UT Duo on the Rise
By Greg Diener
Playing summer ball at a premier summer destination like the Hamptons has its advantages. For Riverhead’s Forrest Bramlett and Andrew Plunkett, they are getting good use of their playing time, and hope to parlay that into an increased role at the University of Tennessee.
The Vols play in the toughest conference in the country – the Southeastern Conference, home to four of the last six national champs – and they’re counting on contributions from their two rising sophomores in 2015. Each redshirted their first year in Knoxville, placing even more importance on this summer, and the UT duo is making the most of it.
“I love it here," Bramlett said. "My host family has been great, I get along with everyone and the competition is good. I think it's going to help me out a lot.”
Bramlett and Plunkett have been key contributors on a very talented Riverhead squad that is in line to make the playoffs and compete for a league title in August. Bramlett has been an anchor behind the plate, teaming with Hunter Dolshun (UMBC) and Dan Popio (Mercyhurst) to form a strong trio, while Plunkett has come in with the bat, raising his average nearly 50 points by recording a hit in eight of his last nine contests entering Wednesday’s action.
Both Plunkett and Bramlett will enter the fall season as redshirt freshmen and hope they can use their playing time as momentum for when they get back on campus. "I came here wanting to work on my small game and figure out who I am at the plate,” said Plunkett.
Like Plunkett, Bramlett has welcomed the chance to play almost every day, racking up valuable plate appearances. "I feel like I got a lot better this summer,” Bramlett said. “The at-bats are the biggest part. I feel a lot more confident.”
They hope to be part of a national championship run in 2015 and beyond. They won two games against this year’s champs, Vanderbilt.
“To see [Vanderbilt] win the whole thing is pretty cool,” Bramlett said. “That we beat them shows we can win it eventually in the next few years."
In the next few weeks, each will have to play a significant role if the Tomcats are to make a deep run in the playoffs. Riverhead is looking for its first-ever HCBL championship, and thanks to its tandem from Tennessee, it has as good a chance as anyone.
