2024 Baseball Roster | National Champions | SEC Champions (x2)
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Tears, Kavares
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Jersey Number 21
Kavares Tears
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Position:
- OF
- B/T:
- L/L
- Ht/Wt:
- 6-0 / 200
- Hometown:
- Lewisburg, Tenn.
- High School:
- Columbia Academy
Bio
CAREER HIGHS
- Runs Scored: 4 // vs. Ole Miss, 3/22/24
- Hits: 3 (7x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 5/23/24
- Doubles: 1 (22x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/24/24
- Triples: 1 // vs. Florida State, 6/14/24
- Home Runs: 1 (22x) // last vs. North Carolina, 6/16/24
- Total Bases: 7 (4x) // last vs. Florida State, 6/14/24
- RBI: 4 (3x) // last vs. North Carolina, 6/16/24
- Walks: 3 (2x) // last vs. Southern Miss, 6/2/24
- Stolen Bases: 1 (4x) // last vs. Vanderbilt, 5/25/24
- At-Bats: 5 (6x) // last vs. Texas A&M, 6/22/24
- Sac Bunts: N/A
- Sac Flies: 1 (4x) // vs. Bowling Green, 3/1/24
- Putouts: 5 // at Kentucky, 4/21/24
- Assists: 1 (6x) // last vs. Evansville, 6/8/24
CAREER HONORS
- Selected in Fourth Round (No. 134 Overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres
- 2024 ABCA All-Southeast Region -- 2nd Team (OF)
- 2024 All-SEC -- 2nd Team (OF)
- 2024 SEC All-Defensive Team (OF)
- 2024 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
2024
- Drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run with an RBI double in the seventh inning of Tennessee's 6-5 win over #3 Texas A&M (6/24) in Game 3 of the MCWS Finals to help lead the Vols to their first National Championship in program history.
- Provided support in Tennessee's comeback win over #8 Florida State in the first game of the College World Series with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored, including a crucial triple in the bottom of the ninth inning (6/14).
- Hit a three-run home run in the Knoxville Regional finale against #22 Southern Miss (6/2).
- Tied a career high with four RBIs along with a home run during the SEC Tournament victory over #3 Texas A&M (5/23).
- Smashed a three-run home run in a series-opening win against #24 South Carolina (5/16).
- Smoked a go-ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning to help the Vols secure a series-opening win over #25 Vanderbilt (5/10).
- Launched a three-run home run in a midweek win over Western Carolina (4/23).
- Hit a clutch two-run home run in the seventh inning to give the Vols some run support in a series-clinching win over #3 Kentucky (4/21).
- Hit a solo shot in a series-clinching run-rule triumph against Auburn (4/7).
- Had three hits, an RBI and a run scored in a series-clinching victory over Georgia (3/31).
- Scored seven runs, had seven hits and tallied four RBI in a weekend series win against Ole Miss (3/22-3/24).
- Extended his hit streak to 15 games after a weekend sweep over Illinois (3/8-3/10).
- Showcased a career day with a home run, double, three hits and three runs scored against High Point (2/27).
- Tallied four RBIs, four hits and five runs scored in a weekend series sweep over UAlbany (2/23-2/25).
- Hit a three-run bomb for his first home run of the year en route to a win over Baylor (2/18).
2023
- Hit a crucial solo home run to dead center in the bottom of the ninth to kick-start the comeback effort in a win over #2 Vanderbilt (4/21)
- Started at DH and tallied two hits, including a double, in series finale at #5 Arkansas (4/16)
- Recorded a pinch-hit single, drew a walk and scored a run at #5 Arkansas (4/15)
- Had two hits, three RBI and a run scored in a series-opening win over #12 Texas A&M (3/24)
- Recorded a double and scored a run in a midweek win over Lipscomb (3/14)
- Made his first career start against Morehead State (3/10), going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and his first-career home run
- Roped a double down the right-field line in a 6-0 win over Dayton (2/26)
- Scored and drove in a pair of runs while recording a knock in a 23-1 offensive extravaganza against Alabama A&M (2/23)
- Made his collegiate debut against Alabama A&M (2/21), ripping a double to left-center in his first career plate appearance, he would also score a run
2022
- Redshirted ... did not see action
HIGH SCHOOL
- Rated No. 421 player overall and No. 15 player in Tennessee by Perfect Game
- Ranked No. 481 overall prospect by Prep Baseball Report
- Three-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American (2019-21)
- Columbia Academy record holder for home runs
- Two-time Tennessee Mr. Baseball finalist (2019, 2021)
- 2021 TSWA Division II-A All-State selection
- 2019 TSWA Class A All-State selection
- 2019 Tennessean All-Midstate Team selection
- Batted .446 with 50 hits, 11 homers and 52 RBIs while also posting a 7-2 record on the mound with 88 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched as a senior in 2021
- Batted .496 with 40 runs, 20 doubles, nine home runs and 56 RBIs as a sophomore in 2019
- Helped lead the Bulldogs to a 33-8 record and the state playoffs as a senior in 2021
- Played club ball for Team Ohio Pro Select
- 2020 WWBA 17U National Championship All-Tournament team
- 2019 Perfect Game 17U World Series All-Tournament team
- 2019 WWBA Underclass World Championship All-Tournament team
- Named to 2019 Perfect Game Southeast Top Prospect Games Top-Prospect team
- Also played football in high school
PERSONAL
- Full name is William Kavares Tears
- Born on Aug. 25, 2002
- Majoring in recreation and sport management
- Son of Alicia and Rodrick Tears
- Has two older siblings, Broderick and O’Shea, and one younger sibling, Kendrick
- Related to New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower and former infielder for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs Jason Maxwell
- Graduated Cum Laude from Columbia Academy
- Picked UT because of the atmosphere of the campus and the loyalty of the fans
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.8.25)
Sunday, June 08
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.7.25)
Saturday, June 07
BSB | Tennessee Official Super Regional Preview Press Conference (6.6.25)
Friday, June 06
BSB | Tony Vitello Pre-NCAA Super Regional Media Availability (6.5.25)
Thursday, June 05
