Clayton Freimuth (8-2) has a 1.62 ERA and 97 strikeouts (sixth in Division III) in 77.2 innings. Frostburg State athletics photo

By Austin Walther
for D3sports.com

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- When Clayton Freimuth was looking for a place to finally get a chance to pitch again, he found Frostburg State University. And when the program gave him a chance, he responded with an All-American season, helping the Bobcats reach the D-III World Series for the first time.

• Full coverage of Day 1 at the Series
• Frostburg edges Ramapo, 3-1

The left-hander spent four seasons at Trinity (Texas), but only pitched 18.1 innings. Freimuth threw 17 innings as a freshman but redshirted his sophomore year after an injury in the offseason. He didn’t pitch any innings the next season because he was still rehabbing his arm and only appeared in two games in 2014.

During summer ball in the Coastal Plains League he spoke to Frostburg shortstop Cam Stewart about transferring. Freimuth said he was looking for a place he had a good shot at coming in as a relief pitcher or a starter.

“He [Stewart] knew I was looking to transfer for my senior year,” Freimuth said. “Stewart told me to give Frostburg a look and so I emailed coach Robertson.”

He was able to visit the campus over the all-star break last year and spoke to Guy Robertson, the head coach. He told Freimuth he would work him into the mix with the pitching staff. Frostburg also offered his major and Freimuth liked the campus so he transferred over the summer.

Cooler temperatures in Maryland was a major adjustment for Freimuth. He was not ready to wake up and go to class in negative degree weather.

“It would be sixty degrees and I would be wearing sleeves,” Freimuth said. “Gym practices after Christmas break was another new thing to me.”

Once the weather warmed up, the team started to roll. Freimuth said the team keeps finding ways to extend its season when somebody does something extraordinary.

“Everybody dreams about going to the World Series their senior year,” Freimuth said. “Coming into the season I knew we had talent.”

Clayton Freimuth earned first team All-American honors this year from D3baseball.com. Frostburg State athletics photo

Freimuth had his first start skipped due to weather issues at the end of February. He said he wanted to be able to show the coaching staff that they made the right decision by giving him a chance to start. He ultimately threw seven hitless innings and struck out 14 en route to his first win and the nation’s first no-hitter of the year.

“I still haven’t processed what it means,” Freimuth said. “I just tried to get hitters out as quickly as possible so we could go hit.”

During his time at Trinity, Freimuth said he learned how he could improve himself. He wanted to become bigger, better and stronger and so he spent a lot of time in the weight room. Trinity let Freimuth develop on his own. Frostburg, on the other hand, has a more structured regimen. Freimuth feels he got the best of both worlds.

“You’re not always going to have a coach watching you,” Freimuth said. “Trinity taught me how to be a self-starter.”

Freimuth has been in contact with his good friend Trinity pitcher Teddy Turner and several other alumni. He had the opportunity to catch up with his former teammates and exchange stories at the hotel.

“I’ve also been talking to the pitching coach, Dave Smith,” Freimuth said. “He really helped me develop my changeup.”

Both programs have been very successful this year. Freimuth said he and his former teammates knew in the back of their minds there was an off chance they might meet in the finals.

“It would be interesting,” Freimuth said. “Having known those guys for so long I know they have a deep pitching staff and we have a very good offense.”