Swampscott’s Chris Dwyer to play baseball at Clemson

Chris Dwyer of Swampscott has signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Clemson University next year.The Salisbury School senior, who made his college choice official last Wednesday, said as a youngster he always followed the college World Series and knew Clemson was a baseball powerhouse. He considered a number of other schools, including Georgia Tech and the University of Miami, before deciding to play for coach Jack Leggett, who has coached the Tigers for 16 years.”The tradition (at Clemson) is unbelievable,” Dwyer said. “It’s all about the Clemson Tigers. It’s a really awesome environment to be in. I met the players. Everyone was really, really nice. It’s a great university.”Dwyer said deciding on a college is tough because every school offers something different.”You have to get inside of it and see what you’ll get out of the school besides baseball,” he said.Dwyer, who quarterbacked the St. Mary’s High football team to a Super Bowl championship when he was a junior, plays football and baseball at Salisbury. His football team finished 7-1 this year after going 9-0 his first year. The baseball team finished 18-1 last spring and he racked up a 7-0 record pitching. Dwyer said he’s looking to pitch and play the outfield in college.”I’m fortunate to have an opportunity like this,” Dwyer said. “I have to keep working hard and keep my mind focused on my goals.”Dwyer is the second local athlete to sign a national letter of intent this month. Last week, St. Mary’s hockey player Abby Gauthier made her decision to play hockey at Providence College next year official. Chad Johnson, a senior at the Tilton School in New Hampshire, is also expected to announce soon that he, too, will be playing hockey at Providence next year.