The defending National Champion Tennessee baseball team held its first fall scrimmage on Monday afternoon after beginning fall practice late last week.
It was a 5.5 inning scrimmage and it’s important to note that this was not a super formal scrimmage. Pitchers are on pitch counts and each pitcher has designated innings to throw. So there were two half innings that ended before three outs were recorded because the pitcher had hit his pitch count. They also didn’t play a bottom of the sixth inning for the same reason. Each team also had 11 batters in its lineup instead of nine. So while the grey (away) team technically won 4-0, that’s not really an accurate characterization of what happened.
It was a real nice day for Tennessee’s two Ole Miss transfers. Liam Doyle pitched two innings and was really impressive, striking out four while allowing just one baserunner. Infielder Andrew Fischer launched a moon shot home run over the right field wall.
Elsewhere on the mound, JJ Garcia worked out of some trouble in the second inning to post two scoreless frames while striking out three. Garcia is a junior with a real opportunity to earn a bigger role after being a midweek arm the last two years.
It was also our first chance to watch junior college transfer Brandon Arvidson. The left-handed pitcher did allow a double in his first inning and the first two batters reached in the fourth inning (his second) but he worked his way out of the jam.
It wasn’t the best day from Andrew Behnke. The junior reliever allowed a double off the wall (Ariel Antigua) and a home run from Holden Brauner. Dalton Bargo also hit him hard on a fly out to the warning track. Still, Behnke gritted his way through his two innings with things not getting away from him.
At the plate and in the field, freshmen Jay Abernathy, Manuelle Marin and Chris Newstrom all impressed me. Abernathy can absolutely fly. He doubled to left field, stole third and scored when Cannon Peebles throw got past Newstrom.
Newstrom made up for it at the plate where he recorded a hit and a walk in his two at-bats. Marin also had a hit and a stolen base while making a really nice diving stop at third base. His throw wasn’t in time to get Dean Curley but it was still a nice play.
Another young player who had a really nice day was sophomore Hunter High. He was hitting in the leadoff spot and had two hits and a really hard liner right at the shortstop in his other at-bat.
Some positional notes. Unsurprisingly, Cannon Peebles and Stone Lawless were the two guys getting the bulk of the work behind the plate. Freshman catcher Levi Clark played some left field during the scrimmage.
Dalton Bargo played exclusively at first base for his team while Alex Perry and Blake Grimmer worked at first base for the other team. Perry also got some work in center field. Abernathy played some center field as well.
Hunter Ensley started the scrimmage in center field for the home team with Colby Backus over in left field beside him. Backus later moved over to center field while Ensley was one of the players effectively DHing.
Ariel Antigua started the scrimmage at second base while Dean Curley was at shortstop. Antigua might have played some shortstop later but I failed to note it. My apologies there. Thought that was an interesting note regardless.
Here are the complete stats from the scrimmage.
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Scrimmage Stats
Grey (Away)
Hunter High — 2/3
Andrew Fischer — 1/3, HR, R
Stone Lawless — 0/2, 2K
Reese Chapman — 0/2, 2K
Dean Curley — 1/2, SB, R
Ariel Antigua — 1/2, 2B, RBI, R, K
Dalton Bargo — 0/2, K
Holden Brauner — 1/2, HR, 2RBI, R,
Brooks Wright — 0/2, 2K
Dane Morrow — 0/2,K
Jay Abernathy — 1/2, 2B, SB, R
Pitching:
JJ Garcia — 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3K
Brandon Arvidson — 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Brayden Sharp — 0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Orange Stats (Home)
Levi Clark — 1/2, 2B
Gavin Kilen — 1/2, K
Colby Backus — 0/1, BB
Alex Perry — 0/2, K
Jaxon Walker — 0/2, K
Manuelle Marin — 1/2, SB
Cannon Peebles — 1/2, 2B
Hunter Ensley — 0/1, BB
Chris Newstrom — 1/1, 2B, BB
Robinson Martin — 0/1, K
Blake Grimmer — 0/1
Pitching:
Liam Doyle — 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0ER, 0 BB, 4K
Marcus Phillips — 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Andrew Behnke — 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3K
