With football camp just getting started, football fans everywhere are focusing on the progress the players have made in the off-season. However, the football players aren’t the only Tigers who have been working hard during the summer months.

Fourteen players from Clemson’s baseball team have been competing in collegiate summer leagues across the nation to keep their skills sharp and their endurance up as they traveled to play games almost every day in the hottest months of summer.

Rising sophomore Charlie Barnes spent his summer as a left-handed pitcher for the Lexington County Blowfish in the Coastal Plain League alongside Clemson teammate Reed Rohlman.

“Reed is a really good player, and it was fun to be down there with him. He was only there for half the summer because he took the first half off,” said Barnes earlier this week. “It was really nice to be there and see a familiar face every day.”

In a typical collegiate summer league, the players have games almost everyday, but the Blowfish worked with Barnes to allow him to complete summer classes and pitch for them at the same time.

“I actually lived in Clemson this summer because I was taking summer classes, so I would live in Clemson during the week and I would go and pitch on Saturdays for the Blowfish,” said Barnes. “I didn’t have to attend every single game like a normal player would since I was in summer school.”

However, even though he wasn’t able to play every day, he still made the best of his time on the field. Barnes has started seven games so far this summer and has recorded 37 strikeouts in the 37 innings of work. While pitching, his opponents have a .248 batting average, and he has allowed one home run and three walks in 141 at bats.

Barnes mentioned fielding is something he works hard on improving during the season as well as in the summer.

“I made an error or two last year during the season with Clemson, so this summer I really just wanted to make sure I focused on it, and we worked on it a lot last year. It’s really all about just staying calm and knowing you can do it,” he said. “It was nice just to get out there and get some more practice.”

Barnes believes his first experience in a summer collegiate league has been beneficial to him, and that he has gained valuable experience that he can take with him when the Tigers enter the 2016 season.

“I think it has gotten me ready to take on the biggest role I can have. I got a lot of valuable innings, got a lot of experience. It was good to get some starts in,” he said.

Taking a look into the 2016 baseball season, Barnes is encouraged by what he sees from new head coach Monte Lee and pitching coach Andrew See.

“Coach Lee, he just brings a lot of positive energy,” said Barnes. “I think that’s going to be the big thing that he does. There’s good, positive energy with the program right now, and I think we’re in a good spot heading into the year.”

Barnes also mentioned that since he lives in Clemson, he has good communication with the new coaches, and often runs into the coaches giving tours to recruits.

“We’ll stay there in the weight room and talk to them just meet them, meet their families,” said Barnes. “I definitely think it is great that we’ve been there, but Coach Lee, Coach (Bradley) LeCroy and Coach See are real big. They’re the main guys in that.”

With all this positive energy surrounding the 2016 Tiger baseball season, thanks to new coaches, new facilities and successful recruiting, it is no surprise the returning players are ready to get back and return Clemson to Omaha.

“I’m just excited to go out there and represent my school the best I can. It’s a great privilege to play for Clemson,” Barnes said.