Vols

Vols get the first bone.

Vols defeat Mississippi St. 9-4. Derek Tharpe 7+, 3 runs, 12 Ks.

Keep that good karma flowing HV.

BBQ bulldog after the 1st game Friday....

Vols win 9-4 over the

Omaha, here we come.

K K K K K K K K K K K K

Bizazz, how about that former Karns pitcher!

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."

Since Tharpe got that Miami start out of his system he's been light out.

Raybans for President, BABY!

Tharpe was interviewed after the game last night. He mentioned about how much fun it was to play with this particular team. Maybe there's some team chemistry going on.

VOLS TAKE #2

Tennessee defeats Miss. St.

Ist series win for the Vols in Starkville in 25 years.

Bizazz,
I believe that was 35 years (1969). What about another Karns product who was player of the game, "Eli Iorg". Eli made the 3 run HR saving catch in the outfield and then followed up with his first SEC HR of his own.



15 wins in a row n-for the Vols, they go for a team record 16 tomorrow.

Coach needs a raise, if we don't watch it , he will be on the "must hire" list after Omaha.

Go Vols "SWEAP the

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."

HV - "Karns has it"

I meant to say 35 years. I was just so excited after the big victory that I couldn't type straight.

if they can pull off this sweep they will be running into a hornets nest with Auburn next week - losing to UK twice and maybe 3 times will have them fuming - i really can't believe UK has done this... and ONE RECRUITING SIDE NOTE - i am surprised that you guys haven't picked up on raybans new recruiting strategy - send 'em off to a small 4 year school for a year, see if they can play, and then have them transfer in the next year - CAN YOU IMAGINE -how football and basketball in D1 would be if they had to deal with the baseball transfer rule. Man, the players could make some money then. heck if a player wants to go to UT, just find a small 4 year school where you can step in and play - have a good year and transfer- of course this goes on all over the nation as you know

(just having a little fun)

I don't think it's a new strategy. Tennessee has picked up transfers from smaller schools for years. Seriously, since the rules allow it, it's not a bad way to go. You eliminate the risk that they don't make the jump from HS to college, both on and off the field. You don't have to worry over the summer about their signing a pro contract like you do with a high profile HS senior.

I'm not saying I totally agree with it, but I can't blame a coach for taking advantage of the rules.

The Vols almost had the sweep, but lost a close one in extra innnings. It was a great showing for the team.

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."

2 out of 3 with a 10 inning loss. I'll take it.

Vols RPI up to 21.

http://www.boydsworld.com/baseball/rpi/currentrpi.html

Baseball America #21
Collegiate Baseball #13

I know we are all watching our sons in high school/college, but I wanted to give some kuddos to former Karns HS pitcher Derek Tharpe as he goes to 6-0 on the year with the complete game victory at GA against the Bulldogs.

He is a great kid and a bulldog on the mound. I hope he doesn't wear that left arm out with the # of pitches. I know he doesn't like to come out of a game.

Go Vols.

9-3 in the SEC, 1st place in the East.

The upcoming weekend series with Ole Miss looms large.

HV - do you believe??????????????

Who would have thought this a few months ago...

EASTERN DIVISION

• Tennessee 8-3 .727 -- 28-5
• Florida 6-5 .545 2.0 26-9
• Georgia 5-6 .455 3.0 20-12
• S. Carolina 5-6 .455 3.0 24-7
• Vanderbilt 5-6 .455 3.0 23-8
• Kentucky 3-8 .273 5.0 16-14

WESTERN DIVISION

• Ole Miss 8-2 .800 -- 26-4
• Arkansas 7-4 .636 1.5 22-11
• LSU 6-5 .545 2.5 24-8
• Auburn 4-6 .400 4.0 22-10
• Alabama 4-7 .364 4.5 21-12
• Miss. State 4-7 .364 4.5 20-11

These aren't updated from Sunday.

I hate to say -- "I told you so" -- but I think I warned folks about the Vols early on. By the way -- a rumor -- seriously -- was going around Tuscaloosa this Weekend that Rod is going to retire @ the end of 2004 season-- any truth in this -- I understand his son is a terrific young player.

Tony is a very good player that hurt his hand and is not playing at this time. I do think that Farragut expects him back before the end of the season. My contact on the inside of the UTAD have not said a word about "Ray Bans" leaving the program. I say leaving the program because Rod is not really old enough to retire and what would he do with his time?

I saw Tony Delmonico at the TBCA Showcase last summer and was very impressed with him. I hope he bounces back soon!

The Tennessee Vols are really playing good this year. I am glad to see them putting things together. The game between Tennessee and Vandy should be very interesting!

Tharpe named top Senior pitcher by BA as a MID SEASON ALL AMERICAN - check it out also Wes Hodges named to freshman team and Warner Jones named to the sophomore team - Jones has the highest bavg of all players - Mid Season All American Teams

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's

NCAA Div. I Poll (As of April 12, 2004)

www.baseballnews.com

Rank School (Record) Points Previous

• 1. Texas (35-4) 496 3
  
• 2. Stanford (25-5) 494 1
  
• 3. Rice (27-6) 492 6
  
• 4. Notre Dame (25-4) 489 4
  
• 5. Miami, Fla. (26-7) 487 7
  
• 6. Tennessee (29-5) 484 14
  
• 7. U.C. Irvine (22-7-1) 480 10
  
• 8. Long Beach St. (23-8) 478 11
  
• 9. Mississippi (26-6) 477 5
  
• 10. North Carolina (25-8) 475 8
  
• 11. Wichita St. (20-5) 472 12
  
• 12. Louisiana St. (24-9) 470 2
  
• 13. South Carolina (25-7) 467 9
  
• 14. Florida St. (25-11) 464 13
  
• 15. Tulane (25-9) 461 22
  
• 16. Auburn (24-10) 460 16
  
• 17. Nebraska (24-7) 457 15
  
• 18. Arkansas (23-11) 455 —
  
• 19. Florida (26-10) 453 17
  
• 20. Southern Miss. (27-6) 452 18
  
• 21. **** Roberts (26-7) 450 27
  
• 22. Coll. of Charleston (26-6) 449 20
  
• 23. Virginia (29-7) 447 29
  
• 24. North Carolina St. (24-10) 445 24
  
• 25. Oklahoma (22-11) 442 30

quote:

---

I hate to say -- "I told you so" -- but I think I warned folks about the Vols early on. By the way -- a rumor -- seriously -- was going around Tuscaloosa this Weekend that Rod is going to retire @ the end of 2004 season-- any truth in this -- I understand his son is a terrific young player.

---

There is nothing to this rumor! Something like this happens every year about this same time. Other schools covet our coach and like all "Great " coaches, they are flooded with offers each year, Ray-Bans is no different.

I do believe that the rumor mill Alabama is out to get all our "Great" coaches!

Hey HV,

Maybe the Tide will take him and the Vols will make the SEC Tournament more than once every five years. You know the drill: get to the SEC tournament and tank it for the Regional and win it, you then win the Super Regional and go to the College World Series. After that run you drop to the bottom of the SEC Eastern Division for the next 4 years and during the 5th year you are back on top.

cbg,
If I didn't know better, I would think you were a history professor.

I mean I not fully aware of the tone of cbg in his text, but I will tell you I am happy with UT making it to the College World Series every 5 years, that is a acutally a very good percentage compared to many other teams who dont make it to a regional every 5 years, On the other hand I think the SEC tourney should never be missed by the Vols and regionals should be more often. But I am not going to argue with the CWS once every 5 years.

The reason the rumor was started in Tuscaloosa was in hopes that UT would hire Jim Wells..

I hear there is some big news coming out of T'town at the end of the year and it's not Jumpy's retirement...

Hint..count the walkers...

How quickly things change.............

After the recent talks about Coach D and his job and what he has done I think it is was only appropriate to have this publication from todays UT Daily Beacon on here.

http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/14778

They've done it without their top pitcher for all but seven innings. Sophomore Luke Hochevar first endured a calf injury, and was then hit in the head by a freak line drive during batting practice.

I met this young man from Colorado and he is a class act! Good luck tonight Luke!

Interesting article to say the least. I don't agree to everything in the article especially "But senior Derek Tharpe, who never panned out at lowly Samford University (it's okay, neither did I), has filled in remarkably on Friday nights. Tharpe is 6-0 with a 2.04 ERA, striking out 68 batters in the process."

What's with? who never panned out at lowly Samford University If I recall Derek was the winning pitcher against Auburn on Feb. 12, 2002 in Sanford's 5-2 win (at Auburn) while going 7 1/3 innings. Auburn was ranked #25 at the time.

The best team in the best conference. (Some in baseball say the SEC games ahead will tell all. Isn't that enough? Coach-of-the-year may be around the corner and then again, TN could still miss out on the SEC tournament.

Tenndad,

My son had the pleasure of playing against and with Luke for a number of years. Made many trips from Pueblo to Denver with him and his dad. I've known his dad since HS. You are right, he is one of the most polite and respectful young men I've had the pleasure of knowing.

Here's hoping for nothing but success for him in his future.

Frank

I also did not say I agreed with every bit of the article, but it is a by an non-professional(student) writer. The paper does a good job of covering every game and interviewing the players, I always enjoy the articles bc the players are a little more lose with their words to the school papers.

The only downside is that these non expert views are some of the only exposure to the team the some UT students get, but all in all this guy does a good job of covering the team.