Former Ringgold High School and Clemson University ace Matthew Crownover's baseball career reached a new level this past week when he was promoted to Class AA by the Washington Nationals.
Crownover earned his promotion to Harrisburg (Pa.) of the Eastern League after posting a 3-1 record in 10 games at Class A Potomac in Woodbridge, Va., including six starts. He had a 1.94 earned run average and in 46 1/3 innings pitched allowed only 38 hits, struck out 42 batters and walked 11.
The 24-year-old left-hander is scheduled to start today in Erie, Pa., where proud parents David and Susan Crownover will be in attendance - after a roundabout trip. Both are local high school coaches.
"It's funny. We left Wednesday after school and didn't tell him that we were coming to Potomac to see him," David said Saturday. "We stopped in Salem (Va.), which is about four hours out (of Woodbridge), and that's when he called me and gave me the news, so now we are in Erie.
"He's living the dream right now. On the same day he got the call, he and his fiancée closed on a deal to build a house in Lookout Valley, so that was a pretty good day."
Crownover is 13-10 with a 3.16 ERA in 50 career minor league games after being drafted in the sixth round by the Nationals in 2015. His stock rose this year after he developed a slider to go with his fastball and changeup.
"The manager at Potomac called Matthew and said, 'A year ago today was your first day here, and you struggled. Then you led us into the playoffs, and today you are the best pitcher in the league,'" David said.
"His pitching coach at Harrisburg watched him throw a bullpen session and told him not to change a thing, that his stuff was good enough to get Double-A hitters out. We know it's an adjustment, but he feels real good about it."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.