Just two months ago, Trent Clemons was pitching in the IHSA Class 3 state tournament.
In only about 25 days, Clemons will embark on the start of his academic and baseball career at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.
Clemons, a 2024 graduate who helped lead the Highland Bulldogs to the Class 3A tournament, will begin the next phase of his baseball career as a pitcher with the Hawks program.
The freshman-to-be is definitely looking forward to a new chapter of his baseball journey. “I can’t wait to get out there and compete again,” Clemons said. “Getting to play for Rockhurst is something that I’ve been looking forward to ever since I signed.”
Clemons took an interest in Rockhurst last year after talking to his St. Louis Gamers summer club coach Matt Whiteside.
“Last summer playing with the St. Louis Gamers, our head coach is good friends with the Rockhurst coach (Gary Burns) and I had also sent him emails and videos of myself playing and he showed up and watched me play a few games and I talked to him and I just really liked him as a coach,” Clemons said.
As he entered his senior year at Highland, Clemons had several schools interested in his services for baseball but as late summer arrived in 2023, the big decision came down to Illinois College and Rockhurst.
A late July visit last summer to Rockhurst gave the Hawks the nod over Illinois College for Clemons.
“I went to the school and I thought it was just the perfect fit for me,” Clemons said. “It felt kind of like home (Highland). It was small but not too small and just tucked away and right outside Kansas City, it’s the big city kind of like it is here. You don’t have to drive far and you’re in St. Louis. It’s kind of like that there.”
Clemons signed with his letter of intent Rockhurst on Nov. 8.
This summer, Clemons has been busy working during weekdays and when not working, he has been working on pitching and conditioning to prepare himself for his freshman year at Rockhurst.
“I’ve been doing pitching lessons and throwing and lifting and throwing and just getting ready to go out and pitch.
Clemons has been spending 3 to 4.5 hours a week getting pitching lessons with Andy Martz and has been also integrating long toss sessions into his pitching routine as well.
Clemons was a stalwart for the Highland pitching staff this past spring recording an 8-3 record with a dazzling 1.67 ERA as he helped drive the Bulldogs to a fourth place finish in the IHSA Class 3 tournament in early June.
He believes his senior postseason run with the Bulldogs will serve him well as he transitions into college pitching this fall and next spring.
“We faced really good teams and those teams had college hitters, so it will be a hard adjustment but I think it’s something I can handle,” Clemons said.
Burns has talked with Clemons about where the Hawks expect him to fit in for his freshman season at Rockhurst and Clemons will need to be flexible in his role.
“I just want to get as much playing time as I can and take full advantage of the opportunities that I’m given,” Clemons said. “That’s just my main focus.”
Clemons is planning to major in sports management at Rockhurst.
Most Popular
Comments / 0