Clemens Caps off Senior Season with Carpenter Cup Run

     Rory Clemens made the most out of his senior season with the baseball team at Lansdale Catholic.  It gave Clemens the opportunity to play against the best competition in the Delaware Valley.

     Clemens was a standout pitcher and outfielder for the Crusaders.  He finished the season with an impressive .476 average and also shut the door on opposing hitters as the team’s closer.  Clemens impressive season earned him a spot on the Philadelphia Catholic League’s Carpenter Cup roster.  The annual tournament features the top players from teams across the region.  Clemens was part of a Catholic League squad that advanced all the way to the semifinals before falling to Burlington Township.

     “It was a great experience,” said Clemens.  “You get to become friends with kids from other high schools.  We had a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot.  I was honored to be part of that this year.  I absolutely loved it.”

     The Carpenter Cup capped off a senior season to remember for Clemens.  He was part of a Lansdale Catholic team that made great strides in 2011.  The Crusaders finished 9-12, but won their first ever PCL playoff game, defeating Archbishop Carroll in the first round.  The season came to an end for the Crusaders in the quarterfinals with a loss to powerful Neumann-Goretti, but the defeat did not damper the accomplishments of Clemens and his teammates.
     “I definitely had fun this season,” Clemens said.  “We wanted to go further in the playoffs, but we got our first PCL playoff win.  It’s a great accomplishment.  We really put the program ahead and hopefully, it will keep going from there.”

     The Crusaders completed their third season in the PCL.  Clemens has been a big part of the program’s improvement since it became part of the competitive league in 2009.  Clemens and the rest of the senior class were determined to break through in the post-season and the victory over Archbishop Carroll was a reminder of how far the program has come in a short period of time.

     “We had the talent,” said Clemens.  “We just had to put it together.  Our goal was to win the PCL, but we knew we were getting that home playoff game and we wanted to make sure we got that win.”

     While Clemens terrorized opposing pitchers throughout the season, he was equally successful on the mound.  He thrived in pressure situations as a closer and wanted the opportunity to take the mound with the game on the line.

     “I want the ball in my hand,” Clemens said.  “I want to make the difference.  I have that mentality that I want to shut the door and come in and throw strikes.”

     Clemens’ baseball days are far from over.  He is heading to Alvernia University in Reading where he will once again have the chance to make an impact both at the plate and on the mound.  While Clemens isn’t giving up on one day playing professionally, he will be well-prepared for a career in sports management should he choose to one day step away from the game.

     “They recruited me as a pitcher,” said Clemens.  “But I think they are going to let me do what I did in high school.  Academically, I feel like it’s a strong school.  I want to stay in sports.  They have a great sports management program.  I saw it as a good academic school.”

     Clemens is looking forward to the future, but he is already looking back on a memorable senior season at Lansdale Catholic.
     “It was a fun time,” Clemens said.  I had a great time playing baseball there and I know I’ll miss it.”