Honor and Country and America’s pastime on the side:Clint Moore and Eugene Emeralds in the midst of 12-game winning streak on the Fourth of July

from www.registerguard.com
Steve Mims…The Register-Guard….Eugene, Oregon

America’s birthday and its national pastime will be celebrated together at ballparks around the country today.

There might not be a player who better appreciates the pride of the Fourth of July and the love of baseball than Clint Moore(Grimsley High School/US Military Academy).

Today, Moore will likely be Eugene’s starting third baseman when the Emeralds open an eight-game homestand by facing Vancouver at 7:05 p.m. in a game to be followed by fireworks. Later this summer, Moore will return to his duties as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, working with air defense artillery.

That will put a hold on his baseball career for at least two years, and possibly five, but Moore knew that when he enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he is ready to return whenever he is called.

“I don’t know for sure when, they just said, ‘Go play’, so I am playing,” Moore said. “If they call and say, ‘We need you back here’, that’s what I have to do. It doesn’t bother me. I am just out here playing and having a good time.”

Moore has a three-month leave following his graduation in May that he is using to start his professional career after being drafted in the 31st round last month by San Diego. He is batting .263 with a .356 on-base percentage for the Emeralds (15-2), ranking second on the team with 12 runs, 10 RBIs and six doubles.

“It is awesome to have this opportunity. I am blessed, and hoping to make the best of it,” Moore said. “Then I will go back and serve my commitment and see where things fall out once that is complete.”

Moore has been a key to Eugene’s current 12-game winning streak, and the Ems could equal the league record with a victory tonight over the Canadians (11-6).

“There’s the unsung hero so far,” Eugene manager Pat Murphy said of Moore. “That guy has been involved in every big win, it seems like. He makes it happen, he’s a gamer. Great kid, I respect the heck out of him.”

To read all and there’s plenty more on Moore, CLICK HERE…….(They have a real nice photo there too…..)