University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 9 Days
February 04, 2015 | Baseball
2015 Schedule
Purchase Tickets
Baseball Time in Tennessee is just nine days away!
Throughout January and February, UTSports.com will count down the days leading up to the start of the Vols' 2015 campaign (Feb. 13) with a look back at the many players who donned each jersey No. 30 through No. 1.
After opening last season at home, the Vols will travel to Miami, Fla., this year to face Florida International for a three-game series (Feb. 13-15). The team will return home to take on Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Rutgers for four games (Feb. 20-22) during Tennessee's home opener weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, including a doubleheader against the Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Orange & White will later host long-time SEC foe Georgia (March 20-22) for the program's first home conference opponent series in March. Additionally, Missouri (April 9-11), South Carolina (April 24-26), Texas A&M (May 1-3) and Mississippi State (May 15-17) will make trips to Rocky Top this year.
On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 27 of their 55 regular season games against nine 2014 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, UC Irvine and Ole Miss.
Practice has officially begun on Rocky Top. The Diamond Vols are in action throughout the week. All outdoor practices at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are free and open to the public. For more information, visit UTSports.com.
In total, 29 Vols have worn the No. 9 for the Orange and White, including current Associate Head Coach Greg Bergeron and All-American right fielder Eli Iorg. The Knoxville native, who played for the Vols from 2004-05 and helped lead UT back to the College World Series as a junior in 2005, went on to be one of the Vols 15 first round MLB Draft picks and would play five seasons at the Minor League level.
THE PAST...#9 Eli Iorg
2004-05 | OF | R/R | 6-3 | 200 lbs. | Knoxville, Tenn. (Karns HS)
Eli Iorg burst onto the Tennessee baseball scene as a sophomore in 2004, transferring in from Samford University. Iorg finished as UT's second-leading hitter with a .324 average while leading the team in hits (77), triples (6) and stolen bases (26) that season. He tied for second with 47 runs scored and was fourth on the squad with 36 RBIs. His six triples tied for fourth on UT's single-season list and he ranked second in the SEC in steals and triples. Iorg hit .462 in the SEC Tournament, earning SEC All-Tournament Team honors. Iorg was also awarded Team MVP honors as a sophomore.
Iorg enjoyed a monster year in 2005, earning second-team All-America status and leading the Vols to the College World Series. He led the SEC with 27 stolen bases while ranking second in the league with 72 hits and posting a .381 average at the plate. His average ranked third in the conference. He also added a team-high 15 longballs. Iorg's 2005 season stands out in the record books. His 168 total bases ranks fourth, his 96 hits are tie for fifth and his 72 RBIs ranks sixth. Iorg also brought home the Rick Honeycutt Team MVP Award in 2005.
On the career charts, the right fielder is tied for fifth all-time in UT's record book with 10 triples and ranks tied for eighth with 53 stolen bases.
After being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round a season before, Iorg became Tennessee's 15th first round MLB Draft choice in 2005. He was selected by the Houston Astros with the 38th overall pick and went on to play five seasons in their minor league system. He hit .273 with 352 hits, including 75 doubles and 16 home runs, over the course of 357 games. Iorg played for the Greeneville Astros (Rk), Lexington Legends (A), Salem Avalance (A+), Corpus Christi Hooks (AA), Round Rock Express (AAA) and the Tri-City ValleyCats (A-).
NOTES ON IORG
- Full name is Eli James Iorg (Last name pronounced: OAR-j)
- Majored in political science at UT
- Graduated from Karns High School in Knoxville, Tenn
THE PRESENT...#9 Greg Bergeron
2012-Present | Assoc. Head Coach | Cerritos, Calif.
Entering his fourth season at Rocky Top, Associate Head Coach Greg Bergeron is charged with continuing his installation of the "pressure" offense at Tennessee, leading the team's on-field offensive efforts from the third base coaching box and tutoring the team's infielders. He has been Tennessee Head Coach Dave Serrano's right-hand man during all ten of his seasons as head coach, including three at UC Irvine and four at Cal State Fullerton.
Bergeron has played a critical role in the development of over 40 players that have been drafted by Major League teams, including a trio of first-round selections. Christian Colon and Gary Brown were drafted No. 3 and No. 24 overall by the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants, respectively in 2010, while Robert Steihl went with the 27th overall pick to the Houston Astros in 2000.
After prepping at Gahr High School and earning first-team all-conference honors at Cerritos College under Serrano's guidance, Bergeron played two seasons at Cal State Dominguez Hills where he was named the Toros' Student-Athlete of the Year and Team MVP. He was the conference batting champion his junior year. Bergeron finished his eligibility in 1994 with Loyola Marymount, where he earned All-West Coast Conference recognition. He eventually signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Astros in 1995.
NOTES ON BERGERON
- Earned bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills and a master's degree from Azusa Pacific, each in physical education
- Began his coaching career in 1996 with a one-season stint at Loyola Marymount
- He and his wife, Anne Marie, have three children: twin daughters, Nicole and Natalie, and a son, Brooks
