Tennessee Baseball and Softball Teams Meet Eager Fans Ahead of New Season

Coaches and players interact with supporters as teams prepare for upcoming games.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Tennessee's baseball and softball teams held a meet-and-greet event with fans at Dick's House of Sport in Knoxville, giving supporters a chance to interact with the players and coaches before the start of the new season. New baseball head coach Josh Elander brought four of his players to the event, while longtime softball coach Karen Weekly said it was exciting to see her team experience the passion of "Vol Nation" for the first time.

Why it matters

These fan events help build excitement and connection between the teams and their loyal supporters in the Knoxville community. They also provide valuable experience for new players to feel the energy and support from Tennessee's dedicated sports fans as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The details

The baseball team's event marked new head coach Josh Elander's first major community appearance since taking over the program. He brought four of his new players - Blaine Brown, Cam Appenzeller, Evan Blanco and Garrett Wright - to interact with fans and get a taste of the support they can expect. Softball coach Karen Weekly, who has led the Lady Vols for over 20 years, said her favorite part is seeing her new players experience the passion of "Vol Nation" for the first time, comparing it to "taking a kid to Disney World."

  • The Lady Vols start their season next Thursday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater.
  • The Vols begin play on Feb. 13 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The players

Josh Elander

The new head coach of the Tennessee baseball team.

Karen Weekly

The longtime head coach of the Tennessee softball team, with over 20 years of experience.

Blaine Brown

One of the four new Tennessee baseball players who attended the fan event.

Cam Appenzeller

One of the four new Tennessee baseball players who attended the fan event.

Evan Blanco

One of the four new Tennessee baseball players who attended the fan event.

Garrett Wright

One of the four new Tennessee baseball players who attended the fan event.

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What they’re saying

“We talk about it in recruiting, events like this, just the support of Vol Nation. It's all the time, across all sports. So it's cool to see to share this with the softball team today. Just excited to get out in the community. I know they're excited to be here and excited for the opportunity.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Baseball Head Coach (WATE)

“It's like taking a kid to Disney World and seeing it through their eyes. You can tell them what it's like to be a Lady Vol, but then there's just this awe of, 'Wow, people do really care about what we do.' They're really passionate, and I think that just gives you this sense of fulfillment and makes you want to go out and work even harder the next day.”

— Karen Weekly, Tennessee Softball Head Coach (WATE)

What’s next

The Lady Vols start their season next Thursday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, while the Vols begin play on Feb. 13 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The takeaway

These fan events are crucial for building excitement and connection between the Tennessee baseball and softball teams and their passionate supporters in Knoxville. They provide valuable experience for new players to feel the energy and support of "Vol Nation" as they prepare for the upcoming season.