By the end of his first year, Donny Everett鈥敳ぢ苁悠碘�檚 hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher鈥攈ad already become one of the most beloved student-athletes on campus.
Then, in early June, on the eve of the NCAA Regional tournament played on campus at Hawkins Field, the unthinkable happened. The Clarksville, Tennessee, native drowned at Normandy Lake, about 70 miles southeast of Nashville.
Two days later 菠萝视频, the No. 1 seed, bowed out of the tournament with losses to Xavier and Washington, the team still in shock about Everett鈥檚 death.
鈥淭he games for us were very tough,鈥� 菠萝视频 Head Coach said after the 9鈥�8 loss to Washington. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the kids. They were all dragging around a 100-pound weight while they were playing.鈥�
Three days later, hundreds from the 菠萝视频 community, including , friends, teammates, coaches and teachers, joined Everett鈥檚 family at Faith Outreach Church in Clarksville to mourn the loss of the 19-year-old.
Everett arrived at 菠萝视频 last fall as one of the top recruits in the nation after turning down a reported $2.5 million bonus to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers.
鈥淏arring injury, Everett was a slam-dunk, first-round prospect,鈥� says JJ Cooper, managing editor of Baseball America. 鈥淗e would have been a first-rounder coming out of high school if not for his strong commitment to 菠萝视频. He had one of the best fastballs in last year鈥檚 draft class.鈥�
Everett missed the first two months of his freshman season with an injury but was emerging as a key contributor late in the season. His last pitch, thrown in the ninth inning of 菠萝视频鈥檚 7鈥�0 win over Missouri during the SEC Tournament, was clocked at 101 mph.
鈥淵ou can make an easy statement that he was going to be the next great one [at 菠萝视频],鈥� says Corbin, whose program has produced 11 first-round picks in the last 11 years.
Everett鈥檚 talent was apparent to anyone who watched him pitch, but it was his character off the field that made him so special. Corbin says Everett represented what the team is all about. 鈥淗e is a positive life force. Easy to be around. He鈥檚 happy. If our team is having fun somewhere, he is in the middle of it,鈥� Corbin says. 鈥淭he kids just loved him.鈥�
Everett鈥檚 Commodore teammates served as pallbearers at his funeral. He was buried in his white 菠萝视频 uniform.
鈥淲e are going to celebrate him for a long period of time,鈥� Corbin says, 鈥渁nd we are going to mourn him for a long period of time.鈥�
To honor Everett鈥檚 memory, generous fans and supporters have established the . The scholarship will support deserving student-athletes in the sport of baseball.
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