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Kemp catches fire with Pirates
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Sure, there can be some anonymity when you’re behind a mask. But every college baseball fan in the nation must know East Carolina catcher Corey Kemp by now.
The affable, well-spoken Kemp has been shining all season for the No. 25 Pirates (36-13, 11-7), who welcome Tulane (32-15-1, 10-6-1) into town this weekend for a key Conference USA series.
A co-captain for the Pirates, Kemp has been swinging a hot stick all season. He currently leads the Pirates with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .379 batting average.
“At times this year, I’ve been in the zone,” Kemp said. “I’ve gone up there just thinking I was going to be tough to get out., and if I got out, I was going to hit the ball hard somewhere.
“Right now, I just feel like my approach is very good.”
Kemp’s play has certainly put him in the spotlight. The 6-0, 241-pound senior, who wears No. 35, has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, an award given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher. He was also named to the official 50-man watch list for the 2008 Dick Howser Trophy, given to the nation's top collegiate baseball player.
“It’s very humbling,” said Kemp while sitting in the ECU dugout Wednesday afternoon. “I’m strong in my faith and I just thank God every day for giving me the ability to play. It’s kind of a luck-of-the-draw.
“I really don’t know anybody. I’m a small-town kid, so getting on these lists is very humbling. You see all the great players on there (like) Justin Smoak (South Carolina) and Buster Posey (Florida State), and to see your name go along with it is just exciting.”
Though his name is now mentioned in the same breath as some of this year’s other college baseball greats, Kemp doesn’t let that affect his game.
“I guess some guys buckle under pressure,” Kemp said. “I kind of like it. I’ve wanted to be ‘the guy’ since I was a little kid -- bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs, full count and your team is down by three and you have to hit a home run.
“It’s just the kind of role I love to play. I just try to have fun. I just try to go out there and let things take care of themselves. If I go out there and play hard, with my God-given ability, I think good things will happen.”
Good things have certainly happened all season long for Kemp, who has scored 51 runs and added 10 doubles to his season totals.
Just mention Kemp’s name and ECU head coach Billy Godwin flashes a huge smile.
“I don’t like to rank kids as far as their character and ability, but he has to be one of the top ones I’ve ever coached when you look at his overall make-up and his leadership ability,” Godwin said. “I think that’s carried over to allow him to be the kind of player he’s been.
“He’s made the adjustments and he’s been open-minded in doing the things we’ve asked him to do. I could sit here and talk for hours about Corey Kemp. He’s one of the top kids I’ve ever had.”
Kemp, who was born in Peoria, Ill., and grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, has worked hard to improve his game. The Franklin, Tenn., native hit .267 with five home runs and 41 RBIs last year.
“I didn’t expect to put up these kinds of numbers,” Kemp said. “I fully hoped that I would do better than the .260 I hit last year. Coach (Link) Jarrett has been working with me hitting-wise all year and he’s always kept a positive outlook on my season. He kept telling me I was going to hit above .330 this year.
“I just kept telling him I wanted to hit right at .300. Anything more than .260 would be good for me.”
While carrying a big stick, Kemp has also been solid behind the plate. The communications major, who also plays some third base for the Pirates, has a .973 fielding percentage. Kemp has thrown out 17 would-be base stealers.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” said Kemp, a two-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient. “Catching-wise last year, I wasn’t the greatest. Coming out of junior college, I was always considered a catcher, but I played more third (base). It’s kind of a position I’ve had to get comfortable with, and kind of learn the ins and outs of the game behind the plate.
“It’s been an ongoing process and I’m still learning a lot. I’ve just been blocking extra balls in practice and really taking pride in making good throws has been huge for me.”
The ECU catcher came up with a defensive gem during a doubleheader sweep of UAB on Saturday. On a routine grounder and with a runner at first, the Pirates looked to turn a double play. The ball got away from the ECU first baseman, but Kemp hustled down the line and grabbed the ball by his bare hand, which had ricocheted off a railing, and tagged out the runner at first.
“We take hustling for granted here,” Kemp said. “That was just instinct.”
Kemp, who previously played at Young Harris College, is gearing up for a key C-USA series with the Green Wave. He’ll be one of six seniors honored on Saturday.
“I wanted to come here out of high school,” said Kemp, who turned down ECU’s first offer out of high school before becoming a Pirate his junior season. “It’s been amazing here. It’s a special atmosphere here.”
Helping him celebrate will be his parents, Rick Kemp and Catherine Kemp.
“My parents have meant everything,” Kemp said. “I kind of went through a rough time my senior year in high school when my parents divorced. It was tough. I kind of didn’t know what to do or how to react, but they both told me they’d always be there for me.
“I can’t say enough about my parents. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Kemp would love to see his parents cheering him on for at least a few more weeks.
While Kemp is hoping the Pirates can reach Omaha, he’s not ready for his baseball career to come to an end there. A 45th round pick during of the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kemp would love to hear his name get called again.
“It’s been a goal since I was a little kid,” Kemp said. “I grew up with a Cardinals jersey on my back. Ozzie Smith is my favorite player. It’s always been a goal to play at that level.
“Hopefully, I’ll get a chance. I think I’m going in the right direction this year., but the draft is crazy. You never know who is watching you and what people think of you. If they call my name with the last pick, I’ll be happy. That’s your foot in the door. A lot of kids don’t get that opportunity.”
Kemp is just hoping to catch a break. The way he’s playing, the odds are certainly in the catcher’s favor.
The affable, well-spoken Kemp has been shining all season for the No. 25 Pirates (36-13, 11-7), who welcome Tulane (32-15-1, 10-6-1) into town this weekend for a key Conference USA series.
A co-captain for the Pirates, Kemp has been swinging a hot stick all season. He currently leads the Pirates with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .379 batting average.
“At times this year, I’ve been in the zone,” Kemp said. “I’ve gone up there just thinking I was going to be tough to get out., and if I got out, I was going to hit the ball hard somewhere.
“Right now, I just feel like my approach is very good.”
Kemp’s play has certainly put him in the spotlight. The 6-0, 241-pound senior, who wears No. 35, has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, an award given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher. He was also named to the official 50-man watch list for the 2008 Dick Howser Trophy, given to the nation's top collegiate baseball player.
“It’s very humbling,” said Kemp while sitting in the ECU dugout Wednesday afternoon. “I’m strong in my faith and I just thank God every day for giving me the ability to play. It’s kind of a luck-of-the-draw.
“I really don’t know anybody. I’m a small-town kid, so getting on these lists is very humbling. You see all the great players on there (like) Justin Smoak (South Carolina) and Buster Posey (Florida State), and to see your name go along with it is just exciting.”
Though his name is now mentioned in the same breath as some of this year’s other college baseball greats, Kemp doesn’t let that affect his game.
“I guess some guys buckle under pressure,” Kemp said. “I kind of like it. I’ve wanted to be ‘the guy’ since I was a little kid -- bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs, full count and your team is down by three and you have to hit a home run.
“It’s just the kind of role I love to play. I just try to have fun. I just try to go out there and let things take care of themselves. If I go out there and play hard, with my God-given ability, I think good things will happen.”
Good things have certainly happened all season long for Kemp, who has scored 51 runs and added 10 doubles to his season totals.
Just mention Kemp’s name and ECU head coach Billy Godwin flashes a huge smile.
“I don’t like to rank kids as far as their character and ability, but he has to be one of the top ones I’ve ever coached when you look at his overall make-up and his leadership ability,” Godwin said. “I think that’s carried over to allow him to be the kind of player he’s been.
“He’s made the adjustments and he’s been open-minded in doing the things we’ve asked him to do. I could sit here and talk for hours about Corey Kemp. He’s one of the top kids I’ve ever had.”
Kemp, who was born in Peoria, Ill., and grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, has worked hard to improve his game. The Franklin, Tenn., native hit .267 with five home runs and 41 RBIs last year.
“I didn’t expect to put up these kinds of numbers,” Kemp said. “I fully hoped that I would do better than the .260 I hit last year. Coach (Link) Jarrett has been working with me hitting-wise all year and he’s always kept a positive outlook on my season. He kept telling me I was going to hit above .330 this year.
“I just kept telling him I wanted to hit right at .300. Anything more than .260 would be good for me.”
While carrying a big stick, Kemp has also been solid behind the plate. The communications major, who also plays some third base for the Pirates, has a .973 fielding percentage. Kemp has thrown out 17 would-be base stealers.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” said Kemp, a two-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient. “Catching-wise last year, I wasn’t the greatest. Coming out of junior college, I was always considered a catcher, but I played more third (base). It’s kind of a position I’ve had to get comfortable with, and kind of learn the ins and outs of the game behind the plate.
“It’s been an ongoing process and I’m still learning a lot. I’ve just been blocking extra balls in practice and really taking pride in making good throws has been huge for me.”
The ECU catcher came up with a defensive gem during a doubleheader sweep of UAB on Saturday. On a routine grounder and with a runner at first, the Pirates looked to turn a double play. The ball got away from the ECU first baseman, but Kemp hustled down the line and grabbed the ball by his bare hand, which had ricocheted off a railing, and tagged out the runner at first.
“We take hustling for granted here,” Kemp said. “That was just instinct.”
Kemp, who previously played at Young Harris College, is gearing up for a key C-USA series with the Green Wave. He’ll be one of six seniors honored on Saturday.
“I wanted to come here out of high school,” said Kemp, who turned down ECU’s first offer out of high school before becoming a Pirate his junior season. “It’s been amazing here. It’s a special atmosphere here.”
Helping him celebrate will be his parents, Rick Kemp and Catherine Kemp.
“My parents have meant everything,” Kemp said. “I kind of went through a rough time my senior year in high school when my parents divorced. It was tough. I kind of didn’t know what to do or how to react, but they both told me they’d always be there for me.
“I can’t say enough about my parents. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Kemp would love to see his parents cheering him on for at least a few more weeks.
While Kemp is hoping the Pirates can reach Omaha, he’s not ready for his baseball career to come to an end there. A 45th round pick during of the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kemp would love to hear his name get called again.
“It’s been a goal since I was a little kid,” Kemp said. “I grew up with a Cardinals jersey on my back. Ozzie Smith is my favorite player. It’s always been a goal to play at that level.
“Hopefully, I’ll get a chance. I think I’m going in the right direction this year., but the draft is crazy. You never know who is watching you and what people think of you. If they call my name with the last pick, I’ll be happy. That’s your foot in the door. A lot of kids don’t get that opportunity.”
Kemp is just hoping to catch a break. The way he’s playing, the odds are certainly in the catcher’s favor.
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