MCWS 2024: How Kirby Connell became beloved in Tennessee - ESPN

OMAHA, Nebraska — Jesse James Pulley started his first round of chemotherapy the day the ballplayers visited. The 9-year-old had just been diagnosed with Stage III Burkitt lymphoma, and everything was new and terrifying. Upon hearing the news of her son's cancer a week earlier, Leann Pulley blacked out.

June 4 was the day Jesse met Kirby Connell and Zander Sechrist at the East Tennessee Children's Hospital, three days before the Tennessee Volunteers played in super regionals. Sechrist is a starting pitcher on the No. 1-ranked Vols; Connell is one of the most popular people in Knoxville with his big arm, big personality and handlebar mustache that he curls for baseball games. Tennessee calls on the high-leverage reliever when things get hairy, which is appropriate. Perhaps no one on the team is hairier than the long-locked Connell.

Jesse James Pulley is shy when he's around people he doesn't know, his mom said, but when Connell and Sechrist — along with Tennessee pitchers AJ Russell and Austin Hunley — walked into the room, he lit up.

«What are you doing, dude?» Connell asked him and shook his hand.

Jesse was playing Mario Kart, and Russell challenged him to a game. But Connell did not root for his teammate. He cheered on Jesse, giving him pep talks all the way.

«It's his first round of chemo. He was scared,» Leann said. «To see someone come in and lift his spirits like that… I don't know how to describe it, but it's just like a tingling feeling to see your child happy, with someone who they look up to.»

Before they left, the pitchers signed a baseball for Jesse. Connell scribbled his name right below Sechrist's.

Jesse can't play little league baseball — his asthma is too bad so he has had to wait. But every time he goes