final inning) and didn’t even attempt the throw.
- Jacob Hennessy isn’t healthy either
