Only a handful of athletes get to live out their true dreams, much less have them end like an old Disney script.
For Flowery Branch’s Zander Sechrist, the past 72 hours have been more than what dreams are made of. He closed out his college career as the winning pitcher, helping lead Tennessee to its first-ever national title in baseball.
The celebration lasted into the wee-hours of Tuesday and continued after they arrived back in Knoxville. The moments were not lost on him.
“It’s honestly just been unreal,” he said. “I mean, you usually dream of moments like that in particular. But to live out such a childhood dream amongst many other baseball players is just something that will never be taken away from [me].”
The former Flowery Branch standout tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run as the Volunteers held off Texas A&M 6-5 in the third and deciding game of the two teams’ College World Series finale on Monday. Tennessee rallied to win the series 2-1 after dropping the series opener on Saturday.
He set the tone early, mowing down the Aggies in order in the first. Then the Vols offense, which came into the CWS leading the nation in home runs, did its part as Christian Moore smashed a solo shot in the bottom of the first.
It was a needed boost.
“I love our offense!” Sechrist said. “That first inning really did set the tone for the game. It settled me down and allowed me to find a groove.”
And he did, lasting into the sixth, leaving after just 88 pitches with a 3-1 lead. Tennessee eventually built its advantage to 6-1 before the bullpen had to hang on in the ninth for a nail-biting finish that saw Texas A&M get the go-ahead run to the plate.
So what’s next for the southpaw that went 3-0 in either elimination or series’ clinching games over the final three weeks of the playoffs?
“Right now I’m getting ready for the (MLB Draft) and then go from there,” he said. “I’m talking with my agent (this week) to see where things are. I have no idea right now.”
