Caleb Clark left Orillia with a dream and a duffle bag four years ago.
Today, he’s a two-time conference champion with the University of Nebraska — and still proudly represents the city that raised him.
The 21-year-old left-handed pitcher recently wrapped up his junior season with Nebraska, helping the Cornhuskers capture their second straight Big Ten tournament title. But the road to back-to-back championships wasn’t always smooth, and Clark wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I started playing ball in Orillia when I was four years old,” he said. “We skipped t-ball and jumped straight into machine pitch. I played for the Royals for a couple of years. Former Orillia Majors' pitcher Mark Obee was one of my first coaches. I still think about those games.”
From those early days in Orillia, Clark’s path took him through the Barrie Red Sox program and then to the Great Lake Canadians, a premier Canadian development team based in the London area.
With the Canadians, Clark was part of a dynasty, winning five straight Canadian Premier Baseball League (CPBL) titles, with a sixth season lost to COVID-19.
“Winning those championships really shaped me,” he said. “It taught me that it’s not about the name on the back of your jersey — it’s about the one on the front. That mentality carried right into Nebraska.”
The Orillia Secondary School graduate made history early in his college career, becoming just the sixth Husker since 1999 to start on opening weekend as both a freshman and sophomore.
But Clark's path wasn’t always easy. His freshman year ERA ballooned to 13.24, and his role shifted between starter and reliever. Instead of giving up, Clark adapted.
He credits Nebraska pitching coach Rob Childress with helping reshape his approach, switching to a two-seam fastball, adjusting his arm slot, and shifting to throwing exclusively from the stretch.
“Those tweaks completely changed my game,” Clark said. “And more than that, I learned how to handle pressure. We wanted to be in those tight, high-leverage moments. We embraced them.”
Over the past two seasons, Clark and the Huskers not only won titles but also proved doubters wrong.
“After losing some of our top guys to the draft, people said we wouldn’t be the same team,” Clark said. “But we played with a chip on our shoulder. At one point, we were 1-2 to start the season, then we went 20-5. That’s when it clicked.”
Now heading into his senior year, Clark’s goals are grounded in consistency — both on and off the field. A sports media major, he’s learned to juggle school, cross-country road trips, and elite competition thanks to the support of Nebraska’s academic staff and life skills programs.
He’s also still aiming high.
“I’d love to play in the MLB,” he said. “I had a back injury this year that limited my innings, but that’s not the end of the road. If the draft happens, great. If not, I’ll know I gave it everything I had.”
Clark also hopes his journey can inspire other young athletes in Orillia.
“I want kids back home to know they’re not stuck,” he said. “It’s OK to take a risk. I left home young to live with a host family and pursue baseball. It wasn’t always easy, but I never regret it. You don’t have to limit yourself to where you grew up. If you have a shot — take it.”
And for players who might be struggling with baseball, school, or life, Clark encourages them to remember they aren’t alone.
“Talk to someone,” he said. “Don’t bottle things up. Develop a routine that works for you.”
No matter how tough a rough patch may get, Clark says the key is to never give up.
“Even when I had that 13 ERA, I kept showing up,” he said. I focused on being the best teammate I could. When you take your mind off your own failures and support others, that’s when things turn around.”
While he’s only been back to Orillia a couple of weeks in the past year, Clark says the support from his hometown still means the world to him.
“I’m proud to be from Orillia,” he said. “I always make sure people know that — no matter where I’m playing.”
Clark is expected to return to Nebraska this fall to begin training for his senior season, with eyes on another title — and perhaps, the next level.