Hancock County, TN (WOKI) A months-long inquiry by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation results in the indictment Monday, June 12 of a Sneedville man for threatening public officials.
TBI officials say special agents began looking into allegations involving 46-year-old Marty Rouse back in January. They determined that Rouse made statements threatening to harm Hancock County Sheriff Brad Brewer and an investigator from the District Attorney General’s Office.
The Hancock County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Rouse with two counts of Retaliation. Rouse was served in the Hancock County Jail, where he was already being held on unrelated charges.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has identified the victim of a drowning in Ft. Loudon Lake.
They say 22 year-old Charles Egbuniwe was swimming from a boat toward shore and went under and never re-surfaced Saturday.
Witnesses showed Knox County Rescue Squad searchers where he went under and his body was found by using sonar a few hours later. This marks the 13th fatal boating-related incident in the state this year.
TWRA urges everyone to wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket while swimming and boating.
Boating season is underway and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency would like to remind those enjoying the many lakes and rivers in our state to stay safe on the water when swimming.
TWRA officials say if someone in the water becomes in distress, remember “Reach, Throw, Row, Go.”
Reach – Extend a fishing rod, branch, oar, towel, or other object to REACH out to the victim to pull them to safety. If nothing is available, lie flat on the dock or boat, grab the victim’s hand or wrist, and pull him or her to safety.
Throw – If the victim is too far away to reach and a boat isn’t handy, THROW the victim a PFD or anything else that will float.
Row – If a rowboat is available, ROW to the victim and then use an oar or paddle to pull the victim to the stern and let them hold on if they are able. Otherwise hold onto them until help arrives. If you’re in a powerboat, stop the engine and glide to the victim from the downwind side.
Go – Swimmers without lifesaving training should not swim to a victim. Instead, GO for help. If you must swim, take along anything that floats to keep between you and the victim.
Updated story: Knoxville Police are continuing to investigate and have new information in the deadly shooting and crash in West Knoxville.
It happened late last (Sunday) night at the intersection of Walker Springs Road and N. Gallaher View Road where officers found a wrecked car off the road and two gunshot victims inside.
The driver, 27-year-old Avila Anfernee, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 16-year-old female passenger was transported to the UT Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds. She remains hospitalized with critical, life-threatening injuries. A four-year-old child was in the backseat of the car was not injured in the shooting or crash.
Police believe their vehicle was waiting in the turn lane when someone got out of a a car and fired numerous rounds into the car from close range.
Early reports say a red sports car left the scene but that has not been verified and no suspects have been identified.
Anyone with information is asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers.
Original story: Knoxville Police are investigating a deadly shooting in West Knoxville.
It happened last night (Sunday) at the intersection of Walker Springs Road and N. Gallaher View Road. A man was killed and a woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after the car they were in was shot multiple times then crashed into an embankment.
Police say a 4-year-old child was also in the car at the time of the shooting.
Police are searching for a red sports car that left the scene after the crash.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
Three Tennessee State Parks restaurants will have Father’s Day meals, one of many options at the parks to treat Dad (or your favorite father figure) with a special occasion Sunday, June 18.
Information about all Father’s Day gift ideas involving Tennessee State Parks can be found at this link.
Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, and Natchez Trace State Park in Lexington will have meals ranging from prime rib dinners to breakfast and lunch buffets.
The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls will have a full weekend of opportunities June 16-18 to enjoy a prime rib special. Crockett’s Mill Restaurant at David Crockett State Park will have a family-style breakfast and a lunch buffet on June 18. The restaurant inside Lodge Natchez Trace will have a lunch buffet on June 18.
Details on the Father’s Day meals are:
Fall Creek Falls State Park The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls Prime rib special (while quantities last) Friday, June 16, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, June 18, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Choice of carving size: 12 oz. $24; 16 oz. $28; and 20 oz. $32 Beverage, tax, and gratuity not included Reservations are not required but are accepted for parties of eight or more at 423-881-5241 EXT. 253
2536 Lakeside Dr. Spencer, TN 38585 423-881-5241, Ext. 253
David Crockett State Park Crockett’s Mill Restaurant June 18 Family-style breakfast 8 a.m.-9:45 a.m. $17 per person, 10 percent discount for seniors, half price for children 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children 5 and under with each paying adult Drink, tax, and gratuity not included Reservations not accepted Entire party must be present to be seated.
Lunch buffet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $21 per person, 10 percent discount for seniors 62-over, half price for children 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children 5 and under with each paying adult Drink, tax, and gratuity not included Reservations not required. Entire party must be present to be seated.
Crockett’s Mill Restaurant David Crockett State Park 1400 West Gaines (GPS) Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Natchez Trace State Park Restaurant inside Lodge Natchez Trace June 18 Lunch buffet 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $17.95 for adults, half price for children age 6-11 with each paying adult, free for children age 5 and under with each paying adult. Not including drink, tax, or gratuity Call for reservations for parties of eight or more, (731) 968-8176. The reservation cut-off date is Friday, June 16th, at 2 p.m. or until full.
Natchez Trace State Park Lodge Natchez Trace 567 Pin Oak Lodge Road Lexington, TN 38388
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Tennessee scored eight consecutive runs to climb out of an early 4-0 hole and rally to keep its season going with an 8-4 victory over Southern Miss in Sunday’s must-win game two of the Hattiesburg Super Regional at Pete Taylor Park.
After giving up four runs in the bottom of the third inning to fall behind 4-0, the Volunteers responded with a six-spot in the top of the fourth to take their first lead of the weekend and added two more runs in the top of the fifth to take control of the game.
The trio of Griffin Merritt, Blake Burke and Jared Dickey provided the big hit for the Big Orange, as they were able to ward off elimination with Sunday’s come-from-behind victory and force a decisive game three on Monday.
Merritt tied a career high with four hits, all singles, and drove in UT’s first run of the game with a hit through the right side of the infield to plate Christian Moore, who led off the inning with a double. One batter later, Burke hammered a 2-2 pitch way over the wall in right field to pull the Vols within a run. The home run was the sophomore’s 16th of the season and traveled an estimated 479 feet.
After a walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, it was Dickey’s turn to deliver as he cleared the bases with a two-RBI single that got under the center fielder’s glove and allowed a third run to score on the play.
Burke doubled off the wall in center field to put two runners in scoring position in the fifth before a Christian Scott RBI groundout scored Merritt from third. The throw from USM first baseman Christopher Sargent skipped away from the catcher to the backstop and allowed Burke to race around third and score on the play, as well. It was one of four errors committed by the Golden Eagles in the game.
Tennessee starter Chase Dollander was lights out from there, bouncing back from a rough third inning in which he gave up all four of his runs on four consecutive hits to start the frame. After a three-run homer from Sargent to make it 4-0, Dollander retired 18 of the next 19 batters he faced before a lead off walk in the bottom of the ninth, which ended a streak of 12 straight batters retired.
The junior right hander finished with seven strikeouts and issued just one walk over eight innings en route to earning his seventh win of the year.
Chase Burns recorded the final three outs to slam the door, striking out Nick Monistere on a 100-mph fastball before inducing a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
UP NEXT: The Vols (42-20) and Golden Eagles will square off in a winner-take-all game three on Monday. Game time and television info for Monday’s contest have yet to be announced. Once that information becomes available, it will be announced on the Tennessee Baseball Twitter account (@Vol_Baseball).
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Tennessee tried to rally from a four-run deficit but was unable to complete its comeback effort in game one of the NCAA Hattiesburg Super Regional, falling 5-3 to Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park.
The first 4.1 innings were played on Saturday afternoon, but due to inclement weather in the area, the contest had to be suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning and resumed on Sunday morning.
Unlike in all three games of the regional last weekend, the Vols failed to strike first in game one of this weekend’s super regional. The Golden Eagles, playing as the visiting team on the scoreboard, jumped out to a 2-0 in the top of the first after a two-out triple by Tate Parker.
After being retired in order in the second, USM extended its advantage to 3-0 with a solo home run off the bat of Dustin Dickerson in the top of the third.
The game went into a weather delay with UT threatening in the bottom of the fourth. Hunter Ensley singled to left field to give the Big Orange their first base runner prior to Griffin Merritt getting hit by a pitch to put two on with two outs for Christian Moore before the game was halted with a 2-2 count due to lightning detected in the area.
The total time of the delay was 1-hour, 35-minutes before action resumed. USM starter Billy Oldham tossed a ball to run the count full before getting Moore to strike out swinging to end the threat.
The resumption of play lasted just 13 minutes before the weather put a stop to things again as more lightning was detected in the area.
UT starter Andrew Lindsey finished with five strikeouts but allowed four runs on six hits in just four innings before making way for Camden Sewell, who struck out three in a scoreless fifth before the second delay began and the game was ultimately suspended.
When play restarted with a runner on first and one out, the Vols were able to rally for three two-out runs to cut their deficit to one. Ensley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Jared Dickey drove in two more runs with a single to center field.
The Golden Eagles (46-18) responded with a big insurance run in the top of the sixth to make it a 5-3 game. Parker led off the inning with a double, which was the only hit allowed by reliever Seth Halvorsen in four innings of work, before eventually scoring on an RBI fielder’s choice by Carson Paetow.
Tennessee brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh and ninth innings but were unable to drive them in off of Southern Miss ace reliever Justin Storm, who allowed just two hits in 4.1 scoreless innings to pick up his seventh win of the season.
UP NEXT: The Vols (41-20) will have to quickly turn the page for game two of the super regional, which is slated to begin at 3 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon on ESPN. UT must win to force a decisive game three on Monday.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Playing in the NCAA Super Regionals for the third-consecutive year, the Tennessee Volunteers hit the road for a best-of-three series with Southern Miss beginning Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The Vols (41-19) were excellent in the NCAA Clemson Regional a weekend ago, sweeping the three games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on the campus of Clemson University. The Vols were powered by strong pitching from Andrew Lindsey, Chase Burns, Seth Halvorsen and Drew Beam, while Christian Moore’s 7-for-10 weekend at the plate and Zane Denton’s clutch three-run home run against Clemson pushed the Big Orange to victory.
Southern Miss (45-18) presents a strong test for the Vols, emerging as the victor of the NCAA Auburn Regional, doing so by coming all the way back through the loser’s bracket after dropping its first game of the tournament. The Golden Eagles won the Sun Belt Championship during their inaugural year in the league, defeating Louisiana in the finals, 6-2.
The home team designations for the weekend, as decided by coin flip at the pre-series meeting, pitted Tennessee as the home team for the series opener on Saturday and as the home team for the if-necessary game on Monday.
College World Series Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021)
Tennessee will be playing in the super regionals for the fifth time in program history and for the third consecutive year, marking the longest current streak in the Southeastern Conference and the second-longest streak nationally. The Vols have not had to go on the road for a Super since 2005 when they traveled to Georgia Tech. Tennessee played its first-ever super regional in 2001 on the road at East Carolina.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 6-2 In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 3-0 In Hattiesburg: Tennessee leads, 3-2 at Neutral Sites: N/A Last Meeting: W, 8-6 (March 1, 1992, in Hattiesburg)
Tennessee has won the last six games against the Golden Eagles, sweeping USM in a home-and-home in 1991 and 1992.
NOTABLE
FEELING SUPER, AGAIN UT is the only program in the SEC and just one of three in the nation to reach three consecutive NCAA Super Regionals, joining Stanford (4) and Texas (3).
The Big Orange owns a 7-2 overall record in super regional games and have won three of the four super regionals they’ve participated in, with last season being the lone exception (lost to Notre Dame). UT has won both of its prior super regionals away from home, posting a perfect 4-0 record in matchups against East Carolina (Kinston, N.C. in 2001) and Georgia Tech (Atlanta in 2005).
After going undefeated in the Clemson Regional last weekend, the Vols have now won nine straight NCAA Regional games, the longest streak in program history and second longest current streak in the nation (Texas – 12). Tennessee and Texas are the only two programs in the country with current win streaks of nine games or longer in NCAA Regional play.
Last weekend’s regional championship marked the program’s first away from Knoxville (had lost previous four road regionals).
GIVE ME SOME MOORE OF THAT! Sophomore second baseman Christian Moore was a pitcher’s worst nightmare last weekend, earning NCAA Clemson Regional MVP honors after batting .700 (7-for-10) with six runs, two doubles, four homers, eight RBIs, 21 total bases, a .733 on-base percentage and a 2.100 slugging percentage, leading the team in all of those categories.
Moore became the sixth UT player to earn NCAA Regional MVP honors and the third in a row, joining Jorel Ortega (2022 Knoxville Regional) and Drew Gilbert (2021 Knoxville Regional).
Moore has been one of Tennessee’s hottest hitters down the stretch, batting .384 while leading the team with 24 runs, 28 hits, 11 homers and 22 RBIs over the team’s last 20 games. He belted seven homers in an eight-game stretch from April 28-May 12 and had a pair of two-homer games during that time after going deep twice in wins over Mississippi State (4/29) and Georgia (5/5).
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native has reached base in 20 of his last 21 games and is tied for the team lead with 14 multi-RBI games after driving in multiple runs in two of UT’s three NCAA Regional wins. Moore also had multiple-hits in all three games of the regional to bring his season total to 17 multi-hit performances.
For the year, Moore leads the Vols in runs (63), on-base percentage (.466), total bases (123), stolen bases (15) and walks (49).
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS Tennessee made major improvements at the plate down the stretch, batting .304 as a team with 87 extra-base hits and 44 home runs over its last 20 games, posting an 15-5 record in that stretch. In those 20 games, UT is outscoring its opponents 161-86, averaging 8.05 runs per game with 207 hits and a .566 slugging percentage as a team. The Vols have also had seven players with 10 or more RBIs and five players batting .329 or higher.
Tennessee has scored double-digit runs in 10 of their last 22 games and has recorded double-digit hits in 17 of its last 22 games entering this weekend.
Two-out hitting has been a staple for the Big Orange as of late. In its last 15 wins, Tennessee has scored 85 of its 186 runs with two outs while batting .336 (79-for-235) with two outs during that stretch.
ZEUS’ LIGHTNING BOLTS Alabama transfer Zane Denton, who has the nickname “Zeus”, has been one of Tennessee’s most productive hitters this season with a team-leading 55 RBIs. He is also tied for third on the team with 15 home runs.
Denton came up clutch in the regional last weekend two home runs in UT’s 14-inning win over No. 4 Clemson, including a three-run blast to give the Vols a 5-4 lead in the ninth when they were down to their final strike. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native was named to the NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team after hitting three home runs and driving in five runs over the weekend.
Denton became the fifth player in program history and the second in as many years to hit for the cycle after accomplishing the feat in the series opener vs. Morehead State on March 10. Denton led UT’s offensive explosion in the 23-4 victory, finishing with a career high four hits and six RBIs.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
2023 Record: 45-18 (22-8 SBC)
Head Coach: Scott Berry (14th season)
Postseason Honors:
Tanner Hall First Team All-America, Collegiate Baseball; Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year; First Team All-Sun Belt
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football’s on-field success under head coach Josh Heupel continues to correlate with the Volunteers’ academic achievements. The football team produced a 3.17 GPA for the spring semester, representing the highest in program history.
A total of 76 football student-athletes generated a 3.0 semester GPA or better with 25 of those earning Dean’s List distinction. In addition, three 2023 players earned degrees this semester—senior linebacker Aaron Beasley (communication studies), senior offensive lineman Dayne Davis (supply chain management) and senior tight end Hunter Salmon (nuclear engineering).
The record GPA eclipses the Vols’ previous best set last semester, a fall in which UT reached 11 victories and won the Orange Bowl. On the field, the Vols ascended to No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings and finished No. 6 in the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
“We always stress to our student-athletes that how you do anything is how you do everything and that’s no different in the classroom and our community,” Heupel said. “I am really proud of the commitment of our players academically for the entire athletic year. To produce a record GPA last fall and surpass that mark this semester illustrates their drive to continuously raise the standard. It’s a credit to our players and our Thornton Academic Center team.”
A total of 36 football student-athletes were named to the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll, pushing the Vols’ total to 70 in two seasons under Heupel. Punter Paxton Brooks was named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) for the second straight year.
AUSTIN, Texas – Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander added to his impressive list of accolades on Wednesday, earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-America status for the first time in his career.
Dollander was named a third-team Academic All-American after earning CSC All-District honors in May.
To earn Academic All-America status, student-athletes had to first qualify for the all-district team by being a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games at the position listed on the nomination form while pitchers must have at least 10.0 innings pitched.
Dollander ranks 11th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (12.81) and fourth in the SEC with a career-high 111 total strikeouts this season, a number that also is tied for 10th in UT single-season history.
The junior right hander has played a key role in the Vols’ weekend rotation, having started every weekend this season while helping lead the program to its third straight NCAA Super Regional. Dollander ranks second on the team with six wins while posting a 4.50 ERA and a .242 opponent batting average in 78.0 innings of work.
In the classroom, Dollander boasts a 3.78 GPA while majoring in recreation and sport management. He was also named to the 2021-22 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll following the 2022 season.
The Evans, Georgia, native, is the ninth player in program history to earn Academic All-America status and just the second pitcher, joining R.A. Dickey (1996). Tennessee has now had four players garner Academic All-America honors under head coach Tony Vitello (2018-pres.).
After recently earning the title of SEC All-Sports Champion for the second year in a row, the momentum on Rocky Top took another major step forward with the completion of the spring academic term, as the Vols and Lady Vols recorded the best performance in the classroom ever for a single semester in Tennessee Athletics history.
The Spring 2023 semester saw UT student-athletes achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 3.38—the highest ever recorded. Tennessee’s previous best—excluding terms with COVID grade-mode flexibility—came during the fall semester, when the Big Orange posted a 3.32 GPA.
For the first time ever, all 16 sports earned a team GPA of at least a 3.0. This spring also marked the 21st consecutive semester in which the Vols and Lady Vols combined to post a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Eight teams enjoyed or matched their best spring semesters ever, while five programs (football, baseball, men’s track & field, women’s swimming & diving, and volleyball) tied or bested their highest GPA in any semester.
“Our student-athletes strive to be the best in everything they do, and I could not be more proud of their achievement in the classroom,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “To capture the All-SEC Sports title and then see these results academically speaks to their drive and determination to be elite.”
Tennessee Athletics’ Rise Glorious Strategic Plan features a directive to “honor the foundation of college sports by maximizing the educational journey of each student-athlete and creating championship-level performance expectations academically.”
Here’s the full academic highlights from the Spring 2023 semester:
3.38 overall student-athlete GPA (highest performance for a spring semester and highest performance overall without COVID grade mode flexibility)
21 consecutive semesters with an overall GPA of a 3.0 or higher
Record highs for combined men’s sports (3.26) and women’s sports (3.52)
All 16 sports earned a team GPA above a 3.0
202 student-athletes were recognized on their respective Dean’s List (2nd highest ever)
422 (76%) student-athletes received a 3.0 or higher semester GPA (highest ever)
74 student-athletes earned a 4.00 semester GPA (highest ever)
8 teams tied or bested their highest GPA for a spring term (football, men’s basketball, baseball, men’s track & field, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, soccer, and volleyball)
5 teams tied or bested their highest GPA in any semester (football, baseball, men’s track & field, women’s swimming & diving, and volleyball)
In the most recent update of the Learfield Director’s Cup standings (April 21), Tennessee checked in at 11th nationally with 610.50 points. As the athletic year wraps up during the next few weeks, UT’s impressive competitive efforts throughout the spring will give the Big Orange a big boost in the points. Four teams (baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis) advanced to the Super Regionals or better in their respective NCAA Tournaments, while track & field is set to compete at outdoor NCAAs this weekend.
The standings will be updated next week on June 13 before being finalized following the baseball’s College World Series.
