For Monte Lee baseball season is in full bloom. Granted he will not coach in his first game as Clemson’s new head coach for another three weeks, but Friday marked the start of the 2016 baseball season in his eyes.
“I’m very excited for this weekend. There is just a lot going on,” he said.
The Tigers opened practice on Friday at Doug Kingsmore, while on Saturday night the program will host its annual banquet where fans get an opportunity to meet and mingle with the players and coaches as a way of bringing in a new season.
“As you look back, and I think it was June 18th when I got hired, and I said, ‘I can’t wait until the first fall practice,’ and when that went by, now you’re like, ‘Geez, the spring will be here before you know it and I can’t wait until our first spring practice,’” Lee said. “So today is an awesome feeling because you have great weather. Our guys have worked so hard to get to this point.”
Like their new head coach, the Tigers were excited to be back on the field as well. Clemson returns 24 lettermen from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, including guys like shortstop Eli White, infielder Weston Wilson, infielder Reed Rohlman and All-American catcher Chris Okey. In all, the Tigers return six position players from a team that hit .288 and averaged 6.3 runs per game.
“In my opinion, we have a real solid lineup,” White said.
Things are not as promising on the mound. Clemson returns just one starting pitcher, righty Clate Schmidt, who is back in the mix of things after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last June.
Schmidt received four chemotherapy treatments and had three weeks of radiation treatment. His last treatment was in late August just as classes were beginning, and a week before fall workouts.
The senior said on Friday he is 100 percent healthy and is ready to help out a staff that has to replace All-American and ACC Pitcher of the Year Matthew Crownover, All-ACC pitcher Zach Erwin, as well as weekend starters Brody Koemer and Jake Long.
“Honestly, we have all taken a leadership role whether it’s Pat Krall, Charlie Barns, myself … We have just been able to spread the love, really,” Schmidt said. “We have all pushed each other as hard as we can, and being a guy that has started on the weekend, and having some of the experience that can help some of the guys, I have been just trying to push everyone that we can be a better staff.
“Everyone else has pushed me. It has been a really effective off-season.”
But now it’s the start of a new season, with a new head coach, new assistant coaches, new pitchers and a new attitude.
“I’m very excited and I’m very grateful to be here and to have this opportunity,” Lee said. “I can’t wait to see our guys compete this weekend.”
Clemson will host Fan Fest next Saturday (Feb. 6) at 11:30 a.m. when gates open for an intrasquad scrimmage that starts at noon. Posters, schedule cards and other promotional materials will be available. A bounce house, speed pitch and face painter will be on hand for kids to enjoy. Fans will also have the opportunity to have their own personalized Clemson baseball emoji made.
The new, state-of-the-art player facility will be open as well for fans to tour. After the scrimmage, they can meet the 2016 Tigers during an autograph session.
Clemson will open the season on Feb. 19 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium against Maine.
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
