Results tagged ‘ Clemson Tigers ’

2011 Favorites: 8. Kyle Parker back at Fluor Field

Right fielder Kyle Parker (8) of the Asheville Tourists makes a sliding catch in foul territory in a game against the Greenville Drive on May 1, 2011, at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. A former quarterback and outfielder for the Clemson Tigers, Parker was the No. 1 pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. (Tom Priddy / Four Seam Images)

I was paying special attention to Kyle Parker on his first pro visit to Fluor Field, after playing there with the Clemson Tigers. So it was especially nice to get an action shot like this of him catching a fly in the right-field warning track.

2011 Favorites: 1. Grab shot over the dugout railing

Richie Shaffer (8), Brad Miller (13) and Kevin Caughman (37) of the Clemson Tigers change into their game spikes in the dugout prior to a game against the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)

For the next several days I’ll be posting a few of my favorite photos from the 2011 season. Sometimes it seems a bit of an egotistical endeavor to do a best-of series, but it’s really helpful in planning for what I want to accomplish in 2012.

This shot has stuck in my head all year. Right before the first pitch of any game I usually hang out near one of the dugouts, hoping to see something interesting that might be worth shooting. It normally doesn’t work out.

But in this case I saw the three Clemson players reach for their laces at exactly the same time, and I liked the symmetry that resulted.

Clemson pitchers Dwyer and Hinson selected

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       Clemson pitcher Ryan Hinson (45) warms up prior to a game between the 
       Clemson Tigers and Mercer Bears on Feb. 23, 2008, at Doug Kingsmore 
       Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images
Clemson pitchers Chris Dwyer and Ryan Hinson were the second and third Tigers picked in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.
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Dwyer went to Kansas City in the fourth round, the 122nd overall pick.
Hinson went to San Diego in the 10th round, the 294th overall pick.
Dwyer was 5-6 on the year with  4.92 ERA in 86 innings over 17 games. He was drafted in the 36th round (1100th overall pick) by the New York Yankees in 2008.
Hinson was 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA, pitching 17 innings in seven appearances. He was drafted last year in the 31st round (924th overall pick) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paulsen is the first Tiger taken in the draft

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       Clemson first baseman Ben Paulsen (10) prior to a game between the 
       Charlotte 49ers and Clemson Tigers Feb. 22, 2009, at Doug Kingsmore 
       Stadium in Clemson, S.C.  Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images
Most years the Clemson Tigers have several players high on the list of prospects for the annual Major League draft. Not so this year.
So it was something of a surprise (to me, anyway) when first baseman Ben Paulsen was the first Tiger drafted yesterday. Paulsen was selected in the third round (No. 90 overall pick) by the Colorado Rockies.
Paulsen, a junior from Acworth, Ga., hit .367 with 61 RBIs while starting all 66 games at first base this season. He led or tied for the team-lead in batting average, hits (95), doubles, homers, total bases (160) and slugging percentage .
Newspapers have quoted him this morning as saying he likely will go pro and give up his senior year at Clemson.
 

Berken picks up his first Major League win

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Former Clemson pitcher Jason Berken allowed a run in each of the first two innings of his Major League debut last night, but managed to get his first win.
After throwing five innings he sat in the dugout and watched his teammates take the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
(I finally found some old photos of Berken from his Clemson days in my backup archive at home last night. Here’s one of them.)
17 February 2006:  Jason Berken pitches in the opening series between James Madison University and Clemson University at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson, S.C. (Photo by Tom Priddy)

Former Clemson pitcher Berken making MLB debut

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Former Clemson pitcher Jason Berken will make his Major League debut for the Baltimore Orioles tonight in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Berken, a sixth-round pick from the Tigers, will be subbing in the rotation for recently released veteran Adam Eaton. 
Berken started the year at Class AA Bowie and after two starts was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, where he was 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA.
I took this photo of Berken when he was in Class A Frederick a couple of years ago. News of Berken’s callup caught me by surprise, and all my Clemson photos of him must be locked away in my home archive. I can’t put my finger on any of them right now.
25 June 2007: Former Clemson pitcher Jason Berken of the Frederick Keys, Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, vs. the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium, Woodbridge, Va. 

Clemson’s Schaus is named first-team all-ACC

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Clemson sophomore Jeff Schaus was named first-team all-ACC yesterday. In this annual poll of Atlantic Coast Conference coaches Schaus was the only Tiger to make first or second team.
Top: May 11, 2009: Outfielder Jeff Schaus (3) of the Clemson Tigers in a game against the Furman Paladins at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images
Bottom: Feb. 22, 2009: Clemson outfielder Jeff Schaus (3) prior to a game between the Charlotte 49ers and Clemson Tigers Feb. 22, 2009, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.  

I don’t shoot a doubleheader very often

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It’s not every day you get a chance to shoot a doubleheader. And on top of that, this one was a bit unusual: the opener was between Clemson and Furman. Here’s a shot from that game.

May 11, 2009: RHP David Haselden (29) of the Clemson Tigers in a game against the Furman Paladins at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Haselden is a freshman who played for Spartanburg High School. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images

The nightcap was Greenville-Augusta. I would say it’s not your typical doubleheader . . . but there aren’t enough doubleheaders these days to figure out what “typical” would be. Still, I can’t ever recall another one that involved four different teams.

Clemson’s Doug Hogan was back in the Upstate

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Former Clemson catcher Doug Hogan was in Greenville recently, now playing for the Hickory Crawdads, in a series against the Greenville Drive.
He’s one of a handful of former Clemson players who have come back through Fluor Field as professionals. It’s always good to see them.
The above photo shows him warming up the pitcher before a game, and the photo below — added here at no additional charge — shows Doug throwing out the first pitch at the Clemson 2009 opening day game.
Top: April 13, 2009: Catcher Doug Hogan (9) of the Hickory Crawdads, Class A Sally League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, prior to a game against the Greenville Drive at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Hogan played for the Clemson Tigers while in college. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com
Bottom: Former Clemson player Doug Hogan throws out a first pitch prior to a game between the Charlotte 49ers and Clemson Tigers Feb. 20, 2009, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com
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Clemson’s Dabo Swinney throws out first pitch

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April 13, 2009: Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Monday night’s 2009 Greenville Drive opening game in Greenville, S.C. Swinney said Clemson football player C.J. Spiller had sent him a text message before the game, imploring him “Don’t pull your hamstring” when throwing the ball. 
Above, Swinney warms up his throwing arm before the game.
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