AURORA | Travis Marr liked his tour of the Clemson University campus so much, he only needed to sleep on it before giving his verbal commitment.
The versatile Regis Jesuit senior-to-be — who made the 2015 Aurora Sentinel All-City Baseball Team as a utility player — gave his pledge to the Atlantic Coast Conference school Friday, just after he made a visit to the South Carolina campus.
“I just went yesterday…I loved the campus and the facilities!,” Marr told the Sentinel shortly after he announced his commitment via Twitter. “The academics are great. Just somewhere I love and see myself being.”
Marr said the Tigers — who finished 32-29 last season and were eliminated in NCAA regional play — recruited him primarily as pitcher, but could also make use of his abilities in the field.
During his junior season, Marr proved that he could handle a dual role with aplomb, as he hit .382 — second on the team — and also scored and drove in double-digit runs, while he also logged the second-most innings of any Regis Jesuit pitcher (38) and finished 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA.
Marr earned selection the Colorado Rockies Futures Game as well.
“It takes a special kid to do both and excel at both,” Regis Jesuit coach Matt Darr said. “When playing a position, you can’t get all your bullpens in and when you are pitching, you can’t hit as much. We haven’t had a ton of kids that have excelled at both, but Travis is exceptionally gifted. …He’s a good power hitter, but he has a chance to be special as a pitcher with his size and the stuff he already has.”
Darr needs Marr to play a dual role again in 2016 if the Raiders are to match or exceed their appearance in the Class 5A Baseball Championship Series. Marr will be a key part of the Raiders’ rotation next season along with another senior-to-be in Bo Weiss, son of Colorado Rockies manager and former Regis Jesuit coach Walt Weiss. Bo Weiss has committed to play at North Carolina, another ACC school.
Another versatile player, Nick Spiliotis, committed to Dayton University on July 21.
The three players bring the tally to 11 Division I commitments/signees for Regis Jesuit in Darr’s tenure, with another player — outfielder Quin Cotton — expected to have plenty of options to choose from.
With so much talent, Marr is eager to get on the field for his final prep season.
“Continue to stay healthy, grow as a player and leader,” Marr said of senior season goals. “I just hope to win a championship with my team, that would cap it all off!”
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel