SM-Tn Sports

Summertown’s Grant Burleson and Columbia Academy’s Kavares Tears were each named to the first Prep Baseball Report Tennessee all-state team, which was released earlier this week.

The two were among 75 players honored as first-, second- or third-team selections, and made the first team as ‘two-way players’.

Burleson, the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association’s Class A Mr. Baseball, finished his senior season with a 6-3 record, a 1.80 earned run average and 115 strikeouts over 62.1 innings. At the plate, he hit .442 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 18 doubles and 57 runs scored as the Eagles went 30-10 and advanced to the Final Four. He’s signed with Columbia State.

Tears, a University of Tennessee signee, hit .446 with 11 homers, 10 doubles, two triples, 52 RBI and 47 runs scored. On the mound, he was 7-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. CA reached the Division II-A state quarterfinal round of the postseason and finished 32-9.

Summertown senior catcher Drake Blackwood (.500, 17 home runs, 59 RBIs, 15 doubles, one triple, 55 runs scored) was recognized as a PBR all-state second-teamer, with Columbia Academy junior pitcher Bryant Beranek (8-2, 1.26, 98 strikeouts, 72 innings) named to the third team.