East Hamilton's Woods Commits To UT Baseball

Well, that’s out of the way.

Nick Woods, a rising junior and two-sport standout at East Hamilton, has made a verbal commitment to play baseball at the University of Tennessee, choosing the Vols over four other schools.

“I know a lot of guys going to Tennessee,” Woods said. “I played with five guys during the summer that will be up there. Also, I felt Tennessee really wanted me and I’ll be playing in the SEC, so that’s a big plus.

It’s going to be great competition.”

Woods was a key cog in the Hurricanes’ postseason drive that led coach Steve Garland’s team into TSSAA Spring Fling Class AAA state baseball tournament in Murfreesboro.

A pitcher/shortstop, Woods, came on strong late and pitched the Hurricanes past Soddy-Daisy for the District 5-AAA tournament championship and then threw an impressive complete-game, eight-inning gem in a sectional win over Columbia that sealed the school’s first state tournament appearance.

Woods is East Hamilton’s first Southeastern Conference commitment in baseball.

“Nick is a gifted athlete, a great student (3.85 grade-point average) and a very smart player,” Garland said Tuesday. Tennessee offers him an amazing opportunity at a top-notch school and a baseball program that is rapidly improving. I’m thrilled for Nick, who has been huge for us these last two years.

“I knew he would have some (college) opportunities, but had no idea it would happen this fast. Tennessee made him an amazing offer. They have 11.7 scholarships available, so nobody is on full scholarship. With the Hope Scholarship and other academic benefit it’s a pretty amazing offer. That made a statement to how much Tennessee likes Nick Woods.”

Woods was also considering Kentucky, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State and Lipscomb before choosing the Vols, who were recruiting him the hardest.

Tennessee saw Woods play several times with Team Tennessee, a team put together by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association, during the SunBelt Games in McAlister, Okla., in June.

Woods was one of three juniors on the squad – McCallie’s Corbin Brooksbank, a Vanderbilt commitment, and a player from Kentucky being the other two. The rest of the roster was comprised of seniors, including Soddy-Daisy outfielder Tre Carter.

That team finished runner-up to Texas in the 10-game tournament.

The Vols also saw Woods play in several Perfect Game events during the summer.

As a sophomore, Woods went 6-3 on the mound and posted a solid 1.87 ERA. Used primarily as a short reliever early in the season, Woods was unbeaten in four starts, including two clutch efforts in the postseason.

In the district tournament showdown with No. 1-seeded Soddy-Daisy, Woods, back by two three-run homers by Josh Aslinger, Woods fired a complete game five-hitter and went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 12-3 victory.

East Hamilton then defeated Warren County, 10-1, in the Region 3-AAA semifinals and lost to Soddy-Daisy, 15-9, in the championship game.

After tough sectional losses in 2011, 2013 and 2014, the Hurricanes still needed one win to reach the 2015 state tournament.

Garland called on Woods to face Columbia. He responded with a gutty performance. He allowed three runs and six hits over three innings, but one-hit the Lions the rest of the way and the Hurricanes scored four runs in the eighth inning for the win.

East Hamilton lost to powerful Farragut and Ravenwood in the state tournament.

Woods was named to the TBCA All-State team and racked up several other honors.

He was on the All-District 5-AAA team, a member of the Tennessee Baseball Report Freshman/Sophomore and All-Two-Way squads. He also landed on the TBCA Underclassmen Showcase team.

As a sophomore Woods recorded four saves and pitched 45 innings. He recorded 54 strikeouts, 14 walks and gave up 21 runs – 12 earned – while making 15 mound appearances.

Had he not suffered the devastating knee injury that required season-ending surgery, Woods’ sophomore contribution to the baseball team may have been even more notable. In every game, the form of a large knee brace was clearly visible underneath his uniform.

In a 2014 season-opening game against rival Signal Mountain, Woods was injured early in the third quarter with the Eagles on top, 14-7. When injured Woods had completed 16-of-21 passes for 181 yards with one interception. The Eagles went on to win, 28-19.

The Hurricanes went on to finish 2-8.

“After that injury, we didn’t know when or if he’d be back with baseball and how much he’d be able to do,” Garland said. “But he told me he’d be ready to play. I was kind of wait-and-see. He got ready and we took it slow with him and toward the end of the season he was back in form.”

Said Woods, “Literally a week after I got cleared I started playing baseball. I was a little iffy about it at first and took it real slow. The knee effected by velocity, but that improved as the season progressed. My movement and quickness got better and I got more power on my swing too.”

Woods burst onto the East Hamilton baseball scene his freshman season, batting .386 and collecting 10 doubles and driving in 26 runs. On the mound, Woods went 4-1 with two saves. He had a sparkling 1.03 ERA and notched 47 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 36 innings. Woods gave up 28 hits, five earned runs and opponents batted .212 against him.

Postseason honors included All-District 5-AAA and Region 3-AAA selections; TBCA Underclassmen Showcase team member, TBCA Border Wars team member (Tennessee vs. Georgia) and a spot on the Tennessee Baseball Report Super Freshman/Sophomore team.

(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)