December 2022 Stars Of The Month Troy Laneve & Thomas Shultz

With the Vandy Boys in our backyard, it was easy to hit a “home run” this Fall with our interns, Troy Laneve and Thomas Shultz.

Both Pennsylvania natives were drawn to Tennessee, nearly 600 miles away from home, by their mutual love for the game of baseball.

“Sports were a huge part of growing up in my family,” Laneve said. “I decided to come to Vanderbilt because of the culture the baseball program has built over the last two decades. It was a perfect fit.”

Shultz was also an avid athlete growing up, playing three sports during high school, but it was always baseball that he loved most.

“My love for the game made wanting this opportunity very easy, and it has been gratifying getting to be a part of this and understand it more,” he said.

During their freshman year, at the first David Williams Classic, they heard of the Stars for the first time and immediately became captivated by the idea of bringing a Major League team to Nashville. Later that same year, following a game against Oklahoma State, the team took a trip to Kansas City where they were given a personal tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by Bob Kendrick.

After returning to Nashville, the two were determined to get involved somehow. Nearly three years later, the Vanderbilt seniors, now majoring in human and organizational development, were presented with the opportunity to earn credit hours through internships.

“My experience this fall interning with the Stars exceeded my expectations. The environment at the office, as well as the collective shared vision with the staff, is inspiring,” he said.

Since reaching out and landing interviews with the help of Brooks Webb, Coach Tim Corbin, and Ro Coleman, they have assisted with many integral parts of our mission.

Shultz worked directly with Coleman and former Major League pitcher Jarrod Parker to support the efforts of the Nashville Stars Youth Foundation. Laneve assisted in an operational role at the Stars headquarters. Their time spent as part of our organization has provided valuable experience and insight into the careers they both want to pursue after graduation.

“When the day comes when I’m no longer playing, I would like to stay inside of sports,” Shultz said. “This opportunity has given me a chance to explore what that means for me.”

With May right around the corner, Laneve is also thinking about what’s next.

“Playing baseball has been a passion of mine since I was very young, but this experience made me realize that I want to stay in the sport as a career,” Laneve said. “Bringing MLB to Nashville would make the city complete to me, and I want to be here to see it.”