Tennessee
Tennessee softball star Karlyn Pickens throws fastest pitch in NCAA history: 'Surreal moment'
A Tennessee softball star pitched her way into the NCAA record books.
Lady Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens took the mound on Monday, and proceeded to throw the fastest pitch in collegiate softball history. Pickens’ historic pitch happened in the sixth inning of Tennessee’s game against Arkansas.
Her pitch clocked in at 78.2 mph.
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Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens (23) reacts after one of her pitches was ruled a ball during an NCAA college softball game against Arkansas on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pickens’ previous top speed was 77 mph, which tied her with former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott.
Abbott set the mark during the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game against Carolina Diamonds. Pickens had already thrown two pitches this season that reached 77 mph.
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Pickens was asked about the special moment after the Lady Volunteers’ 3-2 win over the Lady Razorbacks.
Karlyn Pickens #23 of the Tennessee Lady Vols throws a pitch against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first inning at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on March 25, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
“There was a lot of emotions. At first I just was super excited to celebrate that with my team. It’s way cooler finding out that way than finding out at home after the game,” Pickens said via the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches against Arkansas during an NCAA college softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pickens did not give up a hit through her 4.1 innings on the mound. She also struck out six Arkansas hitters.
“And then it was kind of emotional. All the work that we’ve put in as a pitching staff, everyone that’s helped coach me — it was a really surreal moment. It was really special,” she added.
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Pickens earned SEC Pitcher of the Year honors last season. She has an 0.86 ERA over 89.1 innings.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.
“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.
“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”
Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.
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