Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line and their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour cohorts—Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, Canaan Smith and Hardy—took a slight detour before their concert in Southaven, Miss., on June 15.
The troupe stopped by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis (about 20 minutes from Southaven) to perform for patients and their families, as well as meet the brave kids who are fighting childhood cancer.
“One of our favorite moments this weekend right here,” said FGL, in part, via Instagram. “Thank you @stjude for inviting us out and to our buddies @danandshay@morganwallen@hardy and @canaansmith for joining us yesterday.”
“Thank you @stjude + @flagaline for inviting us to be a part of such a special day in Memphis,” added Dan + Shay via Twitter. “@stjude is truly one of the most wonderful places on earth, and we’re so proud of our country music community for all that it has contributed towards saving lives.”
The country music industry has raised more than $800 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since Country Cares for St. Jude Kids began 30 years ago. Thanks to generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
thank you @stjude + @flagaline for inviting us to be a part of such a special day in memphis. @stjude is truly one of the most wonderful places on earth, and we’re so proud of our country music community for all that it has contributed towards saving lives. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CqhwctVLiA
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball is well-represented on the 2019 summer circuit with 23 current players on summer-league rosters.
Each week on UTSports.com, we will provide an update on all of the Vols participating in the various summer leagues around the country.
The first summer ball update of the year can be found below.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team LHP Garrett Crochet
Season Stats: N/A
Crochet accepted an invitation to the 2019 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp, which will run from June 27-30 in Cary, North Carolina before a 26-man roster is selected prior to the 8th USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series that will take place July 2-6 in Cary, Charlotte, Durham and Hickory, North Carolina. Team USA’s 26-man roster will then travel to Taiwan for the 19th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series after which USA Baseball will announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 16-21 in Japan.
Read more about Crochet’s training camp invite HERE.
Cape Cod League OF Zach Daniels – Orleans Firebirds
Season Stats: 5 GP, .133 AVG, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K, .133 SLG, .133 OBP
Daniels went 1-for-4 in the Firebirds opener on June 11 against Yarmouth-Dennis and recorded his second hit of the season on June 16 in a 2-1 loss to Bourne. The Georgia native also scored a run in Orleans’ 4-4 tie against Wareham on June 14.
LHP Will Heflin – Harwich Mariners
Season Stats: 1 App, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.50 WHIP
Heflin was nearly perfect in his only appearance so far this summer. The junior lefty struck out a pair and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings as Harwich defeated Falmouth 7-1 on June 16.
RHP Sean Hunley – Brewster Whitecaps
Season Stats: 1 App, 1 GS, 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 1.50 WHIP
Hunley got his summer started off with a victory in Brewster’s 12-4 win over Hyannis on June 16. The sophomore got the start and allowed three runs – only one earned – and struck out six in four innings of work to begin his summer campaign 1-0.
Soularie has scored in all four games he’s played in and has recorded a hit in three of those contests so far this summer, including a two-hit performance in a 2-1 win over Orleans on June 15. The All-American also scored twice, doubled and drove in a run in an 11-5 victory over Hyannis on June 16.
Despite a slow start for the Firebirds, Wallace has been solid in his two appearances out of the bullpen thus far. The sophomore right hander has given up just two hits while racking up five strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
California Collegiate League OF Justin Ammons – Conejo Oaks
Season Stats: N/A
Ammons has not seen action yet this summer.
INF Pete Derkay – Arroyo Seco Saints
Season Stats: N/A
Derkay has not seen action yet this summer.
INF Max Ferguson – Orange County Riptide
Season Stats: N/A
Lipcius went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in his second game of the summer against Conejo on June 8. He followed that with another hit and two runs scored against Orange County on June 9.
INF Trey Lipscomb – Orange County Riptide
Season Stats: N/A
Lipscomb has not seen action yet this summer.
C Connor Pavolony – Santa Barbara Foresters
Season Stats: 5 GP, .188 AVG, 3 R, 3 H, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K, .250 SLG, .350 OBP
Pavolony has recorded a hit in three of his five games played so far this summer. In his first game of the summer, the Georgia native reached base twice with a single and a walk and also drove in two runs in a 10-1 win over Conejo on June 11. The freshman catcher had two runs, a double, a walk and an RBI in a 10-4 victory over Orange County on June 16. Pavolony has also thrown out two base stealers already this summer.
RHP Elijah Pleasants – Academy Barons
Season Stats: 2 App, 0-0, 2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0.30 WHIP
Pleasants is off to a red-hot start for the Barons, earning a pair of saves in his only two appearances so far. The lanky right hander opened his summer with two shutout innings in a win over Orange County on June 13, striking out three while allowing just one hit. He followed that up with a pair of punchouts in 1.1 innings of work as Academy defeated Conejo, 9-5, on June 16.
OF Evan Russell – Arroyo Seco Saints
Season Stats: N/A
Russell has not seen action yet this summer.
OF Christian Scott – Arroyo Seco Saints
Season Stats: 5 GP, .222 AVG, 2 R, 4 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K, .389 SLG, .263 OBP
After a slow start, Scott has started to find his groove as of late. The Clarksville, Tenn., native went 3-for-4 with a triple against Orange County on June 14 after hitting a double and scoring a pair of runs in a 4-3 win over Santa Barbara one day earlier.
Coastal Plain League RHP Caleb Pearson – Forest City Owls
Season Stats: 3 App, 2 GS, 0-2, 6.10 ERA, 10.1 IP, 12 H, 12 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 6 K, 1.94 WHIP
Pearson has struggled out of the gates for Forest City, starting the summer 0-2 after a pair of rocky starts. The Brentwood, Tenn., native does have six strikeouts so far this summer.
Following a rough outing to start the summer, Plummer rebounded nicely in his second start with five strikeouts and just one earned run allowed on three hits in 3.2 innings of work as the SwampDogs defeated Asheboro 10-4 on June 16.
Rucker got off to a slow start at the plate, going hitless in his first three games, but singled and scored a run in the Owls’ last game, a 5-1 victory over High Point-Thomasville. He also earned the top spot on the Coastal Plain League Plays of the Week with a web gem at shortstop.
Northwoods League INF Austin Knight – Kalamazoo Growlers
Season Stats: N/A
Kohlhepp posted a quality start in his summer debut for the Express, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two batters in 4.2 innings as Eau Claire defeated Thunder Bay, 9-6, on June 9.
Ohio Valley League C Matthew Ellis – Dubois County Bombers
Season Stats: 3 GP, .385 AVG, 2 R, 5 H, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, .462 SLG, .357 OBP
Ellis is off to a good start for the Bombers with five hits and three RBI in just three games played so far this summer. Dubois County is currently in third place in the East Division with a 5-5 record.
RHP Bennett Shoptaw – Dubois County Bombers
Season Stats: 3 App, 2 GS, 0-1, 9.58 ERA, 10.1 IP, 18 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 5 BB, 9 K, 2.23 WHIP
Shoptaw has struggled in three appearances so far this summer with a 9.58 ERA in 10.1 innings of work.
Expedition League RHP Hunter Dreves – Western Nebraska Pioneers
Season Stats: 4 App, 2 GS, 1-0, 6.75 ERA, 9.1 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 15 BB, 13 K, 2.14 WHIP
Dreves earned his first victory of the summer as the Pioneers defeated Fremont, 6-5, on May 30. The Kentucky native struck out three batters in three innings of work. In four innings, Dreves struck out six batters and allowed just one run on one hit in his most recent outing as Western Nebraska earned a 5-4 win over Casper on June 16. While Dreves has allowed just five hits in 9.1 innings, he has struggled with walks, giving up 15 free passes already this summer.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell got engaged on June 16.
Chris shared a video of the proposal, featuring him popping the question in the backyard of Lauren’s family home in West Linn, Oregon.
Under the guise of letting Lauren hear one of his new songs, “Big, Big Plans,” Chris stealthily takes Lauren hand and drops to one knee during the song’s ending, saying, “Baby, you’re the best thing to ever happen. You’ve brought out a lot of things inside me that I didn’t even know existed. And I have to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Watch the video below, which is interspersed with clips of the happy couple.
If it seems like Luke Combs is crushing a new milestone every week . . . he is.
In addition to getting invited to join the Grand Ole Opry on June 11, Luke achieved the largest streaming week ever for a country artist. Check out a few of his amazing accomplishments on the Billboard country charts this week.
Luke’s five-track EP, The Prequel, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Luke’s 2017 debut album, This One’s for You, is No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
All five tracks on The Prequel are in the Top 25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which hasn’t been accomplished since Johnny Cash did it in 1959.
Luke recently made history as the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks: Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales. He is also the first country artist in history whose first five singles have reached No. 1.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With a couple more weeks under their belts, former Lady Vols keep ramping up their respective games in the WNBA. At some point during the last two weeks of contests, every LVFL scored in double digits in at least one game, including a double-double by Seattle’s Mercedes Russell, who tallied 15 points and recorded 11 rebounds against the Washington Mystics on June 14.
Along with her double-double performance, Russell also scored 13 points and recorded eight rebounds in an 84-82 win over Indiana on June 13. She now has started in five of nine games for the Storm and has been averaging 7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 24.6 mpg.
Diamond DeShields posted two 20+ point games for the Chicago Sky with 24 points against Washington on June 5 and a season high of 25 points against Phoenix on June 11. The Sky went 1-1 when DeShields scored more than 20 points. She is currently leading her team in scoring with an average of 14.0, ranking her 16th in the league overall. DeShields continues action on June 19 at the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. (League Pass).
Isabelle Harrison and Glory Johnson have been representing UT on the Dallas Wings and both have recorded a double-digit scoring performance this season. Harrison scored 18 points against Indiana on June 7 and also reeled in seven rebounds in a 79-64 loss. Johnson responded the next game with nearly a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds in an 86-82 loss against Washington on June 9.
Shekinna Stricklen recorded three double-digit scoring efforts in the last two weeks, including 16-point performances in back-to-back games for the Connecticut Sun. The team is currently first in the league standings and sits at 8-1 overall.
Candace Parker, meanwhile, remains sidelined. The L.A. Sparks star is recovering from a hamstring injury that has plagued her since the preseason, but she could return any day now. She most recently competed in a full scrimmage last week during practice.
Diamond DeShields
Chicago Sky | G | 2nd Season
DeShields has started in all six of the Chicago Sky’s games this season. She is averaging 14.0 ppg. and 4.7 rpg. thus far. She leads the team in scoring and is currently ranked 16th in the league. Her next game is June 19 against the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. ET (League Pass).
Isabelle Harrison
Dallas Wings | F/C | 4th Season
After sitting out all of last season due to medical reasons, Harrison has been averaging a little over 21 minutes a game and tallying 6.4 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. She recently scored 18 points in 25 minutes and collected seven rebounds against the Indiana Fever. The next game for her is on June 20 against the Phoenix Mercury beginning at 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network).
Glory Johnson
Dallas Wings | F | 7th Season
Johnson has started in five of six contests played for the Dallas Wings this season. In just under 25 minutes of action per game, she has produced 6.7 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. After nearly having a double-double against Washington, she also helped the Wings to their first win of the season against Atlanta on June 15 with five points, two steals, four assists and five rebounds.
Candace Parker
Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 12th Season
Parker has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the preseason. She is slowly recovering and could return to action any day now.
Russell has already played in nine games this season and averages 24.6 minutes per contest. With more time on the court compared to last season, she has been contributing 7.6 ppg. and 6.2 rpg. The Seattle Storm continues its season June 21 against the LA Sparks (CBS Sports Network) at 10:30 p.m.
Shekinna Stricklen
Connecticut Sun | G/F | 8th Season
Stricklen has started in all nine games so far this season for the Connecticut Sun and has scored in double digits in four of the past five games. She is sitting at 10.4 ppg. and has chipped in 1.6 rpg. while playing 24.1 mpg. so far this season. Stricklen also has been shooting an impressive 83.3 percent on free throws. Her next game is June 21 against Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. (League Pass).
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee sophomore pitcher Garrett Crochet has accepted an invitation to the 2019 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.
The talented left hander is the 21st player in program history to be associated with one of the USA Baseball National Teams and the first to earn an invite to the Collegiate Team training camp since former UT pitcher Zach Warren made the team in 2016.
“It means a lot to be chosen to wear the Red, White and Blue and to represent not only our country but also the University of Tennessee and my family,” Crochet said. “This is something I’ve always dreamed of but never believed would be something I would be a part of. The feeling is very surreal.”
The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will participate in series of four intrasquad exhibition games and a game against the Coastal Plain League Select before announcing a 26-man roster prior to the 8th USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series that will take place July 2-6 in Cary, Charlotte, Durham and Hickory, North Carolina. Team USA’s 26-man roster will then travel to Taiwan for the 19th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series after which USA Baseball will announce a final 24-man roster to compete in the 43rd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 16-21 in Japan.
After starting the year as one of the Volunteers’ top options in the bullpen, Crochet worked his way into the weekend rotation midway through the season and ended up starting six games. The Ocean Springs, Miss., native finished the year with a 5-3 record and set career bests in numerous statistical categories, including ERA, appearances, saves, innings pitched, strikeouts, walks allowed and hits allowed.
Crochet racked up 81 strikeouts on the year to rank second on the team, and his 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings led all Tennessee pitchers with at least two starts. In his first outing of the season, Crochet struck out a career-high nine batters in four perfect innings of relief to earn a save against Appalachian State. He went on to strike out nine more batters in 5.1 innings of work in a victory over Indiana on Feb. 24.
Crochet also posted impressive performances in wins over a pair of top-five ranked teams in Vanderbilt and Georgia. The hard-throwing lefty tossed 4.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen to lead the Vols to a 7-6 road victory over the fourth-ranked Commodores on March 31, one of just four home games that Vanderbilt lost in the regular season.
Crochet made his first start of the year two weeks later in the series opener against No. 2 Georgia. He gave UT five shutout innings while striking out six batters as the Big Orange went on to post a 2-0 shutout victory.
After suffering a fractured jaw in the final series of the regular season against Ole Miss, Crochet returned just two weeks later to pitch for the Vols in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. He threw 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win in an elimination game against UNCW before tossing 3.2 innings the next day in a victory over Liberty to help UT advance to the regional championship.
For more information on USA Baseball and the Collegiate National Team, follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; and @USABaseballCNT on Twitter.
Click HERE to view the release on UTSports.com and see a full list of former Tennessee players and coaches that have been involved with USA Baseball.
Maren Morris’ new interview and photo spread in Playboy was posted online on June 18.
The almost-3,000-word interview covers a wide range of topics, spanning music, marriage, fears, sexuality, gender inequality more.
✨I didn’t come to play, BOY…// did one of my favorite interviews in @playboy this month. Photographed, styled, and interviewed by WOMEN for their Gender + Sexuality issue✨https://t.co/vmLt5hEIZu
A number of artists have posed for Playboy over the years, including Dolly Parton (cover: Oct. 1978), Madonna (cover: Sept. 1985), Maria Carey (cover: March 2007), Halsey (cover: Sept//Oct. 2017) and more.
“There’s strength in the femininity of needing someone but also in having the confidence to ask for it.”
“For the past two years I’ve been the most-played woman on country radio. It’s still way less than a man, but for some reason my music is being played.”
“I would love to sing with Kehlani. I saw H.E.R. at the Grammys, and she was incredible. I love Khalid. If I’m shooting real high, I would love to sing with Beyoncé. That’s the pinnacle.”
“I get only one life here, and if I’m going to be a musician and do this thing I’ve been given a gift for, I would like people to know what I believe in. This is where I stand, this is what I want, this is the world I want my kids to live in. That’s why I speak up when I do. It definitely ruffles feathers. Not many country artists speak up.”
“Doing Playboy has been a really fun challenge. I’m trying to do more things that scare me. Every year I’m trying to peel back my layers emotionally—and I guess physically.”
Morgan Wallen continues his reign atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart as “Whiskey Glasses” notched its third straight week at No. 1.
Penned by Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish, “Whiskey Glasses” is Morgan’s first multi-week No. 1 tune. He scored his first No. 1 single with “Up Down” in June 2018.
“The power of this song, my fans and country radio continues to just blow me away,” says Morgan. “I can’t even express how grateful I am to everybody who made this all possible. Thank you for my first multi-week number one.”
Morgan will release his fourth single, “Chasin’ You,” in July. Morgan is currently on tour with Florida Georgia Line as part of their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour.
Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton have joined forces for a new duet, “Dive Bar,” which will be featured on Garth’s upcoming album, FUN.
Penned by Garth, Mitch Rossell and Bryan Kennedy, “Dive Bar” was shipped to country radio on June 18, which is the only place you can hear it right now.
“It sounds fresh, and it sounds like summer to me,” Garth says. “Blake kept pushing for it to be more steels, more country and stuff. Blake was nothing short of fantastic.”
Garth and Blake will perform the single live for the first time during Garth’s Stadium Tour in Boise, Idaho, on July 19. Garth also revealed that he and Blake are shooting a music video for the new tune.
“The idea is coming for this one—to do a video that I’m not sure has been done before,” says Garth. “Any time you get that chance, take it. This will be fun.”
Brett Eldredge scored his 7th No. 1 single this week as “Love Someone” ascended to the top of the Mediabase chart.
Penned by Brett, Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan, “Love Someone,” which is featured on Brett’s 2017 self-titled album, is his first No. 1 since 2016’s “Wanna Be That Song.”
“It’s been a hell of a ride with ‘Love Someone,’” says Brett. “I have to thank Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan for bringing your amazing gifts and writing this song with me. . . and, of course, I have to thank my insanely passionate fans, country radio and my team for their belief in me and my music. What a way to finish out this album—and we are just getting started!”
Brett celebrated the news onstage with his dad at the Tailgate ’N Tallboys music festival in home state of Illinois on June 16. Check out the clip below.
![Brett Eldredge Scores 7th No. 1 Single With “Love Someone” [Watch Him Celebrate With Dad]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/06/17144146/Brett-Eldredge-CH.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
