Summerfield grad Derek Clark off to great start at West Virginia University baseball
Derek Clark’s phone kept ringing.
Clark, a 2020 Summerfield graduate, had just entered the transfer portal and college baseball coaches from around the country were eager to sign the left-hander.
They had good reason to want him.
Clark was fresh off an impressive 10-2 record with a 2.78 ERA his junior year at Northwood University, bringing his career record with the Timberwolves to 23-7 in his three years at the school.
It didn’t take long for Clark to decide on where he wanted to go next — West Virginia University.
“My phone blew up as soon as I decided I was going to leave and after about a week I made my decision to go to West Virginia,” he said. “Their Friday guy transferred and their Saturday guy graduated so it seemed like the right fit.”
WVU was the right fit for Clark and he’s been the right fit for the Mountaineers during his first season with the team. Clark has a perfect 4-0 record with 41 Ks and a 2.15 ERA
Last week, Clark won two awards — Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. He followed up the accolades with a complete game victory against No. 17 University of Central Florida Saturday afternoon.
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His accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without the support he gets from back home.
“My parents (Nick and Ann) have been there every step of the way — good game, bad game it doesn’t matter. They support me,” he said.
Clark also gets support from his former high school coach, Travis Pant. The two keep in touch regularly, speaking several times a week.
Pant isn’t surprised by the rise of his former ace, who he calls a “little brother,” saying what sets him apart is his desire to be critiqued and his thirst to keep getting better.
“No matter where he’s at he doesn’t change who he is,” Pant said. “When the lights turn on, he’s just different.”
Pant witnessed firsthand just how much potential Clark had saying “he was a leader since the time he was a freshman at Summerfield.”
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Clark led the Bulldogs to a state championship in 2019 with a 13-0 record, surrendering just two earned runs that junior season. He also impressed offensively notching a .500 batting average and stealing 52 bases.
The stage was set for Clark to lead his team to a repeat title in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic ended his senior season before it ever started.
“From Day One, Travis told us 'We’ve got the guys, it’s all there for us to go win it again,'” Clark said. “Then right before the season he came in and said ‘I don’t think they’re going to let us play.’ It sucked because we were all ready to go get another one.”
Pant knew just how devastating it was for an athlete like Clark.
“He’s the guy and he wanted that title — he just wants to compete, he lives and breathes baseball, so I knew it really hurt,” Pant said.
Losing the chance to repeat was devastating, but it didn’t stop Clark from honing his craft. He started working with his dad playing catch and hitting into the net at home.
A true competitor, Clark and Summerfield teammate Brock Olmstead built a whiffle ball field for him and his teammates to feed their competitive nature.
“It was fun, not the same, but we did what we could,” Clark said.
For Clark, going from Summerfield to the Big 12 has been all about a devotion to the game.
“It’s been a great experience for a guy who grew up in a small town and then to play the game I love for a school like West Virginia, it’s been amazing,” Clark said.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Summerfield grad Derek Clark off go great start at new college
