Vanderbilt players impressed by fans' welcome after loss

Ten-year-old Vanderbilt fan Christian Howell had a simple message to tell the Commodores, and he wanted to stand in front of their team bus to say it.

"I'm here to congratulate them because they deserve it," Howell said. "I want them to know that we're still proud of them and still love them."

Howell, like the hundreds of the fans welcoming the baseball team home from the College World Series Thursday, emphasized "still" in his adoration for the Commodores, who fell short in earning back-to-back national championships.

Vanderbilt lost 4-2 to Virginia in Game 3 of the national title series in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday night. When the team arrived back at Hawkins Field Thursday afternoon, fans cheered them on, lined up for autographs and hugged each player who waded through the crowd.

Howell, a fifth-grader, had to be pulled back from stepping onto Jess Neely Drive as the buses rolled up to the curb.

Siblings Sam and Ella Springer waited for the players behind a barrier. Sam, 10, has been a fan of Dansby Swanson since the Vanderbilt All-American shortstop coached him in a summer camp two years ago.

"I know they lost (the championship game), but that's why I wanted to be here," Sam said. "I want him to see that I'm still cheering him on."

Swanson and the others got the message.

Freshman outfielder Jeren Kendall, who hit a walk-off home run in Vanderbilt's first win in the College World Series, was not on the team when the Commodores were greeted after winning their first national title a year ago. He didn't know such an extensive greeting party would await the team's return after a loss.

"I didn't really expect all this, but it just shows what kind of people follow our team," Kendall said. "We got a lot of pats on the backs and a lot of people congratulating us. It doesn't even seem like we lost walking through there."

Myers Tschantz, 10, came to campus to see his favorite player, right fielder Rhett Wiseman, because "he's such a good player and he's left-handed like me."

For Wiseman, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals, the welcoming party was bittersweet to end his Vanderbilt career.

"It's special getting off that bus and seeing everyone, talking to everyone," Wiseman said. "But it's sad at the same time, especially for guys who aren't coming back next year. There are people that you see after every single game for three or four years, and then it's the end. That's kind of sad."

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.