University of Clemson commit, with a fastball that tops out at 88 miles per hour, and ranked number 2 baseball player in the state of Michigan: coming out of the hometown of Howell  is Sam Weatherly.

Using several tools, such as his skill and recruiting company Prep Baseball Report, Weatherly was able to commit to a Division I college to play baseball. Clemson is a well known school in South Carolina in the renowned ACC conference. Many MLB players originate from this conference, and some of the top stats in the ACC come from Clemson players.

Weatherly is only a junior here at Howell High School, but his talents suggest more maturity. His baseball career is already starting, while some 16 year olds still have no clue what they want to achieve in life. For Weatherly, he’s known that baseball was the path for him since a young age.

Last spring on the varsity team, Weatherly was 3-1 on the mound and also spends some playing time in center field.

“Pitching is probably something I enjoy more because it’s always competitive and I really love that,” Weatherly says.

Schools such as Louisville, Kentucky, Central Michigan University, and University of Michigan also showed interest in having Weatherly on their team, but in the end, he decided Clemson was right for him.

“I chose Clemson because I felt that it was the best fit for me. I felt comfortable with everything and the coaching staff. Clemson has a very good tradition of winning and is always a contender for the college World Series which was also a big part in my decision,” Weatherly says.

As someone who’s taught Weatherly all he knows and is a continual supporter of his achievements, he looks up to his father, Mike Weatherly. He is also the co-head coach of Howell’s Varsity baseball team. Coach Weatherly and Coach Jason Ladd share the role of Howell’s head coach.

“While I have not always been his coach, I have been involved in his year to year playing of the sport. I have been fortunate to have the ability to be actively involved in coaching our four kids and probably the most enjoyable aspect with Sam in particular, has been watching him develop over the years. It has been awesome to watch,” Coach Weatherly says.

In addition to Weatherly’s natural talent, Coach Weatherly has helped shape the player he is today by staying positive and giving him the tools to improve.

“Sam is where he is because he is choosing to put in the necessary work to have success and has guys around him who push him and vice versa,” Coach Weatherly says.

Howell has “established a winning tradition,” Coach Weatherly says, and one reason is because of the teamwork the team practices.

“I see how Sam works everyday and it pushes me to work harder,” senior Varsity player Spencer Ford says.

Clemson University has reportedly spent $9 million revamping their baseball facilities recently. The new 20,000 square foot complex is one of the best in the country. With seven former Clemson Tigers in the MLB in 2015, Weatherly’s future home is ambitious and successful.
“I’m really looking forward to a whole change of scenery and meeting new people. I also look forward to playing baseball games and going to football games there,” Weatherly says.