As Ellen DeGeneres is wrapping up her daytime talk show she’s making sure to fit in some final appearances from her favorite guests – including Luke Bryan.
Luke stopped by to recall the time, early is his career, when he was a correspondent for Ellen’s show…and the way he got over his nerves.
Watch the conversation here…
Photo Courtesy of Luke Bryan
MEDIC is kicking off the summer season with the annual Parrot Head Week from May 23rd – 27th at all donor centers and mobile drives.
Donors will receive a special edition t-shirt, Texas Roadhouse coupon, Salsarita’s coupon, and a chance to win a $25 gift card to Margaritaville. Additionally, all donors are automatically entered to win a two-night stay at Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge. MEDIC staff will be grilling cheeseburgers from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Athens donor center on Monday, the Crossville center on Tuesday, and the Ailor and Farragut donor centers on Wednesday and Thursday. Barry Jolly will perform live on Wednesday and Thursday at the Ailor Avenue center from 11 AM to 2 PM.
“This is a great way to start the summer season, celebrate our donors, and stabilize our inventory ahead of the holiday weekend and summer season,” said director of communications Kristy Altman. “This annual event was severely affected by the pandemic, and we are very excited to bring it back this year.”
MEDIC is the primary blood product provider for major area hospitals including Blount Memorial Hospital, Covenant Healthcare System, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Tennova, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center along with other regional centers.
As a reminder, the blood on the shelves right now is the blood used in an emergency. It takes at least three days for collected red blood cells to be tested and processed and ready for distribution to hospitals.
Appointments are preferred, but walk-in donors are welcome. Donors can call 865-524-3074 to schedule their appointment.
Niko Moon recently broke some news to his fans…
Niko’s new project – Coastin’ will arrive on June 10th…
One of the tracks that fans can expect to hear on the new EP, Coastin’ is Niko Moon’s current single at country radio, “Easy Tonight.”
Photo Courtesy of Niko Moon
Michael Ray is heading out on Lee Brice‘s Label Me Proud tour starting June 2nd in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
While Michael’s been out playing shows already this year, he is happier than ever since concerts have returned and he’s been able to get out on the road, “I’ve said it before…I didn’t realize how much I needed that bus call on a Wednesday night. You know, how much I love that excitement of going to a show…going to a venue, you know whether you’ve played there you know a 100 times or it’s your first time playing there, it’s just every night’s different that’s what’s great about music and fans and just live concerts…it’s just, ever night’s different.”
Label Me Proud tour dates;
6.2.22 Hampton Beach, NH Casino Ballroom*
6.3.22 Bridgeport, CT Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
6.9.22 Kearney, NE Viaero Center*
6.11.22 Maryland Heights, MO Saint Louis Music Park*
6.16.22 Toledo, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheater**
6.17.22 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum**
6.18.22 Sterling Heights, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre**
7.8.22 Washington, D.C. The Anthem***
8.11.22 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Bay Center*
8.12.22 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre*
8.13.22 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheater*
8.25.22 Huntington, WV Mountain Health Arena*
8.26.22 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center*
8.27.22 Chattanooga, TN Soldiers and Sailors Memorial*
9.8.22 Charlottesville, VA Ting Pavilion*
9.9.22 Youngstown, OH Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre*
9.10.22 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater*
9.15.22 Cape Girardeau, MO Show Me Center*
9.16.22 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion*
9.17.22 Indianapolis, IN TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park*
9.22.22 Jonesboro, AR First National Bank Arena*
9.23.22 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena*
9.24.22 Sugar Land, TX Smart Financial Centre*
*Michael Ray & Jackson Dean
**Michael Ray & Tim Montana
***Tyler Farr & Jackson Dean
Fans will be looking for Michael Ray to sing his current single “Holy Water” live and in person on the Label Me Proud tour.
Watch the music video for “Holy Water” here…
Photo Credit: Sean Hagwell
High Valley‘s new album, Way Back, is out now!
High Valley front-man Brad Rempel is thrilled that this new project is available to fans, “I’ve been waiting for this day the way a kid waits for Christmas.”
Fans final have an opportunity to listen to the album that they actually had a hand in creating. Brad shares, “Letting our fans behind the scenes of the songwriting and demo process was so much fun. We had the Way Back album almost complete and couldn’t decide which of the most recent cowrites should make the cut, so we asked our fans to vote on our socials.”
Way Back track list;
Brad adds, “I love knowing that this album is a collection of songs I feel very strongly about, messages I believe need to be heard, and jams that our fans literally chose themselves!”
Along with Anne Wilson, one of the other special guest vocalist on the Way Back is Granger Smith on the track “Country Music, Girls & Trucks.”
Brad says “I am so incredibly pumped to have 13 brand new High Valley songs out in the world! For me, this album is about dodging the passing of time, living forever, and hoping that my kinds somehow stay young forever, and I can’t wait to hear which songs connect with the fans the most!”
When it comes to the themes on Way Back – and High Valley’s music in general, Brad shares, “I do love writings songs about return to simplicity. I call it ‘nostalgia’ you know. I’m obsessed with trying to never get old, and never die, and never have my kids grow up. And I know that none of those three things are possible, but you definitely hear me writing songs as if maybe, just maybe, they are.”
Way Back – which is available now – includes High Valley’s current single at country radio, “Whatever It Takes.”
Photo Credit: Crystal K Martel
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | WATCH: Postgame Press Conference | Postgame Quotes | Updated Season Stats | Regional Stats
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee softball suffered back-to-back losses to Oregon State to end its run in the NCAA Knoxville Regional Sunday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The Beavers took game one of the regional final 8-3 before defeating the Lady Vols 3-1 in the elimination game to secure a trip to the Super Regional round.
UT’s season comes to a close with a 41-18 overall record. The Lady Vols have won 40 or more games in 19 consecutive full seasons and have reached the NCAA Tournament every year since 2004.
Game 1 – Oregon State 8, Tennessee 3
The Lady Vols were held scoreless in six of seven innings in the first game of the Knoxville Regional Final, falling 8-3 to Oregon State in Sunday’s opener. Beaver ace Mariah Mazon tossed a complete game and limited the Tennessee offense to four hits.
The Beavers (37-20) opened the scoring in the top of the second, plating a run after a pair of doubles by outfielders Kaylah Nelsen and Madison Simon. The score was held at 1-0 after a fantastic outfield relay from Kiki Milloy to McKenna Gibson to Kelcy Leach nabbed a runner at home.
Oregon State took a three-run lead when cleanup hitter Frankie Hammoude crushed a ball off the scoreboard in the top of the third. The two-run blast moved the junior infielder into sole possession of second place on OSU’s all-time career home run chart.
After Ryleigh White entered the circle and promptly retired the side in order in the top of the fourth, the Beavers added two runs to their tally in the fifth. Savannah Whatley led off the frame with a walk and moved to third on a sac bunt, then the freshman shortstop came home on a Tennessee error to give her team a four-run lead. Nelsen made it 5-0 with a sac fly to center, but the Lady Vols did not go down without a fight.
Tennessee (41-18) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fifth with three runs on three hits. Sophomore Rylie West roped a two-run double to the right-center gap to put the Lady Vols on the board, then Milloy brought her home with an RBI single through the left side to cut the deficit to 5-3 through five.
Mazon pushed the Oregon State lead back to five in the top of the sixth, supporting her own cause with a three-run homer to left that made it 8-3 to cement the game’s final score. Tennessee put a pair of runners on to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but a strikeout and two fielder’s choices ended the contest and forced a seventh game at the Knoxville Regional.
Game 2 – Oregon State 3, Tennessee 1
Oregon State freshman Sarah Haendiges carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning as Tennessee dropped the elimination game 3-1 to the Beavers. Super senior infielder Ashley Morgan accounted for UT’s only run of the game with a solo home run in her final at-bat as a Lady Vol in the top of the seventh.
Graduate lefty Erin Edmoundson dealt five scoreless frames before the Beavers put up three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Deer Park, Texas, native finished her final career outing with four strikeouts, two walks, three earned runs and five hits allowed over 6.0 innings.
Edmoundson retired the first nine batters she faced and kept Oregon State scoreless in the fourth after escaping a bases loaded jam. She once again retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth with two Ks and a flyout.
In the bottom of the sixth, OSU freshman Kiki Escobar led off with a single through the right side before Mazon mashed her second home run of the day to put the Beavers on top 2-0. Simon added an insurance run with an RBI single to give Oregon State a three-run edge through six complete.
With two outs on the board in the seventh, Morgan stepped in and crushed a 2-1 pitch high and deep to the bleachers in right center for her 11th home run of the season and 25th of her career. A flyout to right field on UT’s next plate appearance ended the game and sent Oregon State into the super regional round.
-UT Athletics
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Concluding the best regular season in program history, the No. 1 Tennessee baseball team claimed its ninth series sweep of the season, defeating Mississippi State, 10-5, at Dudy Noble Field Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee totaled 49 wins in the 2022 regular season. The previous best record going into postseason play in program history was a 45-11 mark set in 1994. The Volunteers also went 25-5 in Southeastern Conference play. UT is only the third team in league history to compile 25 conference wins.
Evan Russell highlighted the day with a milestone home run in the fifth inning, a solo shot that marked his 38th career blast. With the big fly, Russell tied VFL Todd Helton for the program record in career home runs. The Tennessee backstop has accounted for 13 homers this season, adding 42 RBIs. He is just one homer and one RBI away from tying his season-best figure in both categories.
The Vols trailed early as RJ Yeager hit a leadoff home run, but that lead would not last long for Mississippi State (26-30, 9-21 SEC) as SEC Player of the Year candidate Trey Lipscomb mashed his 21st homer of the year, a towering two-run blast to left center in the top of the second inning that gave Tennessee a lead it would never relinquish.
Jorel Ortega added to the offensive showcase with another two-run homer in the third inning, his third big fly of an incredible series for the second baseman. An inning later, Tennessee executed a perfect delayed steal, thanks to Luc Lipcius, who got in the rundown and opened up a window for Seth Stephenson to scamper home from third base.
The Vols added two more runs on the offensive side thanks to a two-RBI double down the right field line by Drew Gilbert and an RBI groundout from Ortega, but it was yet another stellar bullpen outing from junior Kirby Connell that stood out in the late innings. The southpaw entered with the bases loaded in the fourth and stranded all three runners. The Blacksburg, South Carolina, native threw 2.2 perfect innings and struck out one Bulldog while earning his third win of the year.
Tennessee handed Mississippi State its third consecutive weekend sweep as the defending national champions failed to make the SEC Tournament.
UP NEXT: Tennessee gears up for the 2022 SEC Tournament where it will face either Vanderbilt or Ole Miss at 4:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. ET at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday, May 25. Tickets for the tournament are available for purchase by clicking here.
HISTORIC WEEKEND: Tennessee earned the program’s first ever sweep in Starkville. The Vols only had one three-game sweep of Mississippi State prior to this weekend, coming in 2015.
MISSISSIPPI (KINGS), IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN: The Volunteers earned road sweeps at both Ole Miss and Mississippi State in 2022. Tennessee’s last loss to a team from the state of Mississippi came back in 2019.
BEST OF THE BBCOR: Tennessee has bashed 137 home runs this season, the most of any team in the BBCOR era which began in 2011.
LEAVE NO DOUBT: At the end of the regular season, Tennessee held a 10-game lead in the SEC Eastern Division.
-UT Athletics
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Concluding the best regular season in program history, the No. 1 Tennessee baseball team claimed its ninth series sweep of the season, defeating Mississippi State, 10-5, at Dudy Noble Field Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee totaled 49 wins in the 2022 regular season. The previous best record going into postseason play in program history was a 45-11 mark set in 1994. The Volunteers also went 25-5 in Southeastern Conference play. UT is only the third team in league history to compile 25 conference wins.
Evan Russell highlighted the day with a milestone home run in the fifth inning, a solo shot that marked his 38th career blast. With the big fly, Russell tied VFL Todd Helton for the program record in career home runs. The Tennessee backstop has accounted for 13 homers this season, adding 42 RBIs. He is just one homer and one RBI away from tying his season-best figure in both categories.
The Vols trailed early as RJ Yeager hit a leadoff home run, but that lead would not last long for Mississippi State (26-30, 9-21 SEC) as SEC Player of the Year candidate Trey Lipscomb mashed his 21st homer of the year, a towering two-run blast to left center in the top of the second inning that gave Tennessee a lead it would never relinquish.
Jorel Ortega added to the offensive showcase with another two-run homer in the third inning, his third big fly of an incredible series for the second baseman. An inning later, Tennessee executed a perfect delayed steal, thanks to Luc Lipcius, who got in the rundown and opened up a window for Seth Stephenson to scamper home from third base.
The Vols added two more runs on the offensive side thanks to a two-RBI double down the right field line by Drew Gilbert and an RBI groundout from Ortega, but it was yet another stellar bullpen outing from junior Kirby Connell that stood out in the late innings. The southpaw entered with the bases loaded in the fourth and stranded all three runners. The Blacksburg, South Carolina, native threw 2.2 perfect innings and struck out one Bulldog while earning his third win of the year.
Tennessee handed Mississippi State its third consecutive weekend sweep as the defending national champions failed to make the SEC Tournament.
UP NEXT: Tennessee gears up for the 2022 SEC Tournament where it will face either Vanderbilt or Ole Miss at 4:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. ET at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday, May 25. Tickets for the tournament are available for purchase by clicking here.
HISTORIC WEEKEND: Tennessee earned the program’s first ever sweep in Starkville. The Vols only had one three-game sweep of Mississippi State prior to this weekend, coming in 2015.
MISSISSIPPI (KINGS), IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN: The Volunteers earned road sweeps at both Ole Miss and Mississippi State in 2022. Tennessee’s last loss to a team from the state of Mississippi came back in 2019.
BEST OF THE BBCOR: Tennessee has bashed 137 home runs this season, the most of any team in the BBCOR era which began in 2011.
LEAVE NO DOUBT: At the end of the regular season, Tennessee held a 10-game lead in the SEC Eastern Division.
-UT Athletics
Box Score (PDF) | WATCH: Postgame Press Conference | Postgame Quotes (PDF) | Championship Central | Photo Gallery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A complete-game shutout for Ashley Rogers and a three-run fifth for the Tennessee offense propelled the Big Orange to a 3-0 victory over Oregon State Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Knoxville Regional. With the win, UT advances to Sunday’s regional final needing one win to move on the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rogers was fantastic in earning her second win in as many days, tossing seven scoreless frames with eight strikeouts and two hits allowed. The right-handed senior from Athens, Tennessee, has not yielded a run in 20 innings pitched in the postseason, totaling 21 strikeouts to three walks over that stretch with just five hits surrendered.
Junior outfielder Kiki Milloy posted her second-straight multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3 with a two-run shot in the top of the fifth as Tennessee was designated to bat as the away team in the contest. Freshman infielder McKenna Gibson sparked the fifth-inning rally with a one-run single, notching her second RBI of the tournament after launching a solo blast on Friday against Campbell.
Tennessee (41-16) was limited to one hit through the first four frames but broke up the shutout with three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. Gibson opened the scoring with a single rocketed off the left field wall that allowed pinch runner Katie Taylor to dash home from second. With Gibson on first, Milloy stepped in and crushed her 15th home run of the season high and deep over the scoreboard in left center. The two-run blast gave the Lady Vols a 3-0 edge in the middle of the fifth.
Rogers dominated in the circle throughout, recording at least one strikeout in each of the last five innings for UT. Tennessee’s clean defense was also on display as the Lady Vols posted their seventh consecutive game without committing an error.
Oregon State (34-20) mustered two hits for just the third time this season with right fielder Kaylah Nelsen knocking a pair of singles for the Beavers. Pitcher Mariah Mazon took the loss, going the distance with eight strikeouts and three earned runs.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will face the winner of Saturday’s third game (matchup TBD) in the Knoxville Regional final, needing one win on Sunday to book its 12th trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. Game 6 of the Knoxville Regional is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with Game 7 slotted for 4:30 p.m. if necessary.
-UT Athletics
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Fantastic pitching and a late rally, capped by a Drew Gilbert home run, helped the top-ranked Vols secure a series victory on the road, winning 4-3 over Mississippi State Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.
Tennessee (48-7, 24-5 SEC) used a three-run eighth inning to propell itself to victory, scoring all three runs with two outs in the frame. It started with a double from Luc Lipcius to the gap in right center. Jordan Beck followed that with an RBI single to left field before Gilbert delivered his heroic blast, a two-run go-ahead drive to the opposite field that just did escape the glove of Mississippi State left fielder Brad Cumbest.
The Vols offensive output was set up by a clutch and masterful relief outing from Blade Tidwell. Tidwell, who entered for Chase Burns in the seventh, came on with two runs already home and a runner on second with no outs. He proceeded to strike out three batters, two swinging and one looking, to keep the deficit at 3-1 and allow the Vols to go ahead just a half inning later.
Tidwell earned his second victory of the season and retired all nine batters he faced. The sophomore struck out five in three innings of work, primarily on an explosive fastball that topped out at 99 mph in the final pitch of the game.
Burns, starting after coming on in relief last week, posted a strong night for the Vols. The freshman from Gallatin, Tenn. went six-plus innings and allowed three runs. The right hander had allowed only one run through the first six frames, but gave up three-straight hits to start the seventh.
Mississippi State (26-29, 9-20 SEC) struck first on a solo home run from Hunter Hines to lead off the second. The strong start from Burns was matched by Bulldog starter Preston Johnson who, in similar fashion to Burns, turned in a terrific effort, but late runs spelled the end of his evening. The junior went 7.2 innings and tossed 113 pitches. The late offense touched up the right hander to the tune of four earned runs.
Seth Stephenson delivered the first clutch hit of the day, roping a single to center field to score Evan Russell. Russell jumpstarted the fifth-inning offense with a double to the wall in left.
UP NEXT: The Volunteers round out the weekend series and close the regular season facing Mississippi State in the series finale at 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
WORKING THE LONG BALL: Tennessee homered in its eighth consecutive game this season. The Vols have hit home runs in eight consecutive games five different times this year.
A DOZEN DUBS: Blade Tidwell earned his 12th career victory in the win. It was his longest perfect outing of the season as he fired a clean inning against Tennessee Tech on April 12.
ELEVENTH ALL-TIME: With the lone home run in the game, the Vols have now hit 130 big flies this season. That number ranks 11th in Division I history for team homers in a single-season. Tennessee is averaging 2.36 long balls per game, the fourth-best total in Division I NCAA history.
-UT Athletics
