With two on and two out in the top of the ninth, Creede Simpson stepped up to the plate to try and keep the Tigers' hopes alive as they faced Clemson in a 2010 regional matchup.
That at-bat would forever cement Simpson's legacy into Auburn baseball lore as he sent a towering shot over the left-center field fence to put Auburn ahead for the eventual victory.
Two years earlier Simpson was playing his senior season of baseball for Auburn High School. At the end of that season he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 45th round of the Major League Baseball draft, but would forgo his chance at the big leagues to play at Northwest Florida State College. After one season, he transferred to Auburn for his sophomore year.
"Obviously I wanted to get drafted in a lower round, but I think really at heart I wanted to go to Auburn," Simpson said. "Growing up here and playing high school ball in the area made me want to come back, and I wanted to be closer to my family."
As a regular starter in center field in 2011, Simpson made up for his declining statistics at the plate by making his presence known on the base paths, leading the team in steals with eight.
In his senior season, Simpson has bounced back, sporting a .315 batting average and leading the SEC in steals. He has also moved in from the outfield to anchor the infield at second base.
"You can learn a lot about his willingness to help by making the difficult move that he made from center to second," said Link Jarrett, director of player development. "Turning a double play is not an easy thing to do, but he has done a great job with the transition all year."
Senior pitcher Cory Luckie, a teammate of three years, said he has taken notice of Simpson's ability to recover from a bad season while simultaneously making a position change.
"It's a maturity thing--not to say that he wasn't mature when he got here--but the way that he has bounced back from last year with a level head is pretty amazing," Luckie said. "Watching him play is unreal, and the best thing is the transition to second base. It was such a natural move; it has been exciting to watch him this year.
"I can say that he is one of the best athletes I've played with."
As the season nears its end, Simpson said that he has expectations to play baseball at the next level.
"I'm really hoping to get my degree this year and enter the draft," he said. "If I get a shot, I will hopefully have some success and keep moving my way up to the top."
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