University of Tennessee Athletics
2017 Vol Baseball Countdown: 2 Days
February 15, 2017 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Baseball Time in Tennessee is two short 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 Jan. 18 and will run up until UT’s season opener on February 17 against Memphis at FedEx Park.
TENNESSEE BASEBALL'S NO. 2
- 1997-98 | Les Binkley
- 1999-2001 | Chris Burke
- 1991-92 |Phil Dannunzio
- 2006-07 | Tony Delmonico
- 1982-83 | Dean Eichelberger
- 1966-68 | Larry Fielder
- 1989 | Brian Harwood
- 1981| Gerald Hays
- 1975-77 | Robbie Howard
- 2004-05 | Eric King
- 1984-86 | Ray Labelle
- 2015-16 | Brett Langhorne
- 1971-72 | Roger McKinney
- 1993-94 | James Northeimer
- 2011-12 | Zach Osborne
- 1973-75 | Joe Pritchard
- 1995-96 | Scott Schroeffel
- 2002-03| Walter Sevilla
- 2013-14 | Taylor Smart
- 2017 | Alex Sosnowski
Need to Know
Later this week, 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: 2 Days
Just 20 Vols have worn the No. 2 for the Orange and White including current freshman infielder Alex Sosnowski.
At Villa Park High School, Sosnowski earned letters all four years and captained the Spartans for two years. Entering his senior season, the California native was rated as the No. 23 shortstop in the state of California and a Top 200 shortstop in the nation by Perfect Game. He was also tabbed a First team All-Century Selection prior to the 2016 season.
As a senior, Sosnowski hit .344 with one home run, 14 RBI and eight stolen bases. He recorded a .351 batting average as a junior in 2015 and hit .280 as Villa Park's starting shortstop as a sophomore in 2014.
In 2014, Sosnowski also played for the SoCal Birds on the travel ball circuit and participated in the Junior National Tournament in Arizona.
Getting to Know Alex
2017 | INF | 6-1 | R/R | Orange, Calif.
Fun Fact: At one point in my life, I wanted to be a professional bass fisherman over playing professional baseball.
Favorite Music Artist/Band: Roy Woods and Kenny Chesney
Hobbies Outside of Baseball: Spikeball and Bass Fishing
One Item on Your 'Bucket List': Be a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Any Pregame Superstitions or Routines?: I always double knot my cleats.
If you were stranded on an island, which teammate would you want with you and why?: Brandon Chinea because he’s trustworthy and funny. I might as well go down with a good laugh.
Next On the Countdown
Check back tomorrow as the countdown concludes with junior outfielder, No. 1 Brodie Leftridge.
BY THE NUMBERS
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