SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon
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Volume 145, Issue 3
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Wednesday, February 7, 2024
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@utkdailybeacon
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION
EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abby Ann Ramsey MANAGING EDITOR: Bella Hughes COPY CHIEF: Emma Johnston NEWS EDITOR: Eli Boldt ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Macy Roberts SPORTS EDITOR: Caleb Jarreau ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Jack Church DIGITAL PRODUCER: Karsten Hoglund OPINIONS EDITOR: Calie Wrona PHOTO EDITOR: Cole Moore DESIGN EDITOR: Emma Fingeret ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Sarah Portanka PAGE DESIGNERS: Jibril Foronas, Chloe Black
COVER PHOTO: Sofia Cabezas (Sam Barbour
/ Contributor), Johannus Monday (Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon), Christian Moore (Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon), Payton Gottshall (File / The Daily Beacon), Jacious Sears (Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics)
ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION ADVERTISING MANAGER: Cullen Askew ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES: Shelby
Coppock, Jacob Stromatt ADVERTISING PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Donatella
Thomas, Ailin Lopez
CONTACTS TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM OR SUBMIT A PRESS RELEASE, please email editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com TO PLACE AN AD, please email admanager@utk.edu. LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published. The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief. CORRECTIONS POLICY:It is The Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or staff members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication. To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to editorinchief@ utdailybeacon.com. The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. The offices are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon. com
Sports Editor: Growing up with college baseball CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor
Baseball was the sport of choice for me when I was younger. Trips to Lindsey Nelson Stadium were a common occurrence in my childhood. I was not a Tennessee fan, but I was a college baseball fan. The Knox County Schools coupon book offered free tickets to almost all baseball games. We used those coupons, and we were seemingly the only ones using those coupons. The stadium was empty in those days because the baseball often wasn’t good. We didn’t care. We just loved watching college baseball. My dad and I made trips to Hoover yearly to watch the SEC baseball tournament with rain delays and all. We would go to Baton Rouge to watch baseball in the mecca that is Alex Box Stadium. As I entered high school and played high school baseball myself, travel to watch college games became less frequent for me. Tony Vitello also rejuvenated Tennessee baseball by that time, so tickets became expensive. My love for the game still grew. I spent a plethora of high school classes watching mid-major college games on my phone. It is a game like no other. There is no game that has as much passion and energy as college baseball does. Every pitch has so much riding on it in every game. Losing one SEC game could make or break a team’s season.
Yes, baseball is baseball. The sport at the professional level has made rule changes to attract more attention to the game, but there are still boring games. It is hard to convince someone that players are giving their 100%, full effort in a game in late June. There are no games off in college baseball, and it is a grind. Stadiums packed to the brim to watch 18-22 year olds try to achieve a championship that is probably the hardest to attain. That is why I love college baseball. I completed the pilgrimage that every college baseball fan must make in their life — attending the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. I got to cover the event for the very outlet I am writing his letter for now. That trip included covering Tennessee’s first win in Omaha since Chris Burke was playing for the Vols. My dream was to play college baseball. Obviously — since I am writing this letter — that didn’t work out. The next best thing is getting to cover the sport. I also stumble into covering baseball at one of the best times for the sport and for Tennessee. College baseball viewership and revenue are approaching all-time highs. The sport is becoming mainstream and it is becoming popular. It is evident right down the street at Lindsey Nelson. New stands are flying up down the left field line to increase the capacity of the stadium and make it break into the top echelon of college baseball. When I opened this letter, I talked about how easy it was to get a ticket to a Tennessee baseball
game. It is the exact opposite now. Even with the renovations that are rapidly finishing up, tickets won’t be easy to come by. I am happy that more people are falling in love with the sport that I have enjoyed since I was 6 years old. I am happy to see the viewership numbers and the revenue that college baseball is bringing in. I hope to see the trajectory of the sport continue. I encourage you to follow along as another college baseball season that will surely be filled with big moments and memories.
Caleb Jarreau covered the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2023, fulfilling a life-long dream. Courtesy of Caleb Jarreau
Asst. Sports Editor: Your gateway to Tennessee softball JACK CHURCH Assistant Sports Editor
My first ever beat with The Daily Beacon was covering softball. I vividly remember going to a preseason exhibition at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to get quotes for my stories for this very issue last year. It was my first assignment as a staff writer as well. The next weekend, I wrote my first game story. Tennessee defeated Howard 21-1 at a tournament in Florida, and because the stream was not working, I covered the game off the radio. I ended up doing so several more times last year. Between games and other media obligations, I spent over 100 hours at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. I have seen rain, I have seen sun and I have covered games in weather so cold I could barely move my fingers to type. I’m so ready to do it all again. One of the highlights of my softball coverage came when Tennessee won the SEC Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2007 by beating South Carolina. Just one week later in Arkansas, the Lady Vols beat South Carolina again to win the SEC tournament.
I was participating in a study abroad program in late May of last year and did not cover the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Caleb Jarreau filled in for me and watched the Lady Vols return to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in eight years. Sorry Caleb, but I’ll be doing coverage through the whole tournament this year. Tennessee is once again expecting to have a lengthy stay in the postseason this year. The Lady Vols return their top four batters from a season ago, including first-team All-American outfielder Kiki Milloy. Although Tennessee’s pitching staff is weaker than last year due to the graduation of Ashley Rogers, Payton Gottshall and Karlyn Pickens certainly have the potential to perform at a very high level. So, that brings us to this special issue. The sports section has filled these pages with everything you need to know before Tennessee softball opens its season against UT Arlington on Feb. 8 - which, if you are reading the issue on the day of publication, is tomorrow. Tennessee’s home opener is March 1, with conference play beginning just two weeks later. We also have updates on Tennessee’s men’s golf team. Following the loss of Caleb Surratt to LIV Golf, the Vols need to regroup going into the spring season. I guess there is also baseball going
on, too, so we wrote a little about that. Softball was the best of the 20 programs at Tennessee last year. Tennessee softball was the only program to be one of the best four teams in its sport. Tennessee softball was the only program to win either an SEC regular season or tournament championship, and it won both. The Lady Vols will try to do it all again, and I will be there every step of the way.
Tennessee softball players pose for a photo following a win over South Carolina to clinch a SEC Regular Season Championship. Jack Church / The Daily Beacon
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • The Daily Beacon
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A preview of Tennessee baseball’s starting rotation for 2024 CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor
Tennessee baseball is left with just one starter from its 2023 rotation. With Chase Dollander off to the MLB and Chase Burns transferring to Wake Forest, Drew Beam is set to become the ace of the staff in 2024. Beam was likely the Vols’ most consistent arm last year. Beam posted a 3.63 ERA last season with a 9-4 record. He also started the game to send the Vols to the College World Series, defeating Southern Miss. Whether it is starting on Friday nights or Sundays, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello expects the same thing out of Beam. “Stability, which has kind of been his M.O. since he’s been on campus even as a freshman,” Vitello said. “We always talk about that quarterback mindset, presence he has. He’s an incredibly mature kid. A lot of it based off just the family he comes from and just how he is. He’s been a great teammate, so stability, especially early in the season. “I don’t necessarily know what day he’ll throw on, but it’ll certainly be a day where we want to know we’ve got a good chunk of innings and strikes and presence on the mound.” Who will fill the other two spots in Tennessee’s starting rotation is more of a question. AJ Russell seems poised to take on more of a commanding role for the staff. The 6-foot-6 righty could slot into the starting rotation after posting a 0.89 ERA in just 30 innings last season. Russell has added a curveball and changeup to his repertoire, seemingly preparing to become a starting option for the Vols. “I just kind of developing pitches,”
Russell said. “I think last year I was kind of a two-pitch guy — fastball, slider. So this year really honed in on strength and all that and then just throwing four pitches.” Freshman Matthew Dallas is who Vitello mentioned when he was asked about that final weekend rotation spot. The 6-foot-5 lefty out of Arlington, Tennessee, ranked as the No. 97 overall prospect out of high school. Vitello has shown he isn’t afraid to start freshman, so Dallas could be that third starter. “Dallas threw yesterday for the first time against hitters — I want to get it right, I think in about seven months,” Vitello said. “So you kind of don’t know what you’re really going to get even though you followed this kid all the way through high school and he looked sharp. As a freshman, you don’t want to pump a guy’s tires too much, but it wasn’t just the stuff (that was) good, it was kind of the attitude and the presence we’re looking for.” Dallas is a part of a talented crop of freshman pitchers that arrived at Tennessee. There are also some veteran options to fill that third-starter spot as well. Zander Sechrist, who got most of his work in the midweek, could be a possible option for Sundays. He could also act as an opener and give opposing hitters a funky look from the left side. He posted a 2.05 ERA in 30.2 innings last season. A healthy Wyatt Evans could also give the Vols some flexibility in that Sunday spot. Evans had a dominant fall after missing the 2023 season with an unknown injury. The 6-foot-6 southpaw also provides a weird look to opposing hitters. Whoever Vitello goes with to fill out the rotation, it definitely isn’t set in stone. That was evident from just a season ago.
Drew Beam (32) pitches against Charlotte at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Sunday, June 4, 2023. File / The Daily Beacon
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Position battles rage on as Tennessee baseball approaches season opener CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor
There will be some new faces in the field when Tennessee baseball opens the 2024 season on Feb. 16. It won’t be the overhaul that happened ahead of the 2023 season, but there are some crucial positions that need to be replaced. One of those positions is at shortstop. With Maui Ahuna going to the MLB, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is tasked with finding a new everyday shortstop. Vitello called freshman Ariel Antigua one of the options for the position entering spring practice. “Then also Ariel was kind of the guy that was, based off what teammates said and other coaches,” Vitello said, “kind of the guy that was a leading candidate at that spot as well.” Unfortunately for Antigua and the Vols, the freshman will likely miss the beginning of the season with a hand injury. A position that was already up for grabs is even more in question. Antigua had a dominant fall and will likely slide into shortstop when he returns, but the Vols need a solution in the meantime. Vitello spoke highly of second baseman Christian Moore in his preseason availability as well. Moore proved in the fall that he can play shortstop, and his bat will be a constant in the lineup. Moore has been a consistent option at second basemen, though, so he may not want to move. There also isn’t a sure option to replace Moore at second base. Another freshman, Dean Curley, could also provide an option at shortstop. There are also junior college options Bradke Lohry and Alex Perry. Perry got good run at shortstop in fall practice, but he is still unproven in the SEC. The depth is nice, but there likely won’t be a sure-fire answer at shortstop until conference play. “We’re going to have to work through those things, and that’s gonna be an ongoing process,” Vitello said. “So I don’t think there’ll be a pound the fist on the desk moment that this is the guy. It’s great to have options. I don’t think anyone has really separated themselves.” Another battle at catcher The Vols return both catchers from last season, but they also bring in some very intriguing options. NC State transfer Cannon Peebles is the obvious option to be
Christian Moore (1) waits to steal on first base at the Smokies Stadium. Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon catcher No. 1 for Tennessee this spring. Peebles hit .352 during his freshman year with the Wolfpack while slugging .697. He led all NC State hitters with his stats. “I think that’s a bat that’s tough to keep out of the lineup each day and his competitive spirit, too,” Vitello said. “But we don’t want to, again, wear anyone down early in the year behind the dish. We’ll probably balance those guys out as best as we can. And then when you get to May, or hopefully June, that’s kind of when you write out what you think is the best lineup.” Another interesting option behind the dish is Missouri transfer Dalton Bargo. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound utility player hit .279 with five home runs and 23 RBIs as a
freshman in the SEC. An interesting aspect to Bargo is his ability to play almost anywhere in the field, not just at catcher. “We had self-admittedly said, ‘He just wasn’t himself at the start,’ and then ended the fall on a really hot streak,” Vitello said. “And the one ace in the hole he has is, he knows what the league looks like. He knows what college baseball looks like. He knows what being in the starting lineup (looks like), so that’ll play to his advantage, and he’s got a little sense of determination to him that he didn’t have in the fall, too. “So all things combined, he’s gonna be a guy who gets at-bats for us — probably plays behind the plate in the infield and in the outfield.”
Who will DH? Tennessee has lots of offensive options that can provide a boost to the lineup. Bargo is an option to designated hitter if he is not in the field. Another option is Kavares Tears. If Tears is healthy, his pop should insert him pretty seamlessly into the lineup. He hit .304 in 56 at-bats last season with a pair of home runs before a nagging hamstring slowed his production. Junior college transfer Robin Villeneuve could also be an option at DH along with fellow JUCO transfer Marcus Phillips. If Reese Chapman doesn’t slot into the outfield, then he could contend at DH. There should be no shortage of offense for the Vols in the 2024 season.
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
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Tennessee baseball boasts talented roster entering 2024 season RYAN HANNA Contributor
As winter becomes spring, a new baseball season approaches the Tennessee Vols. Head coach Tony Vitello will have a tough act to follow up this season after the Vols’ run to the College World Series last year. To that end, Tennessee enters 2024 with a top-five transfer portal class over the summer according to NCAA.com. In addition to the current in-house talent that Vitello and his staff have cultivated over the past several years, Tennessee has created depth throughout its roster. Here’s how it breaks down. The infield is led by three newcomers: freshman shortstop Ariel Antigua, Clemson transfer Billy Amick and NC State transfer Cannon Peebles. Antigua figures to play up the middle for Vitello, depending on where veteran infielder Christian Moore settles in. Antigua will likely miss the beginning of the season with injury, throwing a wrench into plans. “It’s great to have options. I don’t think anyone has really separated themselves,” Vitello said. “The one thing we got out of the fall was (Christian Moore) established that he can play that position, and then
also Ariel was kind of the guy that was a leading candidate at that spot as well.” Peebles and Amick will provide the Vols with plenty of offensive impact, with Peebles likely to split time behind the plate and Amick likely to fill in at third base following Zane Denton’s likely absence from Tennessee this spring. Amick is a very physical presence who has lots of power and should slot in the middle of the order for the Vols. The Clemson transfer hit .413 with an on-base percentage of .464 and a .772 slugging percentage in 46 games for the Tigers last year. Peebles hit .352 with a .456 on-base percentage and a .697 slugging percentage in 46 games for NC State last season. Meanwhile, returning first baseman Blake Burke and transfer Robin Villeneuve bring some more offense to the club. Burke, a fan favorite in Tennessee, is coming off a sophomore season in which he clubbed 16 home runs with 43 RBIs and hit .280 with a .369 on-base percentage and a .527 slugging percentage. Villeneuve, a powerful right-handed stroke for the Vols, will likely see the majority of his time at designated hitter while Burke is at first. He hit .401 with a .487 onbase percentage and a .899 slugging percentage at Weatherford College last season,
with his 28 home runs netting him the NJCAA national home run champion. In the outfield, Tennessee has several returning players poised for big seasons. Sophomores Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling along with junior Hunter Ensley will likely get the majority of the reps for Vitello this season. Tears is coming off a freshman season in which he hit .304 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .518 slugging percentage with six doubles and two home runs in 29 games before being sidelined with injury. The 6-foot, 205-pound lefty will likely hit toward the bottom of the Vols’ lineup — a testament to the depth Tennessee has created on offense. Ensley, who had the go-ahead RBI in the Vols’ extra-inning regionals win over Clemson last season, will anchor Tennessee’s defense in the outfield. He had 116 putouts without an error last year, a muchneeded trait for an offensively-minded Vols team. Meanwhile, on the mound, Tennessee has lost the likes of Chase Dollander, Camden Sewell, Chase Burns and more. The Vols will need stability from the top of their rotation, and they’ve got it in junior righthander Drew Beam. While Beam regressed some in 2023, he made all 17 starts and has averaged 16
starts in his two seasons with Tennessee. He has a career 3.20 [ERA] in 160 innings in those two seasons — the model of consistency for Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson’s staff. “We always talk about that quarterback mindset and presence he has,” Vitello said. “He’s an incredibly mature kid, a lot of it based off just the family he comes from and just how he is. He’s been a great teammate ,so stability, especially early in the season.”
Blake Burke (25) gives ball to a fan at Smokies Stadium. Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
‘She walks that walk’
How transferring to Tennessee flipped a switch for Jacious Sears CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor
The moment a switch flipped for Jacious Sears came at the 2023 Indoor SEC Championships. Sears lined up in lane five beside her fellow Lady Vol Joella Lloyd. Sears took a breath, got set and fired out of the blocks in the 60-meter inside Tyson Indoor Track Center at Arkansas. Moments like the SEC Championship were nothing new to Sears. She already had an ACC Championship to her name with Miami in the same event she was now running in a Tennessee jersey. Sears reached the halfway point of the race, leading Georgia’s Kaila Jackson by a step or two. As she closed on the finish line, she maintained that lead. When she took home the ACC Championship her sophomore season with a 7.25, there were no smiles. There wasn’t a big celebration following the win, just a call to her high school coach. The SEC Championship was different. Both Derek Walker and Tennessee’s director of track and field Duane Ross concur that Sears was different after she crossed the finish line. Sears hit the wall following her SEC Championship before turning right to see her time. She read 7.11, letting out a big smile and hugging her teammate. It was a then-personal best. The Sears that Walker coached at Fast Lane Track Club in West Florida was back. The smile and infectious energy that he had come to know returned to her face as she claimed an SEC Championship. “She’s almost like my daughter, and her happiness came back,” Walker said. “It was the best feeling in the world.” Staying close to home It was clear to Walker early that Sears had potential on the club team, but she didn’t have many scholarship offers to run in college. It wasn’t until the 2019 New Balance Indoor Nationals that she began to attract college attention. That attention culminated in Sears’ decision to run for Miami. It offered her the chance to continue her career at the collegiate level while also staying close to home. The COVID-19 pandemic cut her first year
short, but Sears didn’t feel like she was improving. Her first full season with the Hurricanes saw her register a fifth-place finish at the ACC Championships in the 60-meter. She ran a season-best time of 7.30 in the 60-meter that season — a time that was just three-tenths of a second faster than her time in high school two years before. Sears’ work ethic remained the same, but it wasn’t working — her times were not getting faster. Whatever the cause, the lack of success took a toll on Sears mentally. “Mentally it was hard on me,” Sears said. “But then when I got to therapy and grew closer to God and just my spiritual journey, it helped me a lot with that.” She had deflating moments where she felt like she was a better runner in high school. When you’re unhappy, you train like you’re unhappy, Walker told her often. Walker also told her to keep her grades up. In the world of the transfer portal, there are options. There was a place where she could have success. “I told her, ‘Everything is all in God’s plan,’” Walker said. “‘We’re going to find somewhere else for you to go, and we’re going to work our way through it.’” Why Jacious Sears decided to leave Miami Walker watched as Sears hoped her career would work out at Miami. It just never clicked. Sears traveled back home, sat down with Walker and went over their options. Walker had a coaching friend at Tennessee, Ken Harnden, who put the Lady Vols into the conversation. Just when Sears had decided on Tennessee, there was a staff overhaul. Ross took over as head coach and director of track and field at Tennessee. Sears second-guessed her decision while Walker made a call to Ross. Ross had just left North Carolina A&T, an HBCU in Greensboro where he found success. During his 10-year tenure with the Aggies, Ross built a dominant program, coaching nine NCAA National Champions. Walker saw similarities between his coaching style and the coaching style of Ross. Not long after hanging up the phone, Walker realized that Tennessee was a place where Sears could thrive. What stood out to Ross about Sears transcended off the track.
Jacious Sears of the Tennessee Volunteers during the Ted Nelson Invitational at the Faskin Indoor Track and Field Facility in College Station, TX. Jan. 20, 2024. Courtesy of Cayce Smith / Tennessee Athletics “She told me her goals, what she wanted to do, that she wanted to be a national champion, and she wanted to be an Olympian,” Ross said. “She was willing to train hard, make the sacrifices and discipline to get there. I mean, I was sold.” The moment it clicked Both Ross and Walker agree that the moment Sears returned to who she was before Miami was when she won the SEC Indoor Championship in 2023. Sears mentions a different moment. For her, she realized she made the right decision in her first meet as a Lady Vol. She set a personal-best time of 7.20 in the 60-meter in that first meet. In her second meet as a Lady Vol, she set personal bests in the 60-meter and the 200-meter. “I would say that I feel like God guided me to be with these coaches because I could have went to any other, not any other school, but there were definitely other schools, like, that I was thinking about going to,” Sears said. “But the fact that I went here and these coaches — they’re transforming me as an athlete. I just feel really blessed.” Suddenly, her pro aspirations were becoming clearer. The times reflected the work she had put in — it just took a new staff in a new environment. Sears set a new SEC record and became the No. 2 all-time collegian in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Championships with a 7.04 time in prelims to wrap up her 2023 indoor season. She left the NCAA Championships with a bronze medal — Tennessee’s best finish since 2007. She did it all in just one season in Knoxville. “Going to Tennessee, that smile came back,” Walker said. “The hunger came back, and she
just went for it. And now, she’s one of the best in the world.” Now as a senior, she currently holds the NCAA No. 1 time with her 7.09 in the 60-meter final at the Ted Nelson Invitational on Jan. 20, 2024. She also holds the top time in the women’s 200meter. “Her confidence is sky-high now,” Ross said. “She walks that walk. She comes to practice. She leads. She is a champion. I mean, when she comes in, she practices like a champion. Her discipline is like a champion.” ‘Jacious is scary with what she can do’ Ross doesn’t see a ceiling for Sears this season, and the expectations are sky high. There isn’t any question about how badly Sears wants to win. “We set these goals. She wants to break the collegiate record this year,” Ross said. “I think she’ll do that.” Going pro is not easy, but Sears has the tools to do it. “She brings the complete package, like I said — so appreciative, so kind,” Ross said. “Everyone loves her. Everyone wants to be around her, and she wins graciously.” With a little help along the way, a mental reset and a move to Knoxville, Sears is poised to forever etch her reputation into the NCAA and Tennessee record books. “That conversation we had came into play again when we talked a couple of days ago, where we come from and where we are now and God’s plan for her that she’s reaching,” Walker said. “Your faith is everything. I feel like she believed in him and believed in myself and believed in coach Ross. I believe that’s the reason why she’s the person she is right now.”
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Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • The Daily Beacon
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McKenna Gibson (24) gets the force out at first against Texas in Game 1 of the Super Regionals at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Friday, May 26, 2023. File / The Daily Beacon
A look at Tennessee softball’s roster entering 2024
TREVOR MCGEE Contributor
The 2023 season brought Tennessee softball success it has not seen in many years. The Lady Vols also swept the regular season and postseason SEC Championship title — a feat they had never accomplished in program history. In the NCAA tournament, Tennessee returned to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015. Several returnees from WCWS run Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly returns 17 of 24 players from last year’s SEC championship team. There are no bigger names than Tennessee’s three 2023 All-Americans: Kiki Milloy, McKenna Gibson and Karlyn Pickens. Milloy was the heartbeat of the Lady Vol offense, posting a .406 average and 25 home runs — which led all of Division I softball. The fifthyear outfielder earned First-Team All-American honors in 2023. “Kiki is a generational player,” Weekly said. “I have never coached a player like her, and I probably never will again. Just a very special young lady in terms of her talent, her work ethic. She’s the hardest worker on the team. She’s inspiring to watch.” Gibson returns as a Second Team All-American. Batting .362 with 15 home runs, Gibson, alongside Milloy, solidified herself among the watchlist for USA Softball National Player of the Year for 2024. Payton Gottshall and Pickens will assume the majority of the innings in the circle. Gottshall returns from 110 innings pitched last season with a 1.65 ERA, while Pickens is fresh off an SEC Freshman of the Year award. Seven departures Though Tennessee returns much talent from its postseason run, it also lost many high-profile starters or contributors. The biggest is its ace pitcher, Ashley Rogers. Now playing professionally for the SIS Vipers, Rogers was the arm most relied upon by Weekly. In her graduate season, Rogers earned First Team
All-American honors with 144 of the teams’ 393 innings pitched to go along with a 0.92 ERA and a 20-1 record. Additionally, the losses of starting shortstop Mackenzie Donihoo and reserve arm Nicola Simpson will lead to finding new options on the bench. Tennessee also lost Lair Beautae, Jenna Mosley and Brylee Mesusan to the transfer portal while Shakara Goodloe graduated. Transfer portal adds two key contributors While the transfer portal results in players departing the Lady Vols, others want to join the reigning SEC champions. That was true for the additions of Conference-USA all-conference selection Laura Mealer and two-time national champion Sophia Nugent. Mealer spent her first two seasons at MTSU, where she started all 62 games for the Conference USA champions. The infielder batted .388 with 12 home runs and 30 stolen bases. “She’s one of the best learners I have ever coached,” Weekly said. “She’s going to do tomorrow what we instructed her on today.” Nugent, likewise, was also a champion but on a much higher level. The back-to-back national championship winner has only experienced four losses in the entirety of her collegiate career at Oklahoma. Nugent brings more experience behind the plate and will start at catcher during the season, allowing Giulia Koutsoyanopulos to move to the infield. “A lot of days Sophia just nails that throw down to second,” Weekly said. “We’re kind of starting to take it for granted. That’s just a really cool thing to have is somebody like her who can command the position as well as she does.” Weekly signs three high school recruits The Lady Vols signed three freshmen for the 2024 season. Twin sisters Alannah and Gabby Leach will be options from the bench, while Bella Faw will be the starting shortstop on opening day. “Bella, I’ve said it before, may end up being the best defensive shortstop we’ve ever had at Tennessee,” Weekly said. “That’s saying a lot with some of the shortstops we’ve had here. That’s why we recruited her.”
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
VOLS TO WATCH ELZA TOMASE YASEEN ABDALLA NO. 11 IN NCAA FOR IN-
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC NO. 115 IN SINGLES
FROM LIEPAJA, LATVIA
DOOR 3000-METER
2023 CROSS COUNTRY ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
FROM LANHAM, MARYLAND
KIKI MILLOY .358 AVG.
DREW BEAM 3.20 ERA
17-5 RECORD
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
FROM MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
.714 SLG%
56 HOME RUNS
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
FROM WOODINVILLE, WASHINGTON
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • The Daily Beacon
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Bella Faw has large shoes to fill at shortstop for Lady Vols softball JACK CHURCH Assistant Sports Editor
After transferring from Oklahoma, Mackenzie Donihoo was one of the most successful hitters in Tennessee softball’s lineup a year ago. For much of the 2023 season, Donihoo led the nation in doubles, finishing the season with 15. She also hit seven home runs and stole 12 bases. She was poised to make an even larger impact in 2024 in what would be her fifth season of college softball. However, she will not make an on-field impact, as she was forced to medically retire during the offseason due to injury issues. “It was heartbreaking, really heartbreaking for her because she so enjoyed her time here last year,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said. “I know how much it meant to her to come here. It was a breath of fresh air for her, and she played like it.” Donihoo was one of the best players in the country during the 2021 season at Oklahoma. She recorded a .438 batting average and was a key part of Oklahoma’s national championship win. The following season came with struggle and the decision to transfer.
She chose to come to Tennessee, and Tennessee became her home. She fully cemented herself as a key part of the Lady Vols over the course of her junior season. “It was a privilege and an honor to win two SEC titles and help return Tennessee softball to the Women’s College World Series,” Donihoo wrote in her retirement statement. “I will cherish the memories of celebrating on our home field and sharing those moments with you.” Donihoo’s presence did not just come on the field. As a former national champion, she was a leader in the clubhouse. She brought an encouraging presence to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium every day. Then, unexpectedly, she retired. The whole team did not expect her to make the decision to retire, but they were very supportive of the decision Donihoo needed to make. “It was really sad because we did not know that was going to happen,” Tennessee outfielder Kiki Milloy said. “She had things going on during the summer, so we thought that she was going to be back full steam. She is just a big presence that we lost.” Now that Donihoo’s on-field presence is gone, Tennessee needs to fill a starting shortstop role where Donihoo started all 61
games. She was able to play the position at a high level both offensively and defensively. Weekly thinks she may have a player even better than Donihoo in true freshman Bella Faw. “Bella, I said it before, may end up being the best defensive shortstop we have ever had at Tennessee, and that is saying a lot with some of the shortstops we have had here,” Weekly said. “That is why we recruited her.” Faw was ranked as the No. 5 prospect by Extra Inning Softball in her class and was a state champion at North Gwinett High School in Georgia. She will be tasked with the responsibility of replacing Donihoo’s offensive and defensive talent as Tennessee’s everyday shortstop. Although Faw is strongest defensively, her offense is also strong. Combining both her own offensive talent and the coaching ability of assistant coach Chris Malveaux — who raised Tennessee’s offensive output by an average of one run per game — Faw could see significant offensive growth as the season progresses. “Bella is really, really good on the defensive side of things, and I am really pleased with her offense too,” Weekly said. “I think we are going to be fine there.”
Infielder Bella Faw (22) of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers portrait taken during photo day in Knoxville, TN. Jan. 18, 2024. Courtesy of Andrew Ferguson / Tennessee Athletics
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SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Tennessee softball’s pitching will be like ‘everyone else’ in 2024 JACK CHURCH Assistant Sports Editor
Due to the graduation of Ashley Rogers and the transfer of Nicola Simpson, Tennessee softball only has four pitchers on the roster for the 2024 season. The strongest, Payton Gottshall, is used to pitching plenty of innings. Last year, she threw 110 innings with a 2.13 ERA. The year prior at Bowling Green, she threw 253.1 innings. While she likely will not exceed 200 innings this season, Gottshall will still see a significant increase in her play. “I am kind of used to a lot of the innings and being a workhorse,” Gottshall said. “I feel like it is going to be different just with the level of competition and bringing that every day, but I feel like everything that we have done in the fall and over the summer, I am ready for it.” Gottshall is one of two pitchers who will be graduating following the 2024 season. The other is Ryleigh White, who threw 21 innings a season ago. She allowed four earned runs all season, including a complete game shutout against UIC. Another pitcher who pitched limited innings last season was Charli Orsini. She threw 14.2 innings in her freshman season, including 3.1 innings during Tennessee’s six-run comeback win against Florida. She will see a significant increase in her innings this season. Also returning for Tennessee is SEC Freshman of the Year Karlyn Pickens. Pickens was one of the three main pitchers for Tennessee last year, but the Lady Vols will have to be more strategic with their use of pitchers. “It is going to be different for us,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “I think when you look back at last year, I think there were only two staffs in the country that could throw a different pitcher Friday, Saturday and Sunday and get complete games out of them, and it was us and Oklahoma. That was even with Ashley injured and us having to manage her innings.” Pickens has been working to improve on last year’s performance. She started the year very strong, shutting out Clemson and throwing a perfect game. However, she struggled later in the season, finishing with a 3.92 ERA. For her to find continued success, she will need to learn from her mistakes and grow both physically and mentally. “Karlyn is a really smart young lady, and she is really self aware,” Weekly said. “I think that is a key because this game at this level is not just physical. It is your mental game as well. Everything in her life, she has been so dominant at no matter what sport
she played.” However, even with Gottshall and Pickens taking on a large amount of innings, the Lady Vols will still have to be uncomfortable. There will be no easy weekends, as all four pitchers will be continually taxed. The challenges begin shortly into the season. After a four-game weekend against UT Arlington and Baylor to start the year, the Lady Vols will spend the next four weekends playing five or more games in three days. Because of Tennessee’s relative lack
of depth, the Lady Vols will no longer be unique with their pitching rotation. This means more work for both the pitchers and the coaching staff. “I think we are going to be kind of like everybody else,” Weekly said. “You have got to figure out how to match people up and how to get six, nine outs out of people and then have somebody else close out the game and figure out who is going to counter the other pitcher well in order to throw people off.”
1. Karlyn Pickens (23) delivers a pitch at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. David Smith / Contributor 2. Tennessee softball pitcher Charli Orsini (80) throws a pitch during a game against Tennessee Tech at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon 3. Payton Gottshall (33) is fired up after getting out of the inning with bases loaded against Indiana at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, May 21, 2023. File / The Daily Beacon
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • The Daily Beacon
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‘Opportunity to prove a lot of people wrong’: Vol golf prepares for spring season ALEX CARPENTER Contirbutor
Coming off one of the most dominant stretches in program history, the Tennessee men’s golf team has to band together to perform in the 2024 spring season. With the loss of star sophomore Caleb Surratt to the LIV Golf Tour, the Vols are without their ace and will have to regroup for their remaining tournaments. “It is a great opportunity for the rest of the guys to show that we are still one of the best teams in the country,” Tennessee head coach Brennan Webb told The Daily Beacon. “Caleb has got a lot of attention since he got on campus, and rightfully so, but these other guys also have elite resumes.” On Jan. 30, Tennessee announced Surratt would be turning pro and accepting a contract with the LIV Golf Tour. He leaves behind — in only just two years — one of the most storied resumes in school history. Among the various accolades for Surratt is being the first freshman to win the SEC Individual title since Justin Thomas and being the first All-American golfer in program history. Even without Surratt, the Vols are still entering the spring season ranked sixth nationally in the Clippd Scoreboard rankings. Collegiate golf is played with a five-man team, and Tennessee still has extreme talent on the roster. “Everything that’s important to win in college golf is in the spring,” Webb said. “We are just going to keep doing what we are doing.” Among those elite talents is longtime Vol and redshirt senior Bryce Lewis. Lewis in his career at Tennessee is tied for first with program legend David Skinns for rounds of par or better over the course of a career with 67. He looks to claim sole possession of that record in the spring. “I am kind of just enjoying the last few moments with the guys,” Lewis said. “I am not taking anything for granted. Lewis will have to step into a leadership role and help his team excel to finish out the season and can do so through his play. Already this year, he has notched two top-10 finishes with his highest being third at the Fighting Irish Classic. This team has already proven it can win without Surratt, winning its first home tournament since 2005 to begin the season at the Visit Knoxville Classic in September. Surratt only played one round and withdrew due to illness, and instead of giving up, the team fired a 15-under score and surged into the lead. Leading the charge was sophomore Evan Woosley-Reed posting a career-low 54-hole score of 9-under and finishing in fourth place. “The team here is great,” Woosley-Reed said during the fall season. “It’s one that I will
Head Coach Brennan Webb of the Tennessee Volunteers during the Visit Knoxville Collegiate Tournament at Tennessee National Golf Club in Loudon, TN. Sept. 8, 2023. Courtesy of Kate Luffman / Tennessee Athletics never forget and always love.” Consistency will be key for the Vols, and finding a way to keep their team score low will be paramount. Lewis and Woosley-Reed both have shown flashes of dominance in the fall but have to maintain their ability and prevent rounds from getting away from them. Webb in his six years at the helm of the program has established what some coaches can only dream of: a resilient culture. Each member of the team considers themself a part of a brotherhood that goes into every tournament with the understanding that they can work together to win. Among those members is redshirt senior Jake Hall. Hall is a Knoxville native who has seen the program grow during his six years as a member of Webb’s team. The veteran notched his best 18 holes of golf in September with a 63 at the SEC Match Play Championship. “How well we are able to get back together after a bad week is something every team has to work out,” Hall said during the fall season. “How close and how together we are when it’s good is great.” Each year Webb has continually raised the bar for his program through recruiting top talent to Tenneseee. As the fall season concluded,
the team announced another top recruiting class in the nation at 15th according to NBC Sports. “We are sixth in the country in the rankings that were released today, and I believe we will improve that throughout the spring semester,” Webb said. “The guys are going to view this semester as a great opportunity to prove a lot of people wrong.” This team will not quit chasing history. Webb will rally his team to try and reach the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2021 while leaning heavily on the talent he has recruited and the culture he has cultivated. The Vols are still vying for history trying to be the sixth team in program history to notch three wins in a single season. With four tournaments until the SEC Championship, nothing is off the table. The Vols will begin the spring season on Feb. 11 at the Puerto Rico Classic competing against two other top-10 teams in Ole Miss and East Tennessee State. “We are trying to kind of go to that next level and work on the mental part of the game,” Hall said. “Just in a short amount of time, I think a lot of us can see a big difference in our game. I am really looking forward to seeing what that looks like, to start off the
season to kind of just go from there and see what we need to adjust.” Tennessee will travel to Mexico, California and Virginia for tournaments as well this spring, culminating in the SEC Championship at St. Simons Island in Georgia on April 24. “We want to make it as far as we can. We want to win the national championship,” Hall said during the fall season. “These tournaments are great to win, but at the end of the day, it’s all leading up to and gaining experience.”
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 7, 2024
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW