University of Tennessee Athletics
Stewart's Amazing Experience with Team USA
September 17, 2014 | Baseball
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BASEBALL VOLS AT PRACTICE
The worlds of Tennessee football and baseball collided once again on Tuesday afternoon as Dave Serrano brought his baseball Vols across the street from Lindsey Nelson Stadium to observe practice at Haslam Field.
"I love the energy that Coach Jones and his staff create here at football practice," Serrano said. "I wanted our guys to see the level of speed and tenacity that these guys go at every day. We're trying to get to the same level."
They got a quick introduction. Jones called the baseball team over at the end of the stretch period to observe the "Circle of Life" drill up close and personal.
The intensity right away was exactly what Serrano wanted his team to see.
"We feel like we practice with great speed too, but I want our guys to see how these guys are coached," said Serrano. "Coach Jones isn't afraid to call them out and his favorite phrase is, `If you can't handle me calling you how, how are you going to handle 102,455?' I want our guys to see that energy and passion."
The gates to the field were swung open for the players by someone who knows a little bit about the sports that practice on both sides of Pat Head Summitt St., Condredge Holloway. Holloway is known mostly for his exploits on the gridiron, but he was also an All-SEC and All-American shortstop in 1975 and finished with a .353 career batting average.
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
Knoxville, Tenn. -- At the start of the summer, Christin Stewart planned on spending his time away from UT at a prestigious location, the Cape Cod League.
But instead of a summer on the Cape, Stewart spent much of June and July representing his country after winning a spot on USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team.
"It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life being able to represent the United States," Stewart said. "Playing for Team USA with some other great players was a great experience."
It's an experience that head coach Dave Serrano, who managed the USA CNT two summers ago, was proud for his player to have.
"Being a part of USA Baseball is a life lesson wearing that uniform," Serrano said. "I remember seeing a tweet from Christin the first time he put on that uniform with `USA' across his chest. That's something you can't even describe. Not only did he wear the uniform proudly, he represented the University of Tennessee proudly as well with the success he had."
Success is putting the summer that Stewart had lightly. In leading Team USA to the gold medal, Stewart was named Best Hitter of the Haarlem-Honkbal Week event in the Netherlands. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the championship game and hit at a .455 clip with three doubles in seven games during the tournament.
"I went in with confidence," Stewart said. "I didn't know what to expect. I tried to stick to my approach at the plate and put good swings on the ball."
Good swings from the start of the summer to the finish. He led the team in nearly every offensive category, including a .500 batting average in the seven-game tour against Coastal Plain League teams that served as the team's selection camp.
For the summer, Stewart led Team USA in batting with a .383 average, hits (31), doubles (12), total bases (49) and slugging (.605). He finished second on the squad with 16 RBI.
Serrano looks forward to Stewart building on his international experience on the field as the Volunteers prepare to begin fall practice. He also hopes that Stewart's hot summer was able to raise the national profile for Tennessee baseball. A profile that could help future Volunteers have that same experience of a lifetime.
"We're excited about what he brings back for us," Serrano said. "But he's also opened more doors of opportunity for guys in this program to move on with USA Baseball."
