Preview: Pitching At The Forefront Of Vanderbilt’s 2022 Season

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Nick Maldonado - Vandy

Nick Maldonado. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Vanderbilt baseball team is set to begin their 2022 season on Friday, Feb. 18, when they face Oklahoma State in a three-game series at Hawkins Field.

Vandy is heading into the season ranked No. 3 in DI Baseball’s top 25 and will once again be led by coach Tim Corbin, who in his tenure has built Vanderbilt’s program into one of the best baseball programs in the nation.

The Commodores have four players in DI Baseball’s 2022 Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects: Carter Young (No. 25), Spencer Jones (No. 60), Dominic Keegan (No. 66) and Nick Maldonado (No. 74).

After last year’s huge pitching performances from Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, Maldonado will continue the pitching excellence as he has been named the Opening Day starter.

Maldonado, a junior, finished last season with a 2.31 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings. He has been named to three All-American teams and also recorded nine saves out of the bullpen in 2021.

Along with Maldonado, freshman Carter Holton is prepped for a huge season with the Vandy Boys. Holton, a Georgia native, comes to town as the nation’s top-ranked left-hander overall prospect, according to Perfect Game. He was drafted by Milwaukee in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

At the plate, Young will be one of the keys for offensive success. The program’s top MLB prospect this year, Young had a batting average of .252 with 238 at-bats in 61 games played last season. He had 60 hits, 16 homeruns and 52 RBI’s along with a slugging percentage of .559.

The big batters returning to Vanderbilt this season will be senior Dominic Keegan and sophomore Enrique Bradfield Jr.

Keegan led the team in batting average (.345), RBI’s (57), and slugging (638). He finished second in homeruns with 15 and hits with 80.

Bradfield came up big time for the Commodores many times as a freshman. Last season, he earned a .336 batting average, led the team with 82 hits, had 38 RBI’s and led the team in runs with 60. These two guys will be extremely important for Vanderbilt’s success during SEC play, when the Commodores face some of the nation’s best pitching staffs.

Vanderbilt play their first nine games at home before heading to Hawaii for a six-game series. SEC play opens March 18 when the Commodores take on Missouri. The team will also face local rivals Belmont and Lipscomb in the Nashville College Baseball Series hosted at First Horizon Park.

The Commodores will also host major series against Tennessee, Florida and LSU. For more information about Vandy’s schedule and for tickets, head to the Vanderbilt Athletics website.

First Horizon Park To Host Vanderbilt, Belmont, Lipscomb In Nashville College Baseball Series

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First Horizon Park will host this spring’s Nashville College Baseball Series, presented by Gray Line Tennessee, featuring a two-game series with the Vanderbilt Commodores, Belmont Bruins and Lipscomb Bisons.

The No. 3 Commodores will play the Belmont Bruins in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, March 22 with Vandy serving as the home team. This will mark the fifth time the two teams will play at First Horizon Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Vanderbilt will then square off against the Lipscomb Bisons on Tuesday, March 29 with Lipscomb serving as the home team. The 2022 matchup is the fourth between the two programs at the home of the Sounds. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

The Nashville College Baseball Series will offer several ticket promotions for college students, alumni groups and college baseball fans alike. Ticket options include Reserve Section tickets in sections 108-118 for $15 per ticket, while the remainder of the main concourse seating bowl in sections 101-107 and 119-121, plus the grass berm in left field, will be general admission seating for $8 per ticket. Sounds season ticket members will have the option to purchase a Reserve Section ticket for $8.

Student Ticket Promotion – $10

  • One General Admission ticket in the Vanderbilt Health Picnic Place / The Band Box.
  • One hot dog and one fountain soda.
  • Transportation courtesy Gray Line Tennessee from Vanderbilt University or Belmont University to and from First Horizon Park for the Tuesday, March 22 game only.

Hit City Hall Ticket Promotion for Alumni Groups – $40

  • One Corner Section ticket in sections 122-124.
  • All-you-can-eat buffet featuring burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, water, soda and sweet tea in Hit City Hall

For more information about the games and ticket, visit the Nashville Sounds website.

College Corner: Jill Jelnick, UTK’s Kennedy Chandler, MTSU Football

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Jill Jelnick Joins Belmont’s Bruins Sports Network

Belmont University Athletics has announced that Fox Nashville’s Sports Director Jill Jelnick will serve as a contributing broadcaster for Bruin Sports Network’s baseball and softball broadcasts on ESPN+.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jill Jelnick to our Bruin Sports Network broadcasts on ESPN+,” says Assistant Athletic Director for Broadcasting & Media Relations Greg Sage. “Jill’s experience and enthusiasm will enrich our broadcasts and the overall presentation of our softball and baseball programs.”

Jelnick will serve as lead play-by-play announcer for select Belmont softball and baseball games. She served as play-by-play broadcaster for the 2021 Texas Collegiate League and color analyst for the American Athletic Conference, UTSA and Incarnate Word.

“I am ecstatic to be joining the Bruin family in the booth this year,” says Jelnick. “Looking forward to sharing the excitement of Belmont softball and baseball with the fans, as well as telling the personal stories of Belmont’s remarkable student-athletes.”

Jelnick joins WTVF’s Steve Layman and WKRN’s Emily Proud as Nashville television affiliate broadcasters within the Belmont Athletic’s broadcast team.

 

Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler Named Bob Cousy Award Top 10 Finalist

Kennedy Chandler. Photo: Courtesy of the University of Tennessee Athletics

The University of Tennessee freshman Kennedy Chandler has been named as one of 10 finalists for the 2022 Bob Cousy Award.

This season, Chandler is the team’s second-leading scorer and assists leader this season, averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. Chandler has scored in double figures 11 times this season and has led the Volunteers in scoring four times.

Chandler’s 4.7 apg ranks fourth in the SEC, while also ranking seventh in the SEC in field goal percentage and third amongst guards. His 1.75 assist/turnover ratio is seventh-best in the SEC. Chandler has also posted elite defensive numbers this year. Through his 19 games this season, Kennedy has posted a team-high 43 total steals.

The Bob Cousy Award is awarded each year to the top point guard in college basketball. Chandler is the only true freshman among the top 10 finalists. The list will be narrowed down to five finalists in late February.

 

 

MTSU Football Opens 2022 Season At James Madison 

The Middle Tennessee State University football team has announced it will face James Madison University in its 2022 season opener on Sept. 3.

The game is a late replacement for the previously scheduled home game against Missouri. The Tigers recently informed the Blue Raiders they would not be coming to Murfreesboro.

“We lost the Missouri game last fall as they chose to contractually buyout the game,” says Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “Every avenue was taken in order to keep the game but to no avail. Missouri will have to pay us $800,000 to exercise the buyout part of the contract. There were not a lot of options so we are thankful JMU was willing to work with us.”

This will be just the second time these two programs have played each other. JMU won the first meeting 24-22 during the 1994 season.

The complete 2022 schedule will be announced at a later date by Conference USA.

Vanderbilt Football Promotes Joey Lynch, Hires Alex Bailey

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Joey Lynch. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt head football coach Clark Lea has announced the promotion of Joey Lynch to offensive coordinator and has hired Alex Bailey as the wide receivers coach.

Lynch takes on his new role after spending the 2021 season as Vanderbilt’s quarterbacks coach.

Prior to Vanderbilt, Lynch served as offensive coordinator at Colorado State in 2020 following 11 seasons at his alma mater Ball State. He started as wide receivers coach before moving to tight ends. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2014 and assistant head coach in 2019. Lynch was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2019 after leading the Cardinals to rank 16th nationally in total offense.

“Joey is a smart coach who pours his heart into his work,” says Lea. “He is a valued member of our Vanderbilt football family and I am beyond excited to watch him continue to grow our offense in the coordinator position as we move from Year 1 to Year 2 in our systems.”

Bailey joins Vanderbilt after spending one year at Colorado State, preceded by six seasons at Ball State. He coached receivers and served as recruiting coordinator for the Cardinals.

During Bailey’s tenure, wide receiver Justin Hall was named an All-MAC receiver four consecutive years and finished his career as the nation’s active leader in career receptions. Bailey also mentored KeVonn Mabon and Jordan Willians who finished third and fourth, respectively, in career receiving yards at Ball State.

“I’m thrilled to announce Alex Bailey as our new receivers coach,” says Lea. “Alex has established a strong reputation within the coaching community as a successful teacher, mentor and recruiter. We will be leaning on Alex to develop the next wave of great wide receivers here in Nashville.”

Lynch and Bailey are reuniting after spending 2015-19 together on the staff at Ball State.

The Commodores are coming off a 2-10 season where they failed to win a single SEC game in Lea’s first year as head coach. Vanderbilt opens the 2022 season Aug. 27 at Hawai’i and are set to play Elon in the home opener on Sept. 3.

Lipscomb’s Ashan Asadullah Sets Career ASUN Record In Points, Assists & Rebounds

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Ashan Asadullah. Photo: Courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics

Lipscomb senior Ahsan Asadullah has spent all season breaking records, but has now made history in the Atlantic Sun Conference accumulating 1400 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.

Asadullah set this record on Saturday, Jan. 29 in the Bisons 77-74 win over North Florida. He finished with a line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. He also set another record for most double-doubles this season, now with seven.

The Georgia native has made an impact on Lipscomb’s basketball program since he was a freshman, having been named to ASUN All-Freshman selection.

He’s been named to the All-ASUN First Team twice in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and the ASUN All-Tournament Team in 2019-20.

This season, he’s averaging 15.5 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game with 14 steals and 11 blocks.

College Corner: Belmont’s Grayson Murphy, Vanderbilt & Tennessee Baseball Preseason Poll Rankings

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Belmont’s Grayson Murphy Breaks OVC All-Time Assist Record

Grayson Murphy. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont senior Grayson Murphy has broken the Oho Valley Conference’s all-time assist record with 702 assists. He picked up five assists in Monday’s (Jan. 24) win against Eastern Illinois University.

The point guard broke Bruce Jones‘ record from Eastern Kentucky, who held the record for 41 years. Murphy has been one of the pillars of Belmont’s current squad and averages 8.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.8 apg.

The Franklin, Tennessee, native has led the Bruins in assists and steals in each of the past three seasons. He is a two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2021 OVC Preseason Co-Player of the Year.

 

 

Vanderbilt Ranked No. 2 In Baseball America Preseason Poll

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

As the college baseball season is just about a month away, Vanderbilt has been ranked No. 2  in Baseball America‘s preseason top 25 rankings.

Vanderbilt made its second straight trip to the College World Series in 2021, eventually losing to Mississippi State. The Commodores are among six other SEC teams in Baseball America‘s top 10: Mississippi State (No. 3), Florida (No. 6), Arkansas (No. 8), Ole Miss (No. 9) and LSU (No. 10.)

The Dores will welcome back some of the best players in the nation, including D1Baseball’s 2022 Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects Carter Young (No. 25), Spencer Jones (No. 60), Dominic Keegan (No. 66) and Nick Maldonado (No. 74).

Recently extended head coach, Tim Corbin, will lead Vanderbilt back on to the field on Feb. 18, when the Commodores welcome Oklahoma State, who is ranked No. 19 in Baseball America’s preseason poll.

 

 

University of Tennessee Ranked No. 17 In Baseball America‘s Preseason Poll

Photo: by Andrew Ferguson/University of Tennessee Athletics

Along with their cross-state rival, Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee was also included in Baseball America‘s preseason top 25, being ranked No. 17.

The Volunteers had one of their most successful seasons ever in 2021, finishing with an overall record of 50-18 and an SEC record of 20-10. UTK hosted a regional for the first time since 2005 and hosted a super regional for the first time ever, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the NCAA tournament’s first two rounds before making the program’s fifth trip to the College World Series.

This season, the Vols are slated to play five of the top 10 teams in Baseball America‘s rankings, including a College World Series rematch with No. 1 Texas at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston on March 4.

Tennessee will also returns 24 letterwinners from last season’s team, including “Super Seniors” in Evan Russell, Luc Lipcius and Redmond Walsh.

Belmont University Announces Rick Byrd Character Formation & Leadership Program

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Pictured (L-R): Cheryl Byrd, Rick Byrd, Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones and Dr. Greg Jones. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont University

Belmont University is honoring retired basketball coach Rick Byrd with the establishment of the Rick Byrd Character Formation and Leadership Program.

The new initiative will create curriculum around Byrd’s leadership, coaching, and character formation philosophies which can be embedded in both academic courses and co-curricular programming across the University. The Rick Byrd Character Award will annually recognize an individual in the community who exemplifies the leadership and character of Byrd.

“Rick Byrd embodies the kind of character we hope our students will emulate,” says Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones. “A consummate professional who achieved unparalleled success in his field, Coach Byrd’s impact extends far beyond athletics. His integrity, grace and humility—along with his dedicated and disciplined leadership approach—will provide a tremendous model for our students to explore as we develop programming that will guide them in their own character formation. His example also is exemplary for leaders in our community as well as more broadly in the world.”

Byrd, who was recently inducted in the College Basketball Hall of Fame, tallied 805 wins in his over 33-year career at Belmont before his retirement in 2019. He led the Bruins from NAIA to NCAA Division I, growing the program to one of the most successful in the country. In his final season, he led Belmont to its first ever NCAA Tournament at-large bid and the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win over Temple.

Along with the success Byrd brought on the court, he established a standard quo of academic excellence. Since 2001, Belmont men’s basketball leads the nation in Academic All-America selections with 18 and is the only program to rank among the nation’s best every year since the inception of the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

“Rick has previously noted how much he was influenced by his own father, a sports columnist, as well as the personal character and Christian commitment of another legendary coach, John Wooden,” shares Milton Johnson, retired Chairman/CEO of HCA Healthcare and current chair of Belmont’s Board of Trustees. “It’s exciting to me to imagine the future men and women who will note Rick Byrd as their influence in leading a life of integrity, kindness and excellence. Through these new initiatives, Belmont ensures Rick’s legacy and impact will endure as individuals across the university and in the community are inspired by his example.”

Vice President for Transformative Innovation, Character and Purpose Dr. Amy Crook; Associate Professor and Chair of Sport Administration Dr. Ted Peetz; and Assistant Professor of Management Dr. Paula Roberts will work with Byrd to develop the Character Formation and Leadership curriculum. Plans for the program’s implementation and for the inaugural Rick Byrd Character Award will be announced at a future date.

UTK’s Josh Heupel Named Co-Winner Of 2021 Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award

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Josh Heupel. Photo: Andrew Ferguson/University of Tennessee

After a successful first season with the University of Tennessee, head football coach Josh Heupel has been named co-winner of the 2021 Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award.

Heupel, who previously won the award in 2018 while at UCF, is sharing this year’s award with South Carolina’s Shane Beamer.

“Well there are two coaches this year because they are both very deserving,” says Spurrier. “Preseason, their teams were picked next to Vandy at the bottom of the league, 12 and 13, but instead of gloom and doom they took their players and improved every game and both finished 7-6.”

The Volunteers were coming off a 3-7 record a year ago when they were picked to finish fifth in the SEC East standings in Heupel’s debut season. However, Tennessee won three of their final four regular season games, secured third place in the SEC East with a 4-4 mark, and posted seven victories to secure a bowl berth while playing one of college football’s toughest schedules. UT was one of only four squads to face both College Football Playoff title game participants.

Heupel led Tennessee to huge strides this season, shattering eight single-season team records under his watch, including points (511), total offensive yards (6,174), touchdowns (67), point after touchdowns made (67), total first downs (316), rushing first downs (164), fewest interceptions thrown (3), and passing efficiency (167.10). Heupel is one of only five Vol head coaches in the last 80 years to win seven or more games in his first season.

He helped develop graduate transfer Hendon Hooker to have the best season of his college career, setting single-season school records for completion percentage (68.0) and passing efficiency (181.41). Hooker also led the SEC and ranked third nationally in passing efficiency.

Heupel’s Volunteers return to Neyland Stadium to kickoff the 2022 season against Ball State on Sept. 3.