By Mark Nagi
Hunter Ensley has given Tennessee fans memories that will last a lifetime. His performance in the 2024 College World Series made him a hero to Volunteer supporters and ensured that the cheers would greet him every time he’s recognized at an event on the UT campus.
Recently, we had the chance to catch up with Ensley, talk about those magical days in Omaha, and what the future holds for him.
Knoxville Focus: Let’s talk about that 2024 season. What was it about that team that made them the group to finally get over the hump and win a National Championship?
Hunter Ensley: I would say a mix of, obviously, great recruiting by the coaches and great development, and a mix of older guys with experience as well. Our thing in the fall was how close we could get this team to be an actual team, know each other, and want to play for each other. I think that’s really what separated us from others. Obviously, we were very talented, and the coaches did a great job with the development on the pitching and hitting side. But I would just say the camaraderie as a team and how close the guys were. And the experience of going to Omaha and playing in Omaha. We brought back a lot of guys from that 2023 team who had experience in Omaha. They knew how to win in the postseason, and that definitely helped us going into 2024.
KF: In the second game of the College World Series, you robbed North Carolina’s Anthony Donofrio of an extra base hit when you made a running catch and held on, despite slamming into the center field wall. What are you thinking as the wall is getting closer?
HE: There’s not a lot going through my head at that moment. I kind of think of myself as a tough player and a tough kid. I feel like I grew up that way. I was a football player, so I was never afraid of contact, but I was never scared of the wall. For me, that was pretty much my brother on the mound (Tennessee pitcher Drew Beam) right there. I had seen him work for three years and how much he deserved to be in that spot on the mound. How can I get this out for this guy, working his tail off for the team? That’s not just me. Fortunately, I was the guy they hit the ball to, but I would say that if you put everyone else in center field right there, they would have tried to do the same thing as I would.
It was just that close of a team, and everyone wanted to win.
KF: In the final game against Texas A&M, you scored what proved to be the winning run on an acrobatic dive for home plate. Did you feel like you got a good jump after Kavares Tears hit the ball?
HE: I believe I for sure got a good jump on it. I would say that’s probably one of the most focused moments I’ve ever been in, just because it was game 3 for the National Championship… I think it all kind of just worked out. The slide is kind of tough to explain, because you kind of black out in those moments. But that was just me, you know, natural instincts right there, just trying to avoid the tag and win a game.
KF: So, what’s the feeling like when guys win and achieve your goal?
HE: Really, just a ton of different emotions being with the guys, obviously. That was kind of a dream.
Some of my best friends throughout those years… we wanted to be the last team standing one day. You think back to a bunch of the old days, Little League and travel ball and all the effort you put in, especially with my dad, Marty. A lot of those memories come back. It’s bigger than just yourself because, you know, you have a whole lot of Tennessee fans there that deserve it as well.
KF: Last summer, you spent some time playing in High-A ball with the Kansas City Royals but chose to retire from baseball. Why?
HE: A couple of different things. One, I felt very happy with my career, and also other opportunities that I kind of like the looks of coming up down the road. I won’t go into a whole other detail about that, but (there are) some opportunities for myself, possibly coaching and helping younger kids develop. I think I can have a pretty big impact. Right now, I’m working at Diamond Baseball-Simcox Academy (run by former Tennessee assistant baseball coach Larry Simcox), giving baseball lessons to younger kids, helping with outfield, infield, hitting… all of it. I want to be a resource to these kids, and I want some of them to live out their dreams, just as I was fortunate enough to live out mine.
