Vitello Named Coach of the Year, Seven Vols Earn All-America Honors from Perfect Game

Vitello Named Coach of the Year, Seven Vols Earn All-America Honors from Perfect Game

Posted on June 16, 2022

Perfect Game Postseason Honors

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee racked up the postseason honors from Perfect Game with eight representatives earning accolades from the organization on Wednesday.

Leading the way was head coach Tony Vitello, who was named the outlet’s National Coach of the Year for the second straight season after guiding the Volunteers to a program-record 57 wins and their first SEC regular season and tournament titles since 1995.

The Big Orange had four players named to the Perfect Game All-America teams in sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander (first team), junior outfielder Drew Gilbert (second team), redshirt sophomore second baseman Jorel Ortega and senior third baseman Trey Lipscomb (third team).

Dollander posted a perfect 10-0 record and led the country with a 0.80 WHIP. He also led the team with 108 strikeouts and had a 2.39 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average. The Georgia native joined VFL and World Series champion Luke Hochevar as the only Vols to ever win SEC Pitcher of the Year honors.

Gilbert had yet another outstanding season for UT, leading the team with a .362 batting average, 21 doubles and four triples while ranking second on the team with a career-high 70 RBIs despite missing six games due to injury.  The Stillwater, Minnesota, native was an All-SEC first-team selection and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team, as well. Gilbert was also named to SEC Tournament MVP after helping lead the Vols to their first title since 1995.

Ortega had a breakout season for the Big Orange after winning the starting job at second base, setting career highs in every statistical category. The native of Puerto Rico finished the year ranked third on the team with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs while batting .323. Ortega also ranked second on the team with 76 hits and 20 doubles.

Lipscomb had an incredible season after patiently waiting his turn to earn a starting role over the past three years. The native of Frederick, Maryland led the team in numerous offensive categories and was the SEC leader with 84 RBIs, a mark that ranks fourth nationally year and third in UT single-season history. Lipscomb also belted 22 home runs on the year, which is tied for second most in program history for a single season. The first-team All-SEC selection is a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and was also named the NCBWA District 3 Player of the Year.

Tennessee also had three players named to the Perfect Game Freshman All-America teams, as pitchers Chase Burns and Drew Beam were first-team selections while Blake Burke earned a spot on the second team.

Burns and Beam combined for a 16-3 record on the year with eight wins apiece, putting them in a tie for fifth on UT’s freshman single season wins list. Burke showed off his impressive power all season long, tying the single-season program record for home runs by a freshman with 14.

The view the complete listing of Perfect Game All-America teams and postseason award winners, click HERE.

Tennessee Postseason All-Americans / National Award Winners

Tony Vitello
Perfect Game National Coach of the Year

RHP Drew Beam
Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team
NCBWA – Freshman (First Team)
Perfect Game – Freshman Team

DH/1B Blake Burke
Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team
Perfect Game – Freshman Team

RHP Chase Burns
NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year
Collegiate Baseball National Co-Freshman Player of the Year
Collegiate Baseball – Third Team
Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team
NCBWA – Freshman (First Team)
Perfect Game – Freshman Team

RHP Chase Dollander
Collegiate Baseball – First Team
Perfect Game – First Team

OF Drew Gilbert
Collegiate Baseball – Second Team
Perfect Game – Second Team

1B Luc Lipcius
CoSIDA Academic – Second Team

3B Trey Lipscomb
Collegiate Baseball – Second Team
Perfect Game – Third Team

2B Jorel Ortega
Perfect Game – Second Team

C Evan Russell
CoSIDA Academic – First Team

-UT Athletics

Tony Vitello – Vols HC / Credit: UT Athletics
Program Record Seven Vols Named to ABCA All-Region Teams

Program Record Seven Vols Named to ABCA All-Region Teams

Posted on June 16, 2022

ABCA All-Region Teams

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee set a new program record with seven players named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Southeast All-Region teams, the organization announced on Wednesday.

UT’s seven selections were the most of any school in the southeast region as the Vols placed six players on the first team and one on the second team.

The Vols’ first-team selections were Trey Lipscomb (3B), Jorel Ortega (2B), Drew Gilbert (OF), Chase Dollander (RHP), Chase Burns (RHP) and Drew Beam (RHP). Jordan Beck (OF) was Tennessee’s lone representative on the second team.

The previous program record for all-region team honorees was five, which was set just last year when Chad Dallas (RHP), Jake Rucker (3B), Liam Spence (SS), Max Ferguson (2B) and Beck (OF) were all selected.

This year’s group of all-region picks helped lead the Vols to one of the best seasons in program history, which included program records for wins (57), fewest losses (nine), runs scored (613), home runs (158), RBIs (574), ERA (2.51) and strikeouts (695), to name a few. They also helped UT capture the SEC regular season and tournament titles for the first time since 1995. The Big Orange won the SEC regular-season title by six games, the largest margin in conference history.

The foursome of Lipscomb, Ortega, Gilbert and Beck combined to hit 69 of UT’s record-setting 158 homers and also drove in 276 runs. All four finished the year with at least 61 RBIs, ranking top four on the team in that category.

The pitching trio of Dollander, Burns and Beam made up UT’s weekend rotation for the majority of the season and dominated opposing hitters throughout the year, posting a combined record of 26-3. All three finished the year with ERAs under 3.00 while racking up 273 strikeouts. Dollander and Burns both finished with over 100 punchouts for the year while Beam held opposing hitters to a .186 batting average en route to winning SEC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America honors.

Dollander was tabbed a first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and became just the second player in program history to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year after recording a perfect 10-0 record in 16 appearances (14 starts).

Burns has been named the Freshman Pitcher of the Year by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball on top of earning third-team All-America recognition by Collegiate Baseball and multiple Freshman All-America honors.

To see the full listing of all the ABCA All-Region teams, click HERE.

All ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first team selections are automatically nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA All-America teams will be announced the morning of Friday, June 17 prior to the start of the 2022 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

-UT Athletics

7 UT Baseball Players / Credit: UT Athletics
Vols, Lady Vols Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale

Vols, Lady Vols Basketball Season Tickets Now On Sale

Posted on June 16, 2022

Tennessee’s men and women combined to win 94 percent of their home games last season

Season-tickets for 2022-23 Tennessee Vols and Lady Vols basketball are now on sale. Fans eager to immerse themselves in the action for this coming season can purchase tickets HERE.

Last season, Tennessee ranked fifth and eighth nationally in men’s and women’s average home attendance, respectively, while combining to go 32-2 at home (.941).

Ticket options for Tennessee men’s home games—which for the first time at Thompson-Boling Arena will feature UT student seating behind both baskets—are available starting at $250 for the Family Plan. Season-ticket inventory is available in the arena’s upper level. For lower-level options, fans are encouraged to call the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-332-VOLS or fill out an online interest form.

Coming off the program’s first SEC Tournament championship in 43 years and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the Tennessee men are primed for another breakout campaign in what will be head coach Rick Barnes‘ eighth season at the helm of the program.

Returning upperclassmen Santiago Vescovi—a 2022 first-team All-SEC performer—Josiah-Jordan James, Olivier Nkamhoua and Uros Plavsic lead a group of seven returners from last season’s squad that also includes SEC All-Defensive Team selection Zakai Zeigler and rising sophomores Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack.

Tennessee’s returning contributors are complemented by four scholarship newcomers—transfer guard Tyreke Key along with highly-rated high school prospects B.J. Edwards, D.J. Jefferson and McDonald’s All-American Julian Phillips.

Season-ticket availability for Lady Vols home games includes certain lower-level sections starting at $100 as well as lower-level side court options at $350.

The Lady Vols return 10 players, including four starters, from a squad that started 18-1 and finished 25-9 overall and 11-5 in the SEC (3rd) while advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen despite season-ending injuries to three key contributors.

Leading the way for fourth-year head coach Kellie Harper are All-SEC/All-America Honorable Mention guard Jordan Horston and All-SEC/All-Defensive Team center Tamari Key. Additional regular contributors include returning starters in point guard Jordan Walker and wing Tess Darby, as well as two others with starting experience in 2022 SEC All-Freshman wing Sara Puckett and 2021 SEC All-Freshman forward Marta Suárez.

The Lady Vols also bring aboard four gifted transfers and a five-star freshman, including starters and previous all-league performers in forward Rickea Jackson, power forward Jasmine Franklin and point guard Jasmine Powell, as well as a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in sophomore transfer forward Jillian Hollingshead and true freshman wing Justine Pissott.

Full schedules for the Vols and Lady Vols will be available later this summer.

-UT Athletics

UT fans at TBA / Credit: UT Athletics
Bailey Zimmerman Shares the Story Behind His Debut Single – “Fall In Love”

Bailey Zimmerman Shares the Story Behind His Debut Single – “Fall In Love”

Posted on June 16, 2022

Bailey Zimmerman‘s debut single is “Fall In Love.”

Talking about the track, Bailey shares, “‘Fall In Love’ is about a guy that treats a girl really good and she ends up leaving him for another guy out in South Carolina and what I’m telling her in the song is ‘You don’t want to fall in love, you don’t know what love is…you really love me, but you’re taking the safe option out in South Carolina instead of working it out with me, and sticking it out.’”

Check out the music video for Bailey Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love” here…

Photo Courtesy of Bailey Zimmerman

In Case You Missed It: Carrie Underwood Appeared on The Tonight Show

In Case You Missed It: Carrie Underwood Appeared on The Tonight Show

Posted on June 15, 2022

Carrie Underwood is making the rounds promoting her brand new album Denim & Rhinestones.

This week, Carrie made a trip to The Tonight Show starring Jimmie Fallon to perform “Pink Champagne” – one of the 12-tracks on the new album.

Watch her appearance here…

Photo Courtesy of Carrie Underwood

Old Dominion Recalls Their Ride into the Danger Zone with the Blue Angels

Old Dominion Recalls Their Ride into the Danger Zone with the Blue Angels

Posted on June 15, 2022

Everyone is going Top Gun crazy as the 1986 movie’s sequel Maverick is still flying high at the box office several weeks after it’s initial release.

Old Dominion is having a little fun with an experience they had last fall, as they have paired the classic Kenny Loggins‘ song “Danger Zone” with footage from their trip to Pensacola, Florida to fly with the world famous Blue Angels.

The guys in the band admitted that the chance to go up for the flights was a childhood dream come true.

Oh, and if you haven’t seen Top Gun: Maverick yet…we highly recommend it!

If you don’t go see it…well, no hard feelings…

Photo Credit: Mason Allen

Luke Bryan Just Can’t Get Enough of Las Vegas – So, He’s Adding Shows to His Residency

Luke Bryan Just Can’t Get Enough of Las Vegas – So, He’s Adding Shows to His Residency

Posted on June 15, 2022

As Luke Bryan is kicking off his latest residency at Resorts World Las Vegas – he’s already making plans for more dates!

Kicking off Wednesday June 15th, Luke has shows at The Theatre at Resorts World June 17th, 18th, 22nd, 24th and 25th.

Then he’s back out on his Raised Up Right tour until he returns to Vegas for 3 shows – August 31st, September 3rd and 4th.

Luke’s not lying when he says “I just can’t get enough of Vegas” because now he’s added a half of dozen more shows this November-December.

Luke says, “Playing my Vegas residency is, it’s really, really fun. I mean our production value and our sound value, and just the enormity of the stage and the lights is certainly so unique. It’s just a massive look, and I think when fans have never seen me in such a big theater with all the bells and the whistles and tricks and fun things to do, it’s a pretty special show.”

Tickets for Luke’s November-December residency go on sale Monday June 20th – more details HERE

No matter when or where fans go see Luke Bryan, they always say…that’s my kind of night!

Photo Credit: John Shearer

Dolly Parton Proves…Once Again…That She’s the Best Person in the World

Dolly Parton Proves…Once Again…That She’s the Best Person in the World

Posted on June 15, 2022

Let’s admit it…we don’t deserve Dolly Parton.

Once again, Dolly proved that she’s the best person ever by making a million dollar donation to the Monroe Carell Jr Children’s hospital – part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dolly has been a long time supporter of the hospital, and this latest donation is to support pediatric infectious disease research. This money has the potential to accelerate the progress in researching, and treating life-threatening diseases that affect children.

Dolly says “I love all children. No child should ever have to suffer, and I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible.”

Talking about the donation, Mark Denison, MD, professor of Pediatrics and director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases says, “We are deeply honored by Dolly’s contribution to our research mission. For over 40 years our division has been a national and international leader in studies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of life-threatening infections, and this gift will accelerate our work and support new ideas.”

Of course many remember Dolly’s previous $1 million donation to Vanderbilt in April 2020 in honor of her longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD, professor of Surgery, to increase scientific knowledge and advance the battle against COVID-19 by supporting research teams working urgently to perfect treatments and cures.    

Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine says “Dolly’s previous support to infectious disease research, and also our pediatric cancer program, has already saved countless lives. This new gift will bolster our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole. It speaks volumes about her passion for people, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”

For decades now Dolly and her Dollywood Foundation has been trying to make the world a better place through literacy programs, raising money for the American Red Cross, her contributions to the medical industry, and also responding to crisis when they happen like the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires in 2016 and so much more.

Once again…we don’t deserve Dolly Parton, she’s too good for us.

Headline Photo Credit: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Additional Photo Courtesy of Dolly Parton

In Case You Missed It – Breland Appeared on the Today Show with His Parents

In Case You Missed It – Breland Appeared on the Today Show with His Parents

Posted on June 15, 2022

Breland appeared on Today and talked with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager about how TikTok helped launched his career, and his first album that will be arriving later this year.

There were also special guests in the studio as Breland’s parents made the trip to New York to watch their son on the show.

The young country singer then performed a medley of songs that included “Praise The Lord” and his brand new single “Natural.”

Watch Breland’s appearance on Today right here…

Photo Courtesy of Breland

Tenille Arts Shares a Song With Her Fans That She Couldn’t Wait to Share With Her Fans

Tenille Arts Shares a Song With Her Fans That She Couldn’t Wait to Share With Her Fans

Posted on June 15, 2022

Sometimes when an artist creates a new song they just can’t wait to share it with fans – that’s what happened to Tenille Arts.

While the track isn’t even done yet, Tenille got in her car, jumped on social media and gave fans a taste of “Jealous Of Myself” – a song that she’s really excited about.

Check out the video here…

Photo Courtesy of Tenille Arts

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