As many of you know that have followed along with my progress the past year, after my diagnosis I developed a friendship with Clemson University baseball coach, Jack Leggett. I went to Ohio State with Coach's daughter, Colby, and she thought that he would be able to lend me some words of encouragement as I went through my treatments. Our relationship developed into that and so much more. Immediately we hit it off like we had been friends for years. Coach would call me a few times a week and even after I left the hospital, we continued to talk and he kept up to date on my progress. Needless to say, we became huge Clemson fans, even though we were hundreds of miles away.
As bad of shape as I was in, I knew that I was going to get better so I could go down to South Carolina and meet Coach in person, and watch some baseball. We finally were able to make that trip after I recovered from my January stem cell transplant for a series against North Carolina. Coach really had the red carpet out for us. He took us around the campus and showed us everything and gave us some history on the school. For the game Friday night, he allowed me to come down on the field while the team took batting practice and even asked me to throw out the first pitch. I was so nervous, and right before I went out to the mound, Coach gave me my own Clemson jersey with "Hare" on the back. It was such an incredible experience. I even got to throw my pitch out to Coach. As I walked off the field the whole team lined up to shake my hand and Coach presented me with a batting helmet that the whole team had signed. The players were so friendly to us, and it was neat getting to meet them, as Coach had been keeping them up to date on my progress as well.
We continued to keep track of the team's progress and as the NCAA approached and the team was coming off the ACC Atlantic Championship, my hopes were high that they would make it out to Omaha for the College World Series. My dad and I had planned a trip out there after I got sick to see the last CWS in historic Rosenblatt Stadium. We had always wanted to go, and after getting sick, there was no way we were going to continue to put things off.
The Tigers made it through the Auburn regional, beating 3 other teams and wound up hosting their Super Regional. They would play Alabama in a 3 game series at Clemson, with the winner heading to the College World Series. The Tigers lost the crucial first game, and I had to admit I was worried. They came out the next night and absolutely pounded the Crimson Tide, winning 19-5. There would be a decisive game 3 and the stakes were huge. Clemson came out and grabbed an early lead, and went into the 9th up 8-1. So, game over right? Not so fast. Alabama had some timely hits and Tiger pitchers had a tough time getting the ball over the plate and all of a sudden the game was 8-6 with 2 outs in the 9th inning. The tying run was on 2nd base and the winning run was at the plate. Finally, Clemson was able to close it out and the celebration started! The Tigers had come back and would be going to Omaha! I would be able to see Coach Leggett and the team again, and I was beyond thrilled for them.
Coach had texted my dad and said, "Tell Matt it was fate." He promised me that he would get to Omaha to see me and he delivered. My dad and I will be leaving in the next few days and we will be wearing our Tiger gear in Nebraska.
Go TIGERS!!
