Unless you are one of the lucky fans whose team goes all the way to a championship, the ending of the teams you support — be they college or pro — are likely to end in disappointment if they make it to the postseason.

The Clemson football team’s loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl, despite the manner in which Dabo Swinney was able to salvage what appeared to be a splintered program in October, was a bitter pill to swallow. Ditto for the Clemson men’s basketball team’s three-point loss to Michigan in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, particularly since it marked the second year in a row the team has been unable to make it out of the first round.

While the Clemson baseball program ended its season in defeat last weekend — with two consecutive defeats to Arizona State in the Tempe Super Regional — I have a different feeling for head coach Jack Leggett’s program and that is one of optimism. The way this program finished the season by winning 10 of its last 13 games and three consecutive contests to capture its opening round regional shows me that Leggett, after a one-year hiccup in 2008 that snapped 21 consecutive postseason appearances, has this program back on track.

Certainly, the 2009 Tigers were nothing like the Kris Benson-Billy Koch-Matthew LeCroy teams of the mid-1990s or the Jeff Baker-Khalil Greene teams of the early 2000s. They must first play with more consistency and hold on to more ninth-inning leads that didn’t occur earlier in the season. The offense must also develop more of a power threat so that falling behind by three or four runs isn’t as difficult to overcome.

Yet, despite those failings, Clemson baseball went 44-22 this year — a 13-win improvement over the 31 wins of a year ago — and, depending on the number of players returning, the best could be yet to come.

While it’s still too early to gauge what impact this week’s Major League Baseball amateur draft will have on the Tigers, a peek at the current roster shows 22 players who are either freshmen or sophomores. If Leggett manages to get even half of his recruiting class to come to Clemson, rather than sign a professional baseball contract, the 2010 baseball team could indeed be something special.

Although outfielder Kyle Parker will return to bolster the offense, first baseman Ben Paulson, drafted in the third round by Colorado Tuesday, could give the bats a shot in the arm if he decides to return for his senior year. The leadoff spot should remain intact, thanks to Leggett’s decision late in the season to install Chris Epps into the leadoff spot — a decision that coincided with the Tigers strong finish. Epps will return in 2010 for his junior year.

Add shortstop Brad Miller and outfielder Jeff Schaus to the mix and the Tigers’ offense should continue to improve in 2010.

As far as pitching is concerned, Tiger fans will be awaiting Chris Dwyer’s decision on whether or not he will return. Though technically a freshman, Dwyer is draft eligible since he is 21 years old and, Wednesday, was selected in the fourth round (number 122 overall) by the Kansas City Royals. But the fact that Kansas City has been aggressive in providing signing bonuses to previous draft picks doesn’t bode well for the Tigers.

While Dwyer was inconsistent at times, he was the first Tiger freshman to lead the team in strikeouts (95) since 1997.

Graham Stoneburner, a sophomore righthander who went 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA and one save in 2009, was drafted in the 14th round (number 435 overall) Wednesday by the New York Yankees. He tied for the team-led in wins and posted a 3.74 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

If one or all of these individuals return, they, along with returnees Tomas Cruz, a senior next season; Casey Harman, a junior next season; and Scott Weismann, a sophomore next season, would form another stalwart pitching staff.

That’s why despite the Tigers’ brief appearance in the Super Regionals, against an Arizona State ball club that is among the best in the country, the season has to be viewed with more optimism than the other sports. The program won more than 40 games, split four games each against college baseball powers North Carolina and USC and won two of three against the likes of both Georgia Tech and Miami.

Make no mistake about it, Clemson’s most consistent athletic program is once again among the nation’s best and if things, or most importantly, the right players fall into place, there’s no reason why the Tigers can’t punch a ticket to Omaha next year.