Clark Scolamiero had one busy summer
08/15/13
As he prepared for his senior year at Greenville High, Scolamiero, a South Carolina baseball commitment, punched quite a few tickets over the past couple months.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound center fielder played with the Greenville-based West End travel program and the Greenville District 7 team that represented the Southeast in winning the Big League World Series championship in Easley. He participated in the East Coast Pro Showcase in Syracuse, N.Y., before wrapping up his busy schedule last weekend by playing in the Palmetto Games, the annual showcase for the state’s top high school players held at Carolina Stadium.
Despite the hectic nature of his itinerary, he enjoyed the atmospheres of the events.
“Obviously, you play against the best players. That’s always exciting,” Scolamiero said. “You compare your abilities against everyone else. You show the scouts and the college coaches who you are and how you play. It’s a fun experience.”
USC baseball coach Chad Holbrook made his judgment on Scolamiero’s ability with an offer last summer that was quickly accepted. Scolamiero, who will sign his letter of intent this fall, looked around last Saturday at Carolina Stadium.
“It’s the best place you can play baseball. Facility-wise, it doesn’t get any better,” Scolamiero said. “It’s a good experience because you know you’re going to be playing here in the future. I’ve been to plenty of games here, and one day soon I just want to be able to put that uniform on.”
Austin Alexander runs the Diamond Prospects, the South Carolina-based scouting and news organization that puts on the Palmetto Games, and he likes Scolamiero’s tools, calling him among Class of 2014 prospects, “if not the top position player, one of the top two or three in our state.”
With plus speed — he ran a 6.7 60-yard dash in Syracuse — he has the ability to play center at the next level. Scolamiero, who bats left and throws left, calls himself a contact hitter who uses his speed to reach base and run once he gets there. The son of Greenville High athletics director and baseball coach Steve Scolamiero, he also has impressed with his savvy.
“Offensively, he hits a lot of balls on the screws. He has very, very good instincts as a baserunner, as a baseball player, and as an outfielder,” Alexander said. “Everything he does on the field shows he has a much higher IQ than a lot of his peers.”
Scolamiero and his father are uncertain how much pro attention he will draw before next June’s draft, but they say that he’s committed to USC.
It’s likely that USC center fielder Tanner English will be drafted and not return for his senior season.
That could open a door for Scolamiero to have an opportunity for early playing time.
“He (Holbrook) said there’s a shot to play center field,” Scolamiero said. “If not, I’ll take a shot in left or right, wherever there’s a chance to go and play. That’s where I want to be.”
His father has coached him for a lifetime — and when he hasn’t coached his son, he has filmed his at-bats and discussed what he saw on the ride home from games.
“When you come to this level and a program like South Carolina has, he’s got to be as ready as he can be,” Steve Scolamiero said. “He’s going to have to earn it. He knows that.”
Scolamiero smiles as he discusses how his father has pushed him to excel, noting that he has appreciated the guidance and support.
A strong student, he also serves as the starting quarterback for the Greenville football team’s spread offense.
That meant he had to squeeze in time for football training and scrimmages with his baseball events in recent weeks.
But then, he likes being busy.
08/15/13
As he prepared for his senior year at Greenville High, Scolamiero, a South Carolina baseball commitment, punched quite a few tickets over the past couple months.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound center fielder played with the Greenville-based West End travel program and the Greenville District 7 team that represented the Southeast in winning the Big League World Series championship in Easley. He participated in the East Coast Pro Showcase in Syracuse, N.Y., before wrapping up his busy schedule last weekend by playing in the Palmetto Games, the annual showcase for the state’s top high school players held at Carolina Stadium.
Despite the hectic nature of his itinerary, he enjoyed the atmospheres of the events.
“Obviously, you play against the best players. That’s always exciting,” Scolamiero said. “You compare your abilities against everyone else. You show the scouts and the college coaches who you are and how you play. It’s a fun experience.”
USC baseball coach Chad Holbrook made his judgment on Scolamiero’s ability with an offer last summer that was quickly accepted. Scolamiero, who will sign his letter of intent this fall, looked around last Saturday at Carolina Stadium.
“It’s the best place you can play baseball. Facility-wise, it doesn’t get any better,” Scolamiero said. “It’s a good experience because you know you’re going to be playing here in the future. I’ve been to plenty of games here, and one day soon I just want to be able to put that uniform on.”
Austin Alexander runs the Diamond Prospects, the South Carolina-based scouting and news organization that puts on the Palmetto Games, and he likes Scolamiero’s tools, calling him among Class of 2014 prospects, “if not the top position player, one of the top two or three in our state.”
With plus speed — he ran a 6.7 60-yard dash in Syracuse — he has the ability to play center at the next level. Scolamiero, who bats left and throws left, calls himself a contact hitter who uses his speed to reach base and run once he gets there. The son of Greenville High athletics director and baseball coach Steve Scolamiero, he also has impressed with his savvy.
“Offensively, he hits a lot of balls on the screws. He has very, very good instincts as a baserunner, as a baseball player, and as an outfielder,” Alexander said. “Everything he does on the field shows he has a much higher IQ than a lot of his peers.”
Scolamiero and his father are uncertain how much pro attention he will draw before next June’s draft, but they say that he’s committed to USC.
It’s likely that USC center fielder Tanner English will be drafted and not return for his senior season.
That could open a door for Scolamiero to have an opportunity for early playing time.
“He (Holbrook) said there’s a shot to play center field,” Scolamiero said. “If not, I’ll take a shot in left or right, wherever there’s a chance to go and play. That’s where I want to be.”
His father has coached him for a lifetime — and when he hasn’t coached his son, he has filmed his at-bats and discussed what he saw on the ride home from games.
“When you come to this level and a program like South Carolina has, he’s got to be as ready as he can be,” Steve Scolamiero said. “He’s going to have to earn it. He knows that.”
Scolamiero smiles as he discusses how his father has pushed him to excel, noting that he has appreciated the guidance and support.
A strong student, he also serves as the starting quarterback for the Greenville football team’s spread offense.
That meant he had to squeeze in time for football training and scrimmages with his baseball events in recent weeks.
But then, he likes being busy.