For the second time in four years, Vanderbilt won the College World Series on Wednesday night, freshman Kumar Rocker won the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award after the win.

“My coach, Tim Corbin, he’s Nick Saban,” said Rocker, according to ESPN.

The Commodores swept the SEC regular season and set the new league record for wins (59) and dominated the post season. The team also tied the record this year with a whopping 13 draft picks to go to the MLB or minor divisions.

“I felt we were going to hit well, I felt we were going to play well. I thought this was going to be a nice night for the kids,” said coach Corbin, according to FOX News.

They beat the Michigan Wolverines 8-2 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The motivator for the Commodores had to be the passing of former teammate Donny Everett, a player for the Commodores who drowned in June of 2016. His parents, Susan and Teddy Everrett, were honored after the game as they were brought to the mound to celebrate what they achieved, and the life of their former teammate.

“It meant a lot. I just wish my son could have been up there, too,” said Teddy Everett, according to NCAA.com. “I’ve been around the boys all year, I love all the boys, they’ve been amazing. The Corbins have been wonderful to us.”

The Commodores are now the sixth national champions from the Southeastern Conference since 2009, a conference who has dominated all sides of sports in recent history. Vanderbilt came into the tournament with a No. 2 seed placing, with Donny in their hearts.

“To this day, every time I look at Teddy, I think of Donny,” said Ethan Paul, according to NCAA.com, “And just being able to share that moment with them was something that I think, I can speak for the seniors, but probably the whole team is something that we’ve all really wanted to do.”

Vanderbilt Commodores freshman pitcher Donny Everett, 19, died Thursday night in a drowning accident, the university announced Friday.

Vanderbilt Freshman Pitcher Donny Everett Dies Of Drowning

According to the Coffee County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Department, dispatchers sent a deputy and an ambulance to Normandy Lake shortly before 5 pm on Thursday after receiving reports of a “subject that had gone underwater.”

Coach Tim Corbin informed players and coaches of Everett’s death Thursday night, according to The Tennessean.

“We learned last night of the tragic death of Donny Everett, an outstanding young man who exemplified the best of our university,” Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams said in a statement Friday. “As you can imagine, the team, the athletic department and the university are trying to come to terms with this tragedy. His parents and loved ones are on our minds and in our prayers as we share in their grief.”

Following a meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon, the Commodores have decided to play their NCAA Regional opener against Xavier on Friday night.

Sheriff’s department spokesman Edward Knott stated Everett had gone to the lake to fish with two teammates and two other people. All four people said the pitcher was attempting to swim from the west side to the east side of Fire Lake Bridge.

The sheriff’s report also said Everett reached the midway point when he began calling out for help, although the four people stated they thought he was “just joking around” because he did not appear to be in real distress.

“One person did enter the water and pulled Everett several feet but stated that he is not a good swimmer and was struggling to stay afloat,” the report said. “He stated that Everett did not seem to be struggling. The friend stated that he let go of Everett and swam back to shore still thinking Everett was ‘joking.’ He stated that when he looked back, Everett had gone under and did not re-surface.”

Coffee County Rescue Squad divers eventually uncovered Everett’s body 15 feet from the shore at approximately 6:49 pm, the report added. His body was taken to Nashville for autopsy by the state medical examiner.

Everett, a standout at Clarksville (Tennessee) High School, was considered a potential mid-first-round pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He was ranked 21st among prospects by Baseball America. Nevertheless, the youngster decided to honor his commitment to the Commodores.

The Milwaukee Brewers, however, seized the opportunity and drafted the right-hander in the 29th round.

Everett ended his freshman season at Vandy with an 0-1 record and a 1.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. He also pitched one shutout inning in the SEC tournament on May 24.

The Commodores won the College World Series in 2014 and came second in 2015.

Everett was also named the 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year at Clarksville High. There, he threw a fastball that reached up to 99 mph.

ESPN Scouts Inc.said Everett had “the most pure arm strength of any high school arm in the class” and called him “the rare innings-eater who misses bats” and that “there’s a strong possibility he becomes a reliever.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FszQwE1scb0