Chattanooga’s Sellers, Lavdis earn TSWA weekly honor

March 7, 2023 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chattanooga’s Acelynn Sellers and Alyssa Lavdis garnered softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 27-March 5.

Sellers batted .412 (7-for-17) with two doubles, one homer, four RBIs and three runs scored in five games for the Mocs. The Rocky Face, Ga., native posted two hits with three RBIs and two runs scored versus Harvard, including a two-run homer. She singled and walked against Sacred Heart and doubled in the second meeting with Harvard. The sophomore infielder was 3-for-4 versus Detroit Mercy with a double and a run scored.

Sellers is batting .311 with three doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs and six runs scored in 14 contests this season.

Lavdis recorded two wins in two outings, tossing 10.0 shutout frames while giving up only five hits with 18 strikeouts. The Concord, Ohio, native worked three shutout innings for a victory against Harvard, striking out three and allowing one hit. The sophomore righthander tossed a complete-game shutout versus Detroit Mercy, giving up four hits with two walks and a career-best 15 strikeouts.

Lavdis is now 2-0 with 23 strikeouts and 16 hits allowed in 17.2 innings over five outings this year.

2022-23 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 21 – Macey Neal, Union University (Player)
February 28 – Chloe Kleischmidt, Tusculum University (Player); Rylee Gattis, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)

Baseball, softball award winners announced

February 28, 2023 Forrest Freeman

SOFTBALL: Tusculum’s Freischmidt, Carson-Newman’s Gattis earn TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Chloe Freischmidt and Carson-Newman’s Rylee Gattis garnered softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 20-26.

Freischmidt batted .583 (7-for-12) with two doubles, three homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored in four games for the Pioneers. The Naples, Fla., native posted three hits with a double and a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored in the first of two games against Bluefield State. She added two hits with another homer, two RBIs and two runs scored in the second outing.

The senior catcher singled and scored twice in the opener versus Southern Wesleyan and doubled, homered, drove in two runs and scored twice in the second contest.

Freischmidt is batting .339 with eight doubles, three home runs, 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 18 contests this season.

Gattis posted a 3-1 mark with a 1.14 ERA in four starts covering 24.2 innings, giving up just four total runs with nine strikeouts. The Southside, Ala., native worked four shutout innings in a win against Mars Hill and tossed a complete game in a 2-1 victory at Columbus State, giving up one run on six hits with three strikeouts.

The freshman righthander suffered a 1-0 loss against Alabama-Huntsville, allowing one run on six hits in 6.2 innings, but rebounded in a 4-2 victory versus Ohio Dominican, giving up two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.

Gattis improved to 5-2 in nine outings over 46.2 innings this season with 20 strikeouts.

BASEBALL: Tennessee’s Dickey, Burns earn TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s Jared Dickey and Chase Burns were named the baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 20-26.

Dickey batted .444 (8-for-18) with one double, two home runs, eight runs scored and six RBIs in five games for the Vols. The Mt. Juliet, Tenn., native went 3-for-3 with a double, a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored in the first of two games against Alabama A&M. He also collected three hits with three RBIs and three runs scored, including a two-run homer, in the first of three contests versus Dayton. He added a single and a run scored in each of the last two outings against the Flyers.

Dickey is batting .323 with four extra-base hits, seven RBIs and nine runs scored in eight games this season.

Burns worked 6.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one run with 12 strikeouts in a 4-1 victory versus Dayton. The Gallatin, Tenn., native walked three in his second start of the season and retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. Dayton’s only run came after a walk, a stolen base, a wild pitch and then another free pass in the third inning against the sophomore righthander. The runner from third came across on a double steal attempt, with the runner thrown out at second on the play.

Wells, Mays earn TSWA basketball awards

February 28, 2023 Forrest Freeman

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Wells garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Destinee Wells was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, posting 21.5 points, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals in two victories for the Bruins.

The Lakeland, Tenn., native registered 16 points and eight assists in a five-point win over Northern Iowa (tied for first in the league with Belmont heading into the contest), making 5-of-11 from the field with one 3-pointer and 5-for-7 at the foul line. She produced a held ball for a steal and then hit a floater to put Belmont up six with under 30 seconds remaining, netting 11 of her 16 points in the second half.

Wells collected 27 points and seven assists against Drake, connecting on 9-of-18 field goals with a pair of triples and 7-for-7 free throws. She scored 18 of her 27 points in the second half against the Bulldogs and made all seven attempts at the foul line in the final period, including five in the last minute. She completed a conventional three-point play with just over a minute remaining for a four-point Belmont advantage en route to the win.

Wells averages 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 29 contests this season.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Cjaba Harbison, Vanderbilt
November 22 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
November 29 – Raven Thompson, Chattanooga
December 6 – Jami Tham, Tusculum University
December 14 – Jami Tham, Tusculum University
December 20 – Mya Belton, Tusculum University
January 3 – Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
January 10 – Jordan Horston, Tennessee
January 17 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
January 24 – Madison Bartley, Belmont
January 31 – Ciaja Harbison, Vanderbilt
February 7 – Madison Bartley, Belmont
February 14 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
February 21 – Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt

MEN’S BASKETBALL: King’s Mays earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Michael Mays was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games for the Tornado.

The Bristol, Tenn., native netted 37 points against Southern Wesleyan in the regular season finale, connecting on 15-of-22 from the field with three 3-pointers and 4-for-5 at the foul line. The junior guard registered 20 points, five boards and three assists versus Francis Marion in the first round of the conference tournament, making 9-of-17 field goals and 5-for-5 free throws.

Mays ended the season averaging 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 28 outings this season for King.

2022-23 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
November 22 – Boe Njuidjol, Union University
November 29 – Ben Sheppard, Belmont
December 6 – Ren Dyer, Carson-Newman
December 14 – Inady Legiste, Tusculum University
December 20 – Tylandrius Parks, Union University
January 3 – Tylandrius Parks, Union University
January 10 – Elon Smallwood, Trevecca University
January 17 – Michael Mays, King University
January 24 – Michael Mays, King University
January 31 – Boe Nguidjol, Union University
February 7 – Tylandrius Parks, Union University
February 14 – DeAndre Williams, Memphis
February 21 – Colin Kahl, University of the South

TSWA honors first baseball, softball weekly winners of season

February 21, 2023 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Sewanee’s Roode, Middle Tennessee’s Hamm earn TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of the South’s Jack Roode and Middle Tennessee’s Jaden Hamm were named the baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 13-19.

Roode batted .429 (6-for-14) with two home runs, four runs scored and 11 RBIs in three games for the Tigers. The Denver, Colo., native posted two hits with a double, a walk, one run scored and one RBI in the series opener against Fontbonne University. The junior exploded in the series finale for Sewanee, posting four hits with two homers and 10 RBIs, including a three-run shot in the third inning and a grand slam in the seventh.

He is batting .450 with five runs scored and 14 RBIs in six games this season.

Hamm tossed 5.1 shutout innings in the team’s season-opener against VCU in Conway, S.C. The Culleoka, Tenn., native allowed just four hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter against the Rams.

After a leadoff single in the first, the righthander retired nine consecutive batters and allowed just two baserunners through the first four innings. He worked out of a jam in the fifth after giving up consecutive singles to start the inning thanks to a strikeout and two groundouts and exited the game after retiring the first hitter in the sixth.

SOFTBALL: Union’s Neal earn TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Macey Neal garnered softball Player of the Week accolades by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for her efforts in contests from February 13-19.

The Dyer, Tenn., native batted .632 (12-for-19) with two doubles, one homer, nine runs scored and eight RBIs in five games for the Bulldogs. The junior infielder was 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored in the first game of a doubleheader against Ouachita Baptist, including an RBI double and a three-run homer. She was 3-for-3 in the second contest versus OBU.

Neal collected five hits in a three-game series against Shorter University, including two singles with one RBI in the series opener and a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored in the second outing. She finished the week with a single and a run scored in the series finale.

Neal is batting .479 with 11 extra-base hits, 21 RBIs and 18 runs scored in 14 contests this season.

Washington, Kahl recognized with TSWA weekly honors

February 21, 2023 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Sewanee’s Kahl earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union of the South’s Colin Kahl was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in a pair of wins for the Tigers.

The Roswell, Ga., native recorded 28 points, eight boards and five blocks in the regular season finale against Centre College, making 10-of-11 field goals overall with three 3-pointers and 5-for-7 at the foul line.

The senior forward followed that with 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks against Oglethorpe in the first round of the conference tournament, netting 14 consecutive points in the second half, including a 3-pointer to give Sewanee the lead for good at the 13-minute mark. He connected on 10-of-13 from the field and 5-for-7 at the charity stripe while handing out three assists.

Kahl averages 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists through 26 games this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt’s Washington earns TSWA Player of the Week accolade
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Sacha Washington was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, posting 20.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in two victories for the Commodores.

The Lawrenceville, Ga., native scored a career-best 26 points while leading all players with 11 rebounds at Alabama, connecting on 11-of-15 shots overall and 4-for-6 at the foul line. The sophomore forward registered 15 points and a season-high 15 boards along with two assists and two blocks versus Kentucky, hitting 6-of-14 field goals and 4-for-6 free throws.

Washington averages 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 28 games this season.

2022-23 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 15 – Ciaja Harbison, Vanderbilt
November 22 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
November 29 – Raven Thompson, Chattanooga
December 6 – Jami Tham, Tusculum University
December 14 – Jami Tham, Tusculum University
December 20 – Mya Belton, Tusculum University
January 3 – Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
January 10 – Jordan Horston, Tennessee
January 17 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
January 24 – Madison Bartley, Belmont
January 31 – Ciaja Harbison, Vanderbilt
February 7 – Madison Bartley, Belmont
February 14 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman