From Red Fox to Tiger
Cam Cannarella. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
By Will Johnson
The Date is May 18, 2022. it is 5pm EST and currently 88 degrees. Not a cloud in sight. The Hartsville High School Red Foxes begin to line up as player introductions begin of the South Carolina 4A Lower State Championship. As the names are called one name stands out, Cam Cannerella. Little would he know that in one year and four days he would be named the 2023 ACC freshman of the year and that in one year and ten days he would win the 2023 ACC Championship with the Clemson Tigers. Whatever he was thinking, Cannerella would lead his team to win that day, securing a Lower State title, sending his team to the first State Championship since 2007.
Cam Cannerella was a standout for the Redfoxes in his junior and senior seasons winning the 2021 All Classification Co-player of the year and leading the Red Foxes his senior season to a lower state championship title and State runner-up finish. Cannerella’s senior season he batted .507 with 3 triples, 7 doubles, 31 RBI’s, and a homerun.
In Cannerella’s true Freshman season at Clemson he played in 53 games as a primary center fielder and lead off batter. Cannerella finished the regular season with a .393 batting average, 5 homeruns, 1 triple, 13 doubles, 39 RBI’s, 64 runs, .461 OBP, and led the ACC in steals. Cannarella’s stellar season led to him being named ACC freshman of the year and All-ACC First team. The Tigers finished the season at home losing in an final elimination of the NCAA regional against Charlotte. Cannarella however was suspended from playing against Charlotte per NCAA rules following an incident during the Clemson versus Tennessee game the prior day. Cannerella is expected to continue to be a valuable asset to Clemson Baseball next season.