By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
DURHAM, N.C. – No surprise, Clemson freshman Matthew Crownover will not pitch in the ACC Tournament this week.
The lefty said after Tuesday’s practice from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park that he will take this week off so he can be ready to help the 14th-ranked Tigers in the NCAA Regionals, which will begin next week. Clemson, who will play No. 10 NC State Wednesday night, was hoping maybe the freshman could be used if it advanced to the championship game on Sunday. But pitching coach Dan Pepicelli and Crownover said he will sit this week out.
“It stinks, but our goals are beyond the tournament,” Crownover said. “We want to win (the ACC Tournament), but we want to have a run in the postseason so whatever I have to do to get myself ready for the regional, we will do that.”
Crownover pulled himself from last Friday’s Florida State game when he felt something tighten his left forearm. He started feeling the arm tighten prior to the game, but after the first inning it loosened up and he felt he could go the rest of the way.
But after getting the first out of the fifth inning, the arm tightened, again and Crownover immediately signaled over to Pepicelli. He had already thrown 78 pitches and allowed two runs on five hits before leaving the game.
“It is getting better. There is nothing structurally wrong with it,” Crownover said. “That’s a good thing. It is still a little tender, but it is part of it. I have thrown a lot of innings this year, but the training staff thinks I will be fine.”
Crownover has worked 66 innings so far this season, including 13 starts. He has a team-best 2.05 ERA, while posting a 7-2 record. He has 42 strikeouts and 16 walks.
The Ringgold, GA native, who is only a year removed from Tommy John surgery, said the shorten week between starts due to weather issues may have hindered his treatment practices and caused the tightness in his forearm.
“There are a lot of things you can point the finger at. I think it is a combination of several things, and not having a total week of preparation and rest.”
Clemson athletic trainer Travis Johnston has Crownover doing a lot of stem treatment as well a lot of physical therapy and ice.
“It is starting to feel better,” the freshman said. “I’m taking some anti-inflammatory to get to feeling better… It felt okay and then it just tightened up on me at (FSU), and I did not want to do anything to hinder the rest of the year for us or me.
“Coach Pep was good with me so was Coach (Jack) Leggett and Travis. They really helped me communicate what I was feeling out there. Anytime you have surgery down there and you feel something tighten up, you wave the caution flag and you try to figure it out later on. It feels fine now, and I will be ready to go for the regionals.”