Oak Ridge Today

MassLive.com: Steen still recovering, but determined to return to baseball

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Boston Red Sox minor league player Kevin Steen, a right-handed pitcher who was drafted out of Oak Ridge in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft in 2014, is still recovering after being critically injured in a car crash in Florida in April, but he is determined to return to baseball, according to a news and information site in Massachusetts.

MassLive.com reported that Steen spent about three months recovering at Lee Memorial Hospital in southwest Florida and has undergone seven surgeries. Steen said he hopes to pitch again in mid-to-late 2018, but he doesn’t want to rush anything and “it is going to take some time,” the website said. (You can read the story here.)

The crash in Florida was reported on April 26. News reports at the time said another car veered over a median and struck the sport utility vehicle that Steen was driving. The striking vehicle went airborne before crashing into Steen’s SUV. That striking vehicle caught fire, and the driver died on the scene.

A YouCaring page set up for donations for medical expenses for Steen said he suffered severe lower body injuries and had surgeries on his hip and both knees before starting rehabilitation. [Read more…]

Kevin Steen, Red Sox pitching prospect from Oak Ridge, critically injured in car crash in Florida

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Dobyns-Bennett

Kevin Steen (3) and Jaylin Henderson (2) are pictured playing basketball for the Oak Ridge Wildcats against Dobyns-Bennett in March 2014. (File photo by Ned Jilton II/Kingsport Times News)

Kevin Steen, a Boston Red Sox pitching prospect from Oak Ridge, was critically injured in a car crash in Florida late Wednesday night, according to the Red Sox and a CBS affiliate in Boston.

Steen was taken to a southwest Florida hospital, identified as Lee Memorial Hospital, in critical condition following the crash.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire Red Sox organization are with minor league player Kevin Steen, who sustained serious injuries in a car accident in Florida last night,” the Red Sox said in a statement on Thursday morning. “The club will update his condition at the appropriate time.”

News reports said another car veered over a median and struck the SUV that Steen, 20, was driving. CBS Boston said the striking vehicle went airborne before crashing into Steen’s SUV. That striking vehicle caught fire, and the driver died on the scene, CBS Boston said.

The Red Sox selected the right-handed Steen in the ninth round of the 2014 draft. He has pitched 30 games in the minor leagues over the past three seasons, with 26 of them starts. [Read more…]

Red Sox sign Steen, a right-handed pitcher from Oak Ridge

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BOSTON, Mass.—The Boston Red Sox have signed ninth-round selection Kevin Steen, a right-handed pitcher from Oak Ridge High School.

The Red Sox drafted Steen in June. He had committed to play baseball at the University of Tennessee, and he was the 284th pick in the three-day, 40-round MLB First-Year Player Draft in June.

Steen, who was a senior at ORHS this past year, also played basketball for the Oak Ridge Wildcats and helped lead the team to a state championship game in March for the first time since 1963. Oak Ridge finished as state Class AAA runner-up. [Read more…]

Two taken to hospital after stabbing reported on Monday night

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Two Oak Ridge men were taken by ambulance to a hospital after a stabbing was reported on Monday night, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a reported disturbance in the Scarboro neighborhood at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. Roughly 20 people were reported to be in the street on South Benedict Avenue near the intersection with South Dillard Avenue, and some were allegedly intoxicated, the ORPD said in a press release.

When officers arrived, they found Kevin Steen, 48, of Oak Ridge, lying in the street with multiple contusions to the head and face, the press release said.

A second subject reportedly had been stabbed and left the scene. [Read more…]

Red Sox draft Oak Ridge pitcher Kevin Steen

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Dobyns-Bennett

Kevin Steen, right, played for the Oak Ridge Wildcats basketball and baseball teams, and the right-handed pitcher was drafted by the Boston Red Sox on Friday. He is pictured above with Jaylin Henderson, left, during a March basketball game in Kingsport defending Tyleke Love of Dobyns-Bennett. (Photo by Ned Jilton II/Kingsport Times News)

The Boston Red Sox picked Kevin Steen, a right-handed pitcher from Oak Ridge High School, in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft on Friday.

Steen, who has committed to play baseball at the University of Tennessee, was the 284th pick in the three-day, 40-round First-Year Player Draft, which had more than 1,200 selections.

He was one of of four right-handers picked by the Red Sox on Day 2 of the draft, with only one selection coming straight from high school, the team said in a press release.

Steen also played basketball for the Oak Ridge Wildcats and helped lead the team to a state championship game in March for the first time since 1963. Oak Ridge finished as state Class AAA runner-up. [Read more…]

Wildcats’ lead slips away in fourth quarter of state championship

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Oak Ridge Wildcats 2014 State Runner Up

The Oak Ridge Wildcats were named Class AAA State Runner-Up after a 60-58 loss to the Blackman Blaze in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

MURFREESBORO—The Oak Ridge Wildcats gave up an 11-point lead in a series of turnovers in the fourth quarter before losing to the Blackman Blaze 60-58 in a state championship game in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

Wildcats senior Jaylin Henderson had a game-high 24 points in the Class AAA final, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the combined scoring of four Blaze players who scored 10 or more each. The Wildcats were named 2014 State Runner-Up.

Oak Ridge (32-8) looked like it was headed to victory in the third quarter and early in the fourth, but the Blaze (28-6) stepped up the pressure and the Wildcats weren’t able to protect the ball.

Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said a series of five fourth-quarter turnovers, including back-to-back steals, shifted the momentum. Many of the Wildcats’ turnovers led to easy layups, and the Blaze went on a 14-0 scoring run at the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge advances to state semifinals with 66-45 win over Jefferson County

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Jefferson County Quarterfinals

From left are seniors Isaac Merian and Jaylin Henderson and freshman Tee Higgins, and Wildcats basketball coach Aaron Green.

Note: This story was last updated at 11:02 p.m.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1999 with a 66-45 win over Jefferson County in Murfreesboro on Wednesday.

The Wildcats (31-7) will play Arlington (29-4) in Murfreesboro at 11:30 a.m. CDT Friday (12:30 p.m. EDT) in a Class AAA state boys’ basketball semifinal game.

The Wildcats said teamwork was key to the Wednesday afternoon quarterfinal win at Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University. They cited steals—Oak Ridge had nine total—double-teaming on defense against the tall Patriots team, and improvements in rebounding compared to their performance during a Nov. 27 win over Jefferson County (30-6).

“We played more as a team,” said senior guard Jaylin Henderson, who scored 11 points and had four steals. “I think we were hot.” [Read more…]

Wildcats headed back to state tournament after 62-55 win over Dobyns-Bennett

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Seth Davis Oak Ridge and John Fulkerson Dobyns-Bennett

Dobyns-Bennett’s John Fulkerson (#20) and Oak Ridge’s Seth Davis (#5) scramble after a loose ball. (Photo by Ned Jilton II/Kingsport Times News)

Note: This story was last updated at 12:05 p.m. March 5.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play in their second consecutive state tournament after a 62-55 win over Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport on Tuesday.

It was another comeback victory for the Wildcats, who had been down 27-35 at halftime.

“We won the game in the second half defensively,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

He said senior Kevin Steen, who led the Wildcats with 16 points, sparked the team with 10 points in the third quarter, including a two-handed dunk off a rebound. [Read more…]

Déja vu with twist: This time, in Region 2 final, Wildcats fall

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Geevantay Gee and Oak Ridge Wildcats

Sophomore guard Geevantay Gee had seven points during a Region 2 championship game against Powell on Thursday.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28.

For a few minutes, it looked like Oak Ridge might repeat its comeback overtime win against Powell.

Down by eight points in the third quarter on Thursday, the Wildcats tied the game 59-59 with less than one minute to play with a flurry of baskets by seniors Jaylin Henderson, Isaac Merian, and Kevin Steen.

But this time, with a Region 2-AAA championship on the line, Oak Ridge was unable to muster a miracle in overtime. Led by the six points of senior Dallas Fields, Powell pulled away from the Wildcats just enough to win. The final score was 72-70, and Powell was named Region 2 champions for the first time since 2006.

But the Wildcats (29-7) aren’t out of the playoffs. They travel to Kingsport on Monday to play Dobyns-Bennett (21-8) at 7 p.m. in a Class AAA sectional for a chance to go to the state tournament in Murfreesboro in March. [Read more…]

Wildcats advance to Region 2 finals with 61-58 win over Karns

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Oak Ridge Wildcats and Karns Beavers Region 2 Semifinals

Oak Ridge advanced to the Region 2 finals with a 61-58 win over Karns on Tuesday in front of one of the largest crowds ever at Wildcat Arena. The game’s theme was “America.”

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge boys’ basketball team advanced to the Region 2 finals with a 61-58 win over Karns on Tuesday in front of the one of the largest crowds ever at Wildcat Arena.

It was the third time this year that the Wildcats (29-6) have beat the Beavers, and the win guarantees them at least two more post-season games.

“It’s hard to beat any team three times, especially a good team,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

Oak Ridge will play Powell (22-9) at 7 p.m. Thursday at home in the Region 2 finals. The outcome will determine whether the Wildcats play at home or away in a Monday sectional game where teams will fight for a chance to go to the state tournament in Murfreesboro in March. [Read more…]

Wildcats repeat as district champs with 61-43 win over Halls

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Oak Ridge Wildcats 2014 District Champions

The Oak Ridge Wildcats celebrate a district championship after a 61-43 victory over the Hall Red Devils at Powell on Wednesday.

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 20.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats repeated as district champions with a 61-43 win over Halls on Wednesday.

And, for the second year in a row, Jaylin Henderson was named most valuable player in the District 3-AAA tournament.

Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said he was very proud of the boys’ basketball team, which includes six seniors.

“To be district champs is a huge accomplishment,” Green said. [Read more…]

Wildcats advance to district championship with 69-67 comeback in semifinals OT

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Jaylin Henderson and Oak Ridge Wildcats

Senior guard Jaylin Henderson, left, leads the Oak Ridge Wildcats to a 69-67 come-from-behind overtime win over the Powell Panthers in a semifinal tournament game on Monday.

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 a.m.

POWELL—The Oak Ridge Wildcats erased a 17-point Powell lead in a semifinal tournament game on Monday and advanced to the district championship with a buzzer-beating 69-67 come-from-behind overtime win.

The Wildcats, who struggled on defense and with rebounding for much of the game, trailed the Panthers throughout the first three quarters, often by more than 10 points.

But a fired-up Jaylin Henderson came alive in the fourth quarter for the Wildcats, stealing balls on one end and scoring baskets on the other. He tied the game at 63-63 with about 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Isaac Merian, who had been relatively quiet for much of the night, scored the winning basket in overtime, picking up a loose ball and banking in an off-the-backboard shot as time expired, giving the Wildcats their 69-67 victory.

Oak Ridge fans exploded with excitement, and Panthers fans left in stunned silence. [Read more…]