University of Tennessee Athletics
2017 Vol Baseball Countdown: 26 Days
January 22, 2017 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 26 days away! To count down to the start of the 2017 season, UTSports.com will profile a player each day on the Vols' 2017 squad. The countdown began January 18 and will run up until UT's season opener on February 17 against Memphis at FedEx Park.
TENNESSEE BASEBALL'S NO. 26
- 1981 | Jack Bailey
- 1989-91 | Mike DiFelice
- 1991 | Rick Gordon (Away)
- 2005-06 | Chase Hardin
- 1979-80| Tim Harvey
- 1966 | Tony Hopper
- 1969-71 | Jimmy Lee (Home)
- 1985 | John Lombardi
- 2013 | Heath Loyd
- 1992-94| Brian May
- 1995-96 | Jonathon McLuhan
- 2000-02 | Ryan Moffett
- 2008 | Tanner Moore
- 1998 | Justin Parker
- 2014-15 | Andrew Plunkett
- 2012 | Nick Powell
- 1997 | Jack Reynolds (Home)
- 1982-84 | Richard Rodriquez
- 1971 | Carl Suter (Home)
- 2003-04 | Derek Tharpe
- 2017 | Dom Thornton
- 2009-10 | Aaron Tullo
- 1986-88 | Brad Tunnell
- 1974 | Bob Wittlesey (Home)
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Need to Know
In February, Tennessee will travel to Memphis to open their 2017 season with a three-game set (Feb. 17-19) against the University of Memphis at FedEx Park, home of the Tigers. The Big Orange then heads west during their second week of the season for a single-game matchup at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. (Feb. 22) before travelling to San Diego to participate in the Tony Gwynn Classic on Feb. 24-26.
Following the four-game stint in California, the Volunteers will return to Knoxville for their first home series of the season on March 3-5. The series also signifies the first-ever meeting between Norfolk State and UT.
The Orange & White open their 2017 Southeastern Conference schedule with the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville on March 17-19, marking the second consecutive year for UT to begin conference play at home. Tennessee later plays host to SEC rivals Georgia (March 31-April 2), Auburn (April 13-15) and Arkansas (May 4-6) before closing out regular season play against Missouri (May 18-20) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
This year, the Volunteers' SEC road schedule includes trips to Mississippi State (March 24-26), Florida (April 7-9), Texas A&M (April 21-23), Vanderbilt (April 28-30) and Kentucky (May 12-14).
On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 15 of their 55 regular season games against five 2016 NCAA postseason participants, including 2016 SEC Tournament Champion Texas A&M.
Countdown to Baseball: 26 Days
Junior outfielder Dom Thornton will be the 24th Vol to wear No. 26 in Tennessee history.
The junior college transfer hit .414 with 18 home runs, 74 RBI and 23 stolen bases as Howard College's starting right fielder in 2016. At Howard, Thornton was also named to the 2016 Western Junior College Athletic Conference All-Star Team.
In 2015, he played in 21 games, tallying eight starts, at Kansas State University. Thornton recorded four RBI and hit two doubles during his rookie season.
Fellow JUCO transfer Danny Sirven played in 49 games with Chattanooga State in 2016, hitting .412 with seven home runs, 47 runs scored and 52 RBI. Prior to Chattanooga State, the catcher spent his 2015 redshirt season with the South Alabama Jaguars program and competed over the summer in the Gold Coast Collegiate League (Miami Aces), based out of Miami, Fla.
Getting to Know Dom
#26 Dom Thornton
2017 | OF | 6-0 | R/R | Houston, Texas
Favorite Home-Cooked Meal: Momma's Chicken Parmesan
Favorite Music Artist/Band: 90's Hip Hop and R&B
One Thing You ALWAYS Have in Your Travel Bag: Lucky Sliders
List One Item on Your ‘Bucket List': Go to New York
Getting to Know Danny
#32 Danny Sirven
2017 | C | 5-11 | R/R | Miami, Fla.
Fun Fact: I have one ear bigger than the other.
Favorite Movie: The Gladiator
Favorite Vacation Spot: A Caribbean Cruise
If you were stranded on an island, which teammate would you want with you and why?: Nico Mascia, because he's the smartest dude I know.
Next On the Countdown
Stop by tomorrow as we continue our countdown by getting to know freshman RHP and No. 25 Zach Linginfelter.
