Tennessee
No. 5 Tennessee Baseball at No. 14 Alabama: How To Watch, Projected Pitching Matchups, More | Rocky Top Insider
Things get real for Tennessee baseball (17-1) this weekend as they open up SEC play in Tuscaloosa against Alabama (15-2).
The Crimson Tide are off to a nice start to the Rob Vaughn era, earning wins over Indiana and Arizona in the non conference slate while falling to good Dallas Baptist and Southern Miss teams.
Tennessee enters the weekend on a 16-game winning streak and hopes its offense can keep putting up big numbers against stiffer competition while its new look pitching staff starts facing strong offenses.
The Vols got off to a horrible 4-11 start to conference play last season and are looking to avoid that fate this season. It starts for Tony Vitello’s seventh Tennessee team this weekend in Tuscaloosa.
More From RTI: What Tony Vitello Said About RHP AJ Russell’s Status Entering SEC Play
How To Watch — No. 5 Tennessee (17-1) at No. 14 Alabama (15-2)
Game One
- 7 p.m. ET
- Stream: SEC Network+
- PxP: Roger Hoover, CC: Lance Cormier
Game Two
- 8 p.m. ET
- Watch: SEC Network
- PxP: Dave Neal, CC: Chris Burke
Game Three
- 2 p.m. ET
- Watch: SEC Network
- PxP: Dave Neal, CC: Chris Burke
What Tony Vitello Said About The Crimson Tide
On his quick scout of Alabama
“A lot of times you guys ask me on Tuesday nights and Eastern Kentucky got all of our attention and that includes the players. I really liked the way they approached Spring Break, a contested weekend, a heated win on Sunday — a true sweep, which you know the first weekend we played mixed competition and they were all business. You could sense it well before the scoreboard started. That’s kind of where our focus was, but Alabama has a new coach so there will be new energy there and then we know some of the players that are returning. I’m sure they added a few, too.
We’ve got some people that truly earn their salary in our building that are digging into that, so we’ll connect and join forces. But they’re an SEC team, we have to go on the road, and like I said — I’m familiar with who their new coach is, he’ll do an excellent job over a long haul over there and I don’t see why that wouldn’t have already started now.”
Projected Pitching Matchups
RHP AJ Causey (3-0, 1.31 ERA, 20.2 IP, 30 K, 3 BB, .73 WHIP) vs. RHP Ben Hess (3-0, 2.65 ERA, 17 IP, 28 K, 6 BB, .94 WHIP)
Game Two
RHP Drew Beam (3-0, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 20 K, 2 BB, 1.11 WHIP) vs. LHP Greg Farone (2-0, 1.72 ERA, 15.2 IP, 21 K, 2 BB, .83 WHIP)
Game Three
TBD vs. RHP Hagan Banks (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.2 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, .82 WHIP)
Bats To Know
Tennessee:
3B Billy Amick — .369/.440/.877, 9 HR, 14 EBH, 21 RBI, 8 BB, 12 K
2B Christian Moore — .364/.468/.727, 6 HR, 12 EBH, 13 RBI, 13 BB, 10 K
1B Blake Burke — .371/.443/.839, 6 HR, 17 EBH, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 12 K
OF Kavares Tears — .426/.507/.759, 5 HR, 8 EB, 16 RBI, 10 BB, 11 K
LF Dylan Dreiling — .377/.507/.811, 6 HR, 11 XHB, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 15 K
Alabama:
3B Gage Miller — .478/.548/.910, 8 HR, 13 XBH, 24 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K
2B Bryce Eblin — .397/.498/.690, 4 HR, 8 XBH, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K
CF TJ McCants — .361/.447/.750, 6 HR, 15 XHB, 23 RBI, 10 BB, 17 K
RF Evan Sleight — .344/.456/.641, 4 HR, 10 XBH, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 16 K
SS Justin Lebron — .333/.493/.574, 4 HR, 5 XBH, 13 RBI, 11 BB, 14 K
Prediction
Alabama is improved this season and going on the road in SEC play is difficult. This is a series where I would be surprised if either team sweeps but I don’t have much confidence in who I believe will take two out of three.
With two manageable home series following this one, Tennessee can set itself up in prime position early in conference play by taking two of three. I say they get it done.
Tennessee wins two out of three
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — New TCAP results are giving parents their first look at how students performed across Southeast Tennessee during the 2025-26 school year.
Among the districts in the Chattanooga area, Dayton City Schools posted the highest proficiency rates in English language arts and social studies, while Rhea County led the region in math.
Here’s how districts in the Tennessee portion of the NewsChannel 9 viewing area performed:
Hamilton County:
- English language arts: 40.3%
- Math: 39.9%
- Social studies: 49.7%
Bradley County:
- English language arts: 45.1%
- Math: 43.5%
- Social studies: 46.7%
Marion County:
- English language arts: 37.9%
- Math: 30.6%
- Social studies: 43.3%
Grundy County:
- English language arts: 32.1%
- Math: 30.7%
- Social studies: 39.4%
Sequatchie County:
- English language arts: 34.1%
- Math: 32.0%
- Social studies: 46.4%
Bledsoe County:
- English language arts: 39.8%
- Math: 34.8%
- Social studies: 49.8%
Rhea County:
- English language arts: 44.0%
- Math: 46.1%
- Social studies: 51.4%
Meigs County:
- English language arts: 37.3%
- Math: 32.2%
- Social studies: 41.0%
McMinn County:
- English language arts: 41.1%
- Math: 39.5%
- Social studies: 50.0%
Polk County:
- English language arts: 35.1%
- Math: 27.2%
- Social studies: 43.0%
Cleveland City Schools:
- English language arts: 33.9%
- Math: 31.3%
- Social studies: 36.0%
Dayton City Schools:
- English language arts: 45.7%
- Math: 45.2%
- Social studies: 63.9%
Richard Hardy Memorial School:
- English language arts: 23.6%
- Math: 25.0%
- Social studies: 21.4%
Etowah City Schools:
- English language arts: 34.0%
- Math: 34.0%
- Social studies: 30.6%
Several local districts finished above the statewide proficiency average.
Bradley County, Rhea County and Dayton City exceeded the state average in both English language arts and math.
Rhea County and Dayton City also outperformed the statewide average in social studies, while McMinn County matched the state average in that subject.
Hamilton County school leaders are expected to present a more detailed look at the district’s TCAP results during Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Depend on us to keep you posted.
WHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A heavy law enforcement presence was reported Tuesday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 31W and Rolling Meadows Road in White House.
FOX 17 News has a crew headed to the scene and is working to learn more about the situation.
Law enforcement vehicles line a roadway near the intersection of U.S. Highway 31W and Rolling Meadows Road in White House, Tennessee, as authorities respond to an active incident on Tuesday. Officials had not released details about the investigation at the time the photo was taken. (Photo: FOX 17 News )
A viewer told FOX 17 News a man was barricaded inside a home with other people inside. However, FOX 17 News has not independently confirmed those details.
Once at the scene, FOX 17 News learned that a man who was inside the home during the operation had exited the residence. FOX 17 News is working to obtain more information on the incident that is now subsiding.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Tennessee
Former Tennessee teacher who allegedly showed nude photo to student indicted by grand jury
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A grand jury has indicted a former Montgomery County high school teacher for allegedly showing an inappropriate photo to a student.
In March, FOX 17 News reported that 52-year-old Matthew Vedder, a teacher at Montgomery Central High School at the time, showed a 17-year-old student a nude photo of himself. Vedder told investigators he accidentally swiped to the photo while showing students photos of a school project. He later resigned from Montgomery Central High School.
Makenzie Ellithorpe, is the Montgomery Central High School student who Matthew Vedder allegedly showed inappropriate photos to. (Photo: FOX 17 News)
MORE | Teacher accused of showing nude photos to student resigns, family pushes for charges
On July 7, the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office presented the results of a law enforcement investigation into Vedder to the Montgomery County Grand Jury, which voted to indict him on four counts of exhibiting obscene material to a minor.
Vedder was taken into custody by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. A Montgomery County judge set his bond at $10,000.
RELATED COVERAGE | Family renews calls for CMCSS director’s resignation during heated school board meeting
Although Vedder resigned, the family of a Montgomery Central High School student called for the resignation of the Director of Schools, Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, Matthew Vedder’s spouse. The district previously told FOX 17 News that Luna-Vedder removed herself from any disciplinary decisions and the investigation involving her husband.
As of June, Luna-Vedder has not publicly commented on calls for her resignation.
This is an ongoing story. Stick with FOX 17 News as we bring you the latest.
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