Just before the end of their third delay in last Sunday’s ACC Championship Game, Pat Krall approached pitching coach Andrew See and asked for the baseball.
See was apprehensive at first. Clemson had already used the lefty three times in its run to the ACC Title Game as he earned the win in relief against Virginia in the first game. Came in to get the save against Louisville in the second and then earned another win in third game against Wake Forest, which advanced the Tigers to the championship game against Florida State.
Before the last delay on Sunday, Clemson had squandered what was a 17-run lead to five as the Seminoles scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the game at least a little more entertaining down the stretch. And though it was still a five-run lead, Krall wanted to end it. He wanted to finish the ‘Noles off so the Tigers could start celebrating the program’s first ACC Championship in 10 years.
“I really did not want to use him unless we had to and that five-run lead was kind of iffy because it was not a save opportunity,” See said. “But he said he wanted to have the last out and I said, ‘Do you want the whole inning,’ and he said, ‘Absolutely!’
“At that point, we just gave it to him.”
Krall finished FSU off, as he got the needed three outs to clinch the ACC Championship. It marked the 28th appearance of the year for the junior, who earned All-ACC Tournament honors as well as second-team All-ACC honors during the regular season.
“He is one of the best I have ever had out of the bullpen for sure,” See said.
Despite starting just two games, Krall notched a 10-1 record as well as a team-high five saves. The 75 2/3 innings he has pitched ranks third on the squad, and his 1.31 ERA leads the team.
“I just want to help in any way I can. I work with (trainers) Travis (Johnston) and Will the best I can to keep my arm in shape and they do an unbelievable job to make sure every day that we are all ready when we need to be called on,” Krall said. “It is great to be a part of a team that is this tough and this talented and never gives up.
“We work so well together in everything we do. I’m really glad we got ourselves a championship.”
Winning championships is what brought Krall to Clemson when his old school, Temple, got rid of its baseball program following the 2014 season. He understands when he looks at the back of his ballcap and sees the Tiger Paw logo with the word “Omaha” written through the middle of it, it tells him all he needs to know about what is expected at Clemson.
“It means there is a rich tradition here and it is expected,” he said. “It’s just an exciting place to play, especially playing at home this Friday. A lot of people are going to be there and cheering us on. It is just an unbelievable time for us.”
Clemson will host Western Carolina in Game 2 of the Clemson Regional today at 7 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It’s the first time Clemson has hosted a regional since 2011.
“I came here to get to Omaha and win a national championship,” Krall said. “I’m really glad that all of our hard work has paid of this year and we are on our way starting on Friday. I have seen it on television about the Super Regionals and getting to Omaha and all of that stuff.
“This year, I think we are going to do something special as well, which is really cool.”
The secret to Krall’s success this year, and to the Tigers’ overall, is the fact he believes in himself more than he ever has.
“I have really changed my mentality a lot from my freshman year,” he said. “A lot of people can look at having three different pitching coaches in three different years as kind of a negative, but I took a positive from all of them and this year I put them all together and I really started buying into this program and buying into what Coach See and Coach (Monte) Lee were telling us. I’m letting the guys behind me do their thing.
“Buying into what I am supposed to be doing is what really set me up for success this year.”
See admits he has had some pretty good bullpen pitchers in his time as a pitching coach, and he usually likes to have two guys that he can truly count on when needed. But he said he has never had a guy like Krall, who gives him such a sense of relief once he toes the rubber.
“You know you have the upper hand. He handles the moment and that’s what it is about some times,” See said. “It is not pretty. I don’t think some of his end of the game outings in the (ACC) Tournament were ideal … there were a couple of line drive outs.
“But Pat handles the moment and I think that is big for somebody in those pressure situations that can handle the excitement and the nervousness and all of that. From that standpoint, he is one of the best I have ever coached for sure. He is one of the most mature kids I have ever had. He is one of the most competitive.”
And that’s why See gave him the ball when Krall asked for it last Sunday.