Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident

Donny Everett, a freshman pitcher for Vanderbilt University, died at the age of 19 after drowning in a lake near Nashville on Thursday night.

Everett and four friends, including two Vanderbilt teammates, were fishing when Everett attempted to swim across Normandy Lake and was pulled under water.

In a statement, Vanderbilt spokesman Rod Williams said:

"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. His parents and loved ones are on our minds and in our prayers as we share in their grief.

Even as they grieve Everett's sudden death, Vanderbilt will go ahead and play its opening game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night against Xavier. The team drove to Clarksville, Tenn., to be with Everrett's family earlier in the day and the loss has hit the community hard:

	Vanderbilt Baseball @VandyBaseball
Love you, Donny.amp.twimg.com/v/9f119840-81f… 9:28 AM - 3 Jun 2016   Dansby Swanson @LieutenantDans7 My heart is completely broken. There are special prayers being said for the @VandyBaseball family. May you rest easy in heaven, Donny. 7:33 AM - 3 Jun 2016   Bryce Denton @brycedenton25 Rest in peace Donny Everett. Gone way to soon and had way to much ahead.. I will miss you my friend.. Can't even believe this happened.. 3:26 AM - 3 Jun 2016   alex brewer @alex_brewer09 Still can't believe this happened... Probably one of the better guys on and off the field that I've ever met. Rest in peace, Donny Everett. 4:55 AM - 3 Jun 2016

Everett was 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings for the Commodores this season and had been considered a first-round prospect for the 2015 MLB draft before making it clear he planned to attend Vanderbilt. He was selected in the 29th round by the Milwaukee Brewers but did not sign.