Vanderbilt freshman pitcher Donny Everett drowned while fishing
He was fishing with two teammates in Tennessee at the time
Vanderbilt freshman star pitcher Donny Everett drowned while fishing on Thursday in Tennessee with two teammates and two other friends.
Everett was swimming across Normandy Lake, about 60 miles southeast of Nashville, and was halfway across the lake when he called for help. His friends told Deputy Charles Taylor that they thought Everett must have been joking because he was smiling. When one friend looked back, Everett was nowhere to be seen and never resurfaced.
Divers with the county rescue squad found Everett just before 7 p.m on Thursday.
The 19-year old enrolled at Vanderbilt after being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 29th round last year. Baseball America had ranked the 19-year-old right-hander from Clarksville, Tennessee, 21st among prospects for the 2015 draft. He was also the 2015 Gatorade player of the year for Tennessee.
The day after his death, Everett and the Commodores were due to open the NCAA Tournament.
David Williams, Vanderbilt’s Athletic Director, said of the tragedy: “We learned last night of the tragic death of Donny Everett, an outstanding young man who exemplified the best of our university.
“As you can imagine, the team, the athletic department and the university are trying to come to terms with this tragedy.”