By Parker Stinnett

Every year in collegiate sports, every university says goodbye to their senior class once the final out, basket, or touchdown is made. This year, the Tennessee Wesleyan University baseball team says goodbye to only two, Parker Stinnett and Daniel Sayre. With this, if you are not familiar with the two, the following information should give you a pretty good idea of who they are.

For starters, Parker Stinnett is a Communications Major from Knoxville, TN. Raised in Powell, TN, Parker grew up playing the game of baseball from the age of three. He would eventually go on to play for the panthers at Powell High School. Graduating in 2018, he made his way to Morristown, TN where he would play for two years for the Walters State Senators. With the 2019 season getting cut short because of COVID, he then committed to play at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After a season of injuries and setbacks, he set his sights on TWU and what he claims to be, “The best decision I’ve ever made”. A highly successful program ran by Head Coach Billy Berry, brought him in and treated him like family and he seemed to be one of the many puzzle pieces they were missing as he helped the 2022 Bulldogs to a 56-8 record, finishing third in the nation.

The second senior, Daniel Sayre is a Sports Management Major from Marina, California. Just like Parker, Dan grew up playing the game of baseball, starting at a very young age. Attending Seaside High school, Dan began to take the game more seriously as he started to get looks from college scouts. He landed a scholarship at Sacramento City Junior College, where he excelled in his game of play, hitting .400 for his career. Another big addition to the Bulldog line-up in 2022, Dan came all the way across the country to wear blue and white and was immediately a threat at shortstop, and still is today. He is known for his wild attitude and his noble leadership as a senior. He too, has been brought into the Bulldog family with open arms and will always remember TWU, as, “Another place to call home”.

The two are primary examples of “Bulldog Baseball”. Being the only two seniors on the team and already having a great line of college baseball experience, they have stepped up to be the leaders of this year’s team. Their teammates look to them to be their spark, and voice between the lines each game and they always show up when the line-up is posted. Their time at TWU maybe coming to an end, but their bond will live forever.

Edited by Marco Martinez
Photos courtesy of Danielle Proulx