The Clemson coaching staff received some good news late Monday when the state’s top 2014 left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes gave a verbal commitment to coach Leggett and the Tigers.

“I toured the facilities at South Carolina on Sunday.  Then on Monday I went to Clemson.  I just loved everything at Clemson so I called the coaches on the way home to tell them I was coming to Clemson,” said Barnes.

What was the reaction of coach Leggett and coach LeCroy?

“They were pretty excited about it,” said Barnes.

Charlie grew up visiting Clemson so it wasn’t a hard decision in the end.

“It is just like my whole family went to Clemson.  I have a brother there.  Both of my parents went there and my grandparents.  I love the campus.  I grew up going there.  It was not a hard choice,”  said Barnes.

Although several Sumter teammates are heading to South Carolina that wasn’t enough to land Charlie.

“Talking with them was really the only reason I was considering Carolina.  I just couldn’t do it,” said Barnes.

Why pull the trigger now on the commitment?

“I wouldn’t want anything else.  That is where I wanted to go so there was no reason to wait,” said Barnes.