Clemson, S.C. ? Clemson’s Jack Leggett had a good laugh. South Carolina coach Ray Tanner said the Tigers were so hot right now they could play in the American League East.

“That’s a stretch,” said Leggett, the Clemson coach. “It’s nice that they think that, but I’m sure we’re a long ways away.”

The Tigers (47-17) have won 19 of the 20 games. They captured the Atlantic Coast Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles and enter this weekend’s NCAA regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium seeded first in the tournament.

Clemson today will face North Carolina-Asheville (28-33), surprise winners of the Big South tournament. Southern Conference regular-season champion Elon (44-16) takes on Mississippi State (35-21) to start regional play.

The winner of the four-team pod moves on to super regional play. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t expect that to be the Tigers.

“They’re doing what Jack’s teams always do, they play well late when it means something,” Elon coach Mike Kennedy said.

In 2005, the Tigers started freshmen at shortstop, second base and center field. They reached the NCAA super regional, losing to Baylor in three games.

That showing had them ranked No. 1 in some polls before this season. But a three-game sweep by Virginia in March and four straight losses in April, including two to Winthrop and Furman at home, left some questioning the Tigers.

Then came their stretch run – series sweeps of Florida State and Wake Forest to clinch the ACC’s best regular-season mark. The Tigers defeated Georgia Tech twice on the way to the ACC tournament win and received the tournament’s overall top seeding.

Clemson's Herman Demmick, center, is surrounded by teammates after hitting a two-run home run against Georgia Tech in the ninth inning during the 2006 ACC baseball tournament Saturday, May 27, 2006, in Jacksonville, Fla. Adrian Casanova scored on the homer. Clemson won 16-11.

Leggett sensed good chemistry during fall drills. Still, the early losses concerned him.

“First two-thirds of the season we were playing good, but we just hadn’t hit on all cylinders,” Leggett said. “I think the last six weeks of the season we hit it right.”

Outfielder Tyler Colvin has led the attack with .360 average and a 20-game hitting streak. First baseman Andy D’Alessio has 20 homers and 75 RBIs. Clemson is in the top 25 in Division I fielding percentage while the pitching staff is fifth nationally with a 3.19 ERA.

Jason Berken, a junior, has gone 9-3 with a 2.76 ERA in his first season since reconstructive arm surgery in 2004. Stephen Faris, 8-2 with a 2.24 ERA; and Josh Cribb, 9-0 and a 2.84 ERA, give the Tigers a formidable starting staff. Daniel Moskos has nine saves and 45 strikeouts in nearly 47 innings of work.

However, outfielder Travis Storrer missed the ACC tournament with a sprained foot and is out for the regional as well.

Leggett gave the players a couple of days off to celebrate and refocus after last week’s tournament victory.

“The kids realize we have a lot more to accomplish this season if we want to feel good about it,” he said.