Tony Vitello reflects on getting first Omaha win as coach, first for Tennessee since 2001
Tennessee’s run in Omaha was very nearly short-lived as they faced elimination on Monday against Stanford. However, the Volunteers were able to rally back from an early 4-0 hole for Tony Vitello to pick up his first win in the College World Series and for the program to win their first game on that stage in over two decades.
Following the 6-4 victory, Tony Vitello spoke about what it meant to them and their university. Considering the history that it joined, he said it meant a great deal as it continued the proud traditions of former Vols from the past.
“Yeah, I mean, anytime there’s a bridge to the history? It’s a big deal for us. We invested a lot of time, researched Coach Delmonico’s time in Rocky Top. And the 2005 team. But also Burke’s team and Todd Helton’s group. They helped us a bunch,” Vitello said. “Anything that excites us that serves as a bridge and the success in the past. Tennessee in general, Pat Summitt, proud tradition.”
With that said, Vitello was also just happy for this team to now see another day with each other. They put their heads down, pushed onward, and earned themselves another opportunity to compete with one another which, considering all things, is something Vitello will happily take.
“For today, to be honest with you? Our little theme we’ve had all year long, because of tough times, is just keep moving forward. This is one more day we get to keep moving forward. And a win is nice. But you need more than one win at this place to get too excited about wins,” said Vitello. “It’s more about this group getting to be together another day or two and hopefully even more than that. But I don’t know if they agree with me in August and September, like, yeah, let’s do whatever we’ve got to do to hang out a little bit more. But the team has come together. And I speak for them that we’ll take another hour together if we can.”
Again, a four-run deficit after three innings with the Cardinals was anything but ideal. Even so, it was at that moment where, as Vitello said, Tennessee kept moving forward. At the top of the fifth, the Volunteers went all the way through their lineup and hit several singles to tie things up at four. Then, towards the end of the top of the seventh, Zane Denton scored Griffin Merritt in while a wild pitch then brought Blake Burke home to finish things off.
All in all, Tennessee will take what they can get with them now having faced elimination already. From here, it’s about taking things little by little and doing what they can to extend their season again tonight in a rematch with LSU.