Clement taking the next step
BUTLER TWP — Now it’s official.
After verbally committing to Virginia Tech earlier in the year, Butler senior left-hander Madden Clement recently signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and baseball career with the Hokies.
He plans to major in sporting analytics.
“Not many schools offer that major and it’s the field I want to study and get into,” Madden said. “Couple that with the quality of baseball program and league they play in, this was a no-brainer for me.”
Clement compiled a 5-1 record and a 2.69 earned run average for the Golden Tornado last spring. He struck out 57 and allowed only 22 hits in 36.1 innings pitched. The velocity on his pitches improved over the summer while pitching for the Pittsburgh Spikes.
“He had a few opportunities and this is the right one for him,” Madden’s father, Butler basketball coach and former major league pitcher Matt Clement said. “He took his time throughout this process, weighed everything and made his decision.
“Madden’s going to a first-class program. They’ll continue his development there.”
Virginia Tech finished 45-14 overall last season, 19-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies lost to North Carolina in the ACC title game and to Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Regional.
John Szefec has been Virginia Tech’s head coach for five seasons. Since 1997, he’s coached 109 players who were either drafted into or signed with professional baseball teams. Szefec has had 36 of his players selected in the Major League Baseball dfraft over the past eight years.
“My end goal is to get drafted and take a shot at professional baseball,” Madden said. “If that doesn’t work out, I’m still getting a good education, which will set me up for another career to fall back on. I still want to be involved in sports and getting my degree will enable me to do that.”
Virginia Tech pitching coach Ryan Fecteau led the Hokies’ 2021 pitching staff to a team-record 562 strikeouts.
Madden said he is into the analytics of pitching and would like to be a coach in that area down the road.
But his career on the mound may be long from over.
“Madden has all of the tools and his fundamentals are solid,” Butler baseball coach Josh Forbes said. “He’s gotten to work in the weight room and he’s still growing as a pitcher.
“I’m thrilled I’ve got him for another year.”
Virginia Tech has 10 underclassmen pitchers on its roster next season.
“He’s really going to be challenging himself, walking into a program of that caliber,” Forbes said. “Time will tell how all of that works out, but Madden won’t be outclassed in terms of ability or desire.
“He wants to be a starting pitcher in the ACC. I’m not betting against him.”
Before any of that plays out, Madden has a Golden Tornado basketball and baseball season to get through.
“We want to win the WPIAL in baseball and go as far as we can in states,” he said. “We’ve got a good group of guys who can get that done. I feel the same way about basketball.
“I want to improve in both sports and be a leader. This is it for me (in high school sports).
His overall baseball journey will continue down south.
“It’s exciting,” Clement said of his son’s future. “Tough conference. Great baseball. This is what Madden wanted and now he’s got it.”
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