Clingersmith named to WNY Baseball HOF

WELLAND - The Welland Jackfish, members of the Intercounty Baseball League, today announced that starting pitcher Matt Clingersmith has been selected to comprise the 23rd class of the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction banquet is slated for Wednesday at the Lake Erie Italian Club in Lackawanna.

With the Jackfish, Clingersmith had a stellar year on the mound recording a 2.60 ERA with 37 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 6-1 record. Clingersmith finished a fourth best ERA in the IBL and lead the Jackfish through the first round of the 2019 Postseason against London.

Clingersmith, Head Coach with the Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves, has turned the program into an National junior-college power during the past 13 seasons, making five NJCAA World Series appearances and racking up 471 career wins. His teams have twice finished as National runners-up. The five-time Coach of the Year has produced three MLB Draft picks and more than three dozen NCAA Division I players. 

As a player before the Jackfish, Clingersmith was an All-Western New York performer at Niagara Catholic High School before excelling at both Erie Community College and Canisius College.