Dan Fleser: Former Meigs County Pitching Star Now Fires For Tennessee

KNOXVILLE – While softball hasn’t changed significantly for Ashley Rogers, the setting in which she plays sure has.

The former Meigs County star now stands in the pitcher’s circle for Tennessee. From her new vantage point, she’ll survey a large turnout at Lee Stadium this weekend. And the freshman right-hander will be throwing pitches to Auburn in a series that will greatly impact the SEC race.

No.

7 Tennessee (28-6) and No. 14 Auburn (30-7) are tied for third place with 6-3 records.

Lady Vols outfielder Jenna Holcomb could imagine such circumstances conspiring against a first-year player like Rogers.

“I’ve been in her shoes,” Holcomb said, “when you’re playing your freshman year and there’s a lot of nerves and expectations. She’s doing really well just holding it together and doing her best.”

Rogers believes that the competitive surroundings work in her favor.

“It’s just a great atmosphere, which I absolutely love,” she said. “I just feed off of it. I love the energy. I love playing in big games at pressure moments. It’s always exciting.”

A case in point was UT’s series at Missouri last weekend. Mixed results reaffirmed the notion that Rogers is in her element.

 She was charged with the loss in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday but bounced back by throwing a complete game and allowing just one hit in a 2-1 win in the second game. She closed the series by throwing 4.2 innings of scoreless relief in Tennessee’s 9-3 victory on Monday.

Rogers’ work earned her SEC freshman of the week honors. Overall, she’s 12-2 with a 1.67 earned run average and 118 strikeouts in a team-high 100.1 innings.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Lady Vols but never thought I was good enough,” Rogers said. “I kept working hard and my dream came true. Here I am.”

UT co-head coach Karen Weekly works with the Lady Vols pitchers and has been impressed with Rogers’ composure. Her ability to process a scouting report and apply the knowledge also has been noteworthy.

“She knows how to read hitters in an at-bat and make adjustments,” Weekly said. “She can come off the field and tell me ‘Hey I shook (off) that pitch (call) and here’s why. I saw this in the hitter’s swing and I thought this would work.’ And that’s pretty mature for anybody, especially for a freshman.”

Weekly said that Rogers rarely shakes off one of her pitch calls. But she does so with a purpose.

“When she does, there’s always a very good reason,” Weekly said, “and a very well thought-out plan behind it, which is really good to see.”   

Weekly’s take is interesting, considering Rogers’ thinks that adjusting to collegiate hitters has been one of her biggest tests.

“In high school, you could throw anything and people would just swing at it literally,” she said. “And I’m known for throwing a bunch of junk pitches too, like rise balls. Kind of have to adjust to the more disciplined hitters that we face. That’s something that’s been a challenge for me.”

Judging by Rogers’ results so far, the challenge goes both ways.

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