University of Tennessee Athletics
Orange-White Baseball Game Set Friday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium
October 07, 2003 | Baseball
Oct. 7, 2003
The Tennessee baseball Volunteers hit the diamond for the final time this fall as they play the annual Orange-White game at 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Admission is free.
A total of 31 players participated in the Fall workouts, including 15 pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders.
Nine newcomers dot the roster, including three freshmen, three junior college transfers and three senior college transfers.
Freshman pitcher Sean Watson comes in as the most highly regarded after being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round this past June. He fashioned a 12-0 mark as a senior with a 0.67 ERA, striking out 127 in 74 innings with 20 walks.
The only other newcomer who was previously drafted is infielder Eric King from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif. The two-time Northern California All-America was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 35th round in 2002. He hit .370 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 35 RBI in 2003.
The three four-year transfers are INF Chase Headley (So., University of the Pacific), INF Eli Iorg (So., Samford University) and C Kelly Edmundson (So., University of Memphis). The other two junior college players are INF Chris Kemp (Spartanburg Methodist College) and RHP Chris Howell (Pensacola Community College). The incoming freshmen are C Martin Evans (Vestavia Hills HS, Birmingham, Ala.) and RHP Craig Cobb (Farragut HS, Knoxville, Tenn.)
For the first time in history, Tennessee returns every pitching victory from the previous season. The Vols return every pitcher who helped lead the team to 31 wins in 2003, including staff aces Ben Riley and Derek Tharpe who combined for 30 starts. The senior-laden staff is one of the most experienced in the SEC as nine of the 15 pitchers have at least two years of Division I pitching experience.
Riley joins Brandon Crowe as fifth-year seniors, while other senior hurlers include Tharpe, Dusty Johnson and Beau Massey. Junior pitchers are Joey Andrews, Rob Fitzgerald, Patrick Hicklen and redshirt transfer Scot Drucker from Florida. Luke Hochevar brings back six wins and three saves following his freshman campaign.
Head coach Rod Delmonico begins his 15th season at the helm of the Tennessee baseball program. The Southeastern Conference's longest running tenured coach has compiled a 550-302 career record and ranks seventh on the league's all-time victories list. He needs just eight more wins to move past Florida's Dave Fuller into sixth place and 50 wins to join the 600-win club.
Delmonico's teams have averaged 40.2 wins over the last 13 years, playing in the College World Series twice, winning two SEC titles and appearing in six NCAA Regionals.
The Vols open the 2004 season at home with a three-game series against Morehead State, Feb. 13-15.
