Late-Inning Firepower Lifts Orange Team to Series Win as Fall Ball Concludes In Knoxville

Knoxville, TN - The Tennessee Baseball team was forced to cut short their Fall Ball Minor League Park Tour due to weather disruptions.

The Vols opened their fall schedule in Chattanooga, playing at the home of the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate. However, their next stop in Nashville, set to take place at the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate ballpark, was canceled because of inclement weather.

Unfortunately, poor conditions struck again in Knoxville, preventing Tennessee from taking the field at the stadium that hosts the Chicago Cubs’ affiliate team. With Lindsey Nelson Stadium currently under construction, media members in attendance observed the action from the outfield porches.

Despite wind gusts reaching 16 mph and temperatures dipping low, the atmosphere remained charged with excitement as the Vols took the field for the first time under newly appointed head coach Josh Elander.

Game 3 of the Orange vs. White World Series was won 5-2  by the Orange team led by Ethan Payne. A four-run rally at the top of the seventh inning helped advance the Orange team over the White team, which Kirby Connell coached.  

  On the mound, sophomore RHP Nic Abraham started for the White Team and freshman LHP Cameron Appenzeller for the Orange Team. You can hear more from Cam on TPL TN.

New head coach Josh Elander praised his players’ professionalism and resilience, saying that despite distractions off the field, they “handled it like pros.”

He also noted that the split of the teams and the competitiveness over the three days give the program confidence heading into the spring.  

Elander: “There was a ton of distractions. Obviously, in this league, there's so many things that go on, right?”

Key moments:

• The Orange Team struck first when freshman Hutson Chance launched a solo opposite-field homer in the top of the first.

• In the bottom of the fourth, the White Team tied the game 1-1 when Blaine Brown hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.

• The White Team took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Henry Ford after walks and a hit batter loaded the bases.

• In the top of the seventh, the Orange Team erupted for four runs:

  • A leadoff single by Ariel Antigua

  • Chance hit by a pitch puts runners on first & second

  • A dropped 6-4-3 double play throw allows Antigua to score, tying it 2-2

  • A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and walk drive in another run (3-2)

  • A two-run single by Stone Lawless gives the Orange Team the final margin: 5-2.

• The White Team couldn’t answer in the bottom of the seventh as the Orange closer shut things down.

Pitching highlights:

• Nic Abraham: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR allowed.

• Cameron Appenzeller: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP.

• Notable relief: RHP Bo Rhudy earned the final two innings, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. 

Key players who contributed noteworthy plays: 

• Hutson Chance: Hit an early solo home run and reached base multiple times, showing strong plate discipline.

• Ariel Antigua: Led the final rally with a leadoff single in the seventh and scored the tying run.

• Stone Lawless: Delivered the decisive two-run single that sealed the Orange team’s win.

• Henry Ford: Provided the key offense for the White team with an RBI single in the sixth.

• Bo Rhudy: Dominated in relief with four strikeouts in two shutout innings to close the game.

• Nic Abraham and Cameron Appenzeller: Both showed promise in their starting roles, limiting damage and displaying control

STARTING LINEUPS

Orange Team

1. Ariel Antigua, SS -- 1/4, R, K

2. Hutson Chance, RF -- 2/3, HR, RBI, 2 R, K, HBP

3. Trent Grindlinger, DH -- 0/4, R, GIDP

4. Reese Chapman, CF -- 0/2, 2 BB, R, HBP

5. Chris Newstrom, 2B -- 1/3, RBI, BB

6. Stone Lawless, C - 2/4, 2 RBI

7. Evan Hankins, 1B -- 1/4, K

8. Alex Bedford, LF -- 1/3, BB, 2 K

9. Tyler Myatt, 3B -- 0/1, GIDP

10. Finley Bates, PH - 1/2, K

White Team

1. Henry Ford, 3B -- 1/5, RBI, 3 K

2. Jay Abernathy, 2B -- 0/2, BB, R, K

3. Levi Clark, 1B - 1/2, BB, R

4. Blake Grimmer, LF -- 0/1, BB, HBP

5. Blaine Brown, DH -- 0/2, RBI, SF, K

6. Garrett Wright, C - 0/3, K

7. Manny Marin, SS -- 0/3, K

8. Hunter High, RF -- 0/2

9. Brennon Seigler, CF - 1/1, BB, SB

10. Nate Eisfelder, PH - 0/1, K

11. Ethan Moore, PH -- 0/1

Pitching stats - 

• RHP Nic Abraham: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR

• LHP Cameron Appenzeller: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP

• LHP Taylor Tracey: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP

• RHP Brady Frederick: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP

• RHP Ari Bethea:1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

• RHP Bo Rhudy: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

• LHP Mark Hindy: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K