University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball Report: Strong Start to Fall Ball
October 03, 2014 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Following one of the most-successful summers in program history, the Volunteer Baseball team hit the field this week for its first official practices of the fall. With a team that boasts 13 newcomers including ten true freshmen, this year's squad returns a majority of starters who led the team last year to the SEC Tournament, marking the program's first trip to Hoover, Alabama since 2007.
Having now tasted championship success with numerous summer league teams, Tennessee's upper classmen are eager to repeat their achievements at Rocky Top, while Head Coach Dave Serrano is excited to see the positive atmosphere and attitude surrounding his team.
"We have a lot of established seniors, established juniors, a sophomore class that made big contributions last year and a big freshman class that's going to be highly-ranked throughout the country," Serrano said. "So, it's exciting to see what the future will bring. We've just got to develop guys and keep them healthy throughout the fall. I like what we see on paper but paper never wins championships."
Paper doesn't win championships. But hard work, stellar attitudes and knowledge of what it takes to get there are certainly a good start. Capping of this summer, three Vols (Vincent Jackson, Drake Owenby and A.J. Simcox) won the Cape Cod League Championship. Across the continent, two Vols (Jordan Rodgers and Kyle Serrano) made it to the Alaska Baseball League Championship series while another (Bret Marks) was named an All-Star. In California, two more Tennessee teammates (Steven Kane and Tyler Schultz) took home California Collegiate League Championship honors. And one, Chrisin Stewart, received a gold medal with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. While Serrano notes the summer leagues aren't exactly SEC competition settings, he feels the group's accomplishments will ultimately create a winning environment at Tennessee.
"I think it carries over a lot," Serrano said. "When the players come back the next year [from winning summer championships], they've already done it, they expect it and they know the road of how to get there. We felt a little success last year by getting to the SEC Tournament and I don't want to make light of that. That was a part of our goal. Now, we've got to take bigger and bigger steps."
Looking ahead, the 2015 Volunteer Baseball team has new goals. Having now witnessed the SEC Tournament, Omaha, Nebraska seems not so far away. For a team that hasn't visiting the NCAA Championships in almost 10 years, the desire to get there is now stronger than ever.
"We have an `Omaha' sign up now with what each letter represents: Opportunistic, Mentality, Attitude, Heart and Always put the team first," Serrano added. "It symbolizes what our goal is and I feel as a program, now that is our goal. Whether it happens will have to be determined on the field but why can't we start thinking it? If we can't start thinking it, then we'll never do it."
"I think us getting to Hoover last year helped a lot," junior pitcher Andy Cox said. "We're coming out with a different mentality, a different attitude and even practice is going to be more quick-paced. We need to get things done; we'll have fun together and do it as a group."
