Leggett counting on Parker, Dwyer to get back to form
By Travis Sawchik
CLEMSON — Jack Leggett said he is "choosing'' not to worry about Kyle Parker's late-season slump as the ACC Tournament begins today in Durham, N.C.
FILE/AP
Kyle Parker is tied for the team lead with 11 homers, but he has also struck out 43 times.
A freshman All-American a season ago, Parker is 10 for his last 55, lowering his average to .270 on the season. The slugger is tied for the team's top mark with 11 home runs, but is also leading the Tigers with 43 strikeouts.
Parker's on-base plus slugging mark (OPS) has dropped from .959 last season to .822 as a sophomore.
Leggett said he was unaware of the slump, during which time Parker has seemingly struggled to identify breaking pitches, while becoming overly pull conscious.
Leggett said he is not concerned, and noted Parker hit several balls hard for outs in Raleigh last weekend.
"He's a clutch guy,'' Leggett said. "He's always competing.''
The Tigers hope Parker's bat warms in the ACC Tournament. Third-seeded Clemson does not play until at 8 p.m. Thursday against Virginia.
In its quest to secure a regional hosting bid, and make a case for a top-eight seed, Clemson must produce runs against three of the ACC's better starters.
Virginia hasn't named who will start on the mound against Clemson at 8 p.m. Thursday, but ACC Freshman of the Year Danny Hultzen has to be considered a favorite as the staff ace, going 7-1 this season with a 2.28 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 67 innings.
Duke will pitch its ace, Andrew Wolcott (7-3, 2.79 ERA), against Clemson on Friday. And North Carolina will throw Matt Harvey, who has an excellent arm, against the Tigers on Saturday.
The ACC employs a round-robin format for its conference tournament. The two teams emerging with the best three-game records from the two, four-team divisions meet in the championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
While the Tigers could be in line to face three ace-type pitchers, Leggett is hoping Chris Dwyer gets back to No. 1-starter form.
Since the freshman's lefty's two-hit gem against Miami on April 11, Dwyer has gone 0-2 with a 6.18 ERA in five starts. However, Leggett said Dwyer has "actually been pitching well'' over his last several starts. Dwyer, who threw just 41 innings in high school last year said fatigue is not a factor.
Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com.
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