It was a picture perfect February day for Clemson’s first baseball fan fest. With 50-degree weather and the sun shining, there was a large turnout at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, as a few thousand fans came out to have a good time and get a sneak peak at the 2016 Tigers squad.
Freshman left-hander Jake Higginbotham got the start for the Orange team in the intrasquad scrimmage, throwing three innings and only allowing one run. There was plenty of offense to be had, with players up and down the lineup contributing.
Redshirt freshman outfielder K.J. Bryant was very impressive, collecting four hits. Graduate outfielder Mike Triller also came through in the clutch, driving in three runs. Adding a little thump of their own, sophomore catcher Chris Williams and junior infielder Weston Wilson both hit homeruns over the fence in left-centerfield.
Freshman right-hander Brooks Crawford toed the rubber for the Purple team and went up against the stacked Orange lineup.
Junior catcher Chris Okey picked up right where he left off in 2015, starting the game off with a deep homerun into the leftfield seats. While the team scattered a few more hits and runs throughout the game, they ultimately fell to the Orange team by a score of 9-5.
Virtually every fan took advantage of the opportunity to check out the new player facility, which was well worth the hype.
With a Major League-quality locker room, a meeting room overlooking the field, displays showcasing former Tigers and a customized ping-pong table for recreational use before practice, the players are certainly in good hands.
Kids flocked to the speed pitch to show off their best fastballs and imagined themselves scoring the game winning run while going down the inflatable slide. The custom Clemson baseball emojis were also a hit, maintaining a line throughout the day. After the scrimmage, fans were able to meet and get autographs from their favorite players and members of the coaching staff.
Fun was had by all in attendance at the first ever Clemson baseball fan fest, and it left everyone anxious for the home opener against Maine at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19.
