News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Vols College World Series victory seen by millions across the country, but the win will mean something more to the young ball players across the Upper Cumberland.
The Vols led by head coach Tony Vitello took down Texas A&M, marking the first championship in program history. Upperman Baseball Coach Wes Shanks said the Volunteers march to the championship captivated the attention of his team.
“Baseball is kind of a tough sport to watch, unless it’s the College World Series game three,” Shanks said. “And those are the moments that these kids take away from and really want to aspire to be those athletes in those crunch time moments.”
Clay County Coach Devrim Brown said baseball often has to compete with sports like football and baseball.
“I’m hoping that it does bring more attention to baseball and get more kids interested in baseball,” Brown said. “That is certainly my hope and desire.”
Shanks is no stranger to the Volunteer baseball program. The 2022 3A State Championship coach saw his standout pitcher Will Mabery receive a scholarship from Vitello.
“There are some ties to Upperman High School baseball to Tennessee baseball,” Shanks said. “And that’s what really makes it fun, that a kid from Baxter can aspire to be not only in the College World Series, but a major league pitcher.”
Vitello came to speak at Upperman’s first pitch dinner last season and Shanks said that the connection with the UT program is invaluable to keeping kids in baseball and gain interest from those that aren’t on the team.
While his players are busy with summer jobs, Brown and his staff were locked into the Vols postseason run. The coaching staff flooded the team group chat with highlights and interviews from the Vols.
“We’ve been posting things, cool plays we’ve seen to our team so the kids can see them,” Brown said. “We’re definitely trying to generate more buzz with baseball.”
In Cumberland County, coach Trent Stokes expects the Vols win will spark something in elementary aged kids and we’ll see the butterfly effect in years to come.
“I think the excitement and growth that you’ll see right here will start at the younger ages,” Stokes said. “It’ll start in the rec park in the 7,8,9-year old’s area right there. The uptick in my roster at the high school level will come 7 or 8 years from now.”
Stokes says the high school programs are fed through the local leagues and travel ball, so the earlier kids start playing baseball the better the participation will be in high school.
