Serrano likes fall game results

Vols will remain 'a work in progress'

By Grant Ramey

sports@knoxnews.com

The unofficial start to the Dave Serrano era brought positive reviews from Tennessee baseball's first-year coach.

"I know it doesn't count in the standings," Serrano said, "but I've done this a few times over my career, played a fall game, and I think across the board — pitching, defense, offense — that's as good as I've been a part of."

The Vols used five pitchers and got RBI singles from three different players to beat Western Carolina 6-3 in a fall game Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

"You get a lot more (production) when it's another team in a different uniform," Serrano said. "You want to win more. In an intersquad game, its hard to make that competitive."

The scrimmage with Western Carolina, while not counting toward Tennessee's spring season win-loss record, does count as one of the 56 allowed opponents on UT's spring schedule. The Vols had played split-squad scrimmages in past fall practices.

Drew Steckenrider started and threw two innings, giving up an earned run on two hits and a walk. His two-RBI single in the seventh gave Tennessee a 6-1 lead.

"(Steckenrider) has taken big steps for us,"

Serrano said. "He has a lot of ability that hasn't been found in his time here and there's no better time than now for him to start coming out with that."

Steckenrider said the difference in the program under Serrano, who was hired in June to replace Todd Raleigh, has been evident from early on.

"Really, words can't describe it, but I guess the one thing I can say is it feels really good to win and to play like that as a team."

Junior college transfer Zach Luther had a two-RBI single in fourth and freshman Will Maddox scored on a double steal in the first. Chris Pierce had an RBI single in the fifth.

"The thing that really makes me happy is the system is new to these guys," Serrano said. "I like that they're committing to it, they're believing in it and I've seen some real progress. And I saw some real progress today.

"We're a work in progress, and we'll be like that all year long, but I'm seeing us taking steps in the right direction."

Grant Ramey is a freelance contributor.