What Tony Vitello said following a Friday 12-3 win over Georgia

Tennessee picked up its second win on the road this season with a late offensive exposition, 12-3 over Georgia in game one of the series on Friday night. The Vols have now won nine-straight games and seven-straight inside the conference.

What did head coach Tony Vitello say postgame about the effort? A written transcript of him + player is provided below.

Tony Vitello written transcript

What changed for Tennessee offensively to score 10 runs on 11 hits over the final three innings…

“I think the at-bats were pretty solid going into that, but we were able to kind of piece things together and I think when our guys — you know, each year each team has their own different style. And I think when this team is relaxed, it allows them to be true to who they are and as the game got on, I think our team actually got loose. It works out the opposite way very often. Again, regardless of the scoreboard, as the game goes on guys seem to get tense, but our guys seemed more and more into and more and more loose as the game went on.”

On how rewarding it is to see Christian Scott have the success he’s had the last month…

“It’s awesome. I don’t say it to him, but his old teammates and I have texted back and forth a bunch about him. You’d like to think the world is fair and you get what you deserve, but it doesn’t always work out that way. But I think a kid that is really matured a lot and has always done what we’ve asked to him and he’s relishing in the opportunity to be out there every day. The cool thing is he’s not trying to be a superhero or do too much. He’s just trying to do his part because we’ve got a pretty good set up with the 10 guys we use consistently and then the other guys that are available. Good sign that we may have (Kavares Tears) back, so if everyone does their piece and you get it into one big puzzle, it’s a pretty good puzzle.”

On Kirby Connell and Camden Sewell being able to work out of the jam in the fifth inning…

“The guy — it’s never easy no matter what’s going on. Our team, their team is dealing with all kinds of stuff this time of year and (Andrew) Lindsey had some congestion issues like everybody that’s in America right now probably with pollen and everything. Then also some tightness in some areas. The fact that he got us to that point was rewarding for us and again, anytime I go out there, I can feel his energy and wants to stay in the game because that’s the competitor he is.  But hand the ball off to the next guy, trust him and we did a nice job in a bunt situation. Then after that, Cam (Sewell) came in and did a great job. That was a dangerous situation. It’s a good lineup. They obviously can cause damage one through nine, but the table-setters had got on and we were able to wiggle out of it.”

On Hunter Ensley’s impact both in the field and at the plate…

“It’s been huge. He makes two sliding catches in the outfield, too. So, I think the form in which he’s become a catalyst — I’ve said a few times to the media — just being himself. Being that personality that he is. I’d like to focus on my answer, but these guys are knuckleheads (Griffin Merritt and Jared Dickey were standing off to the side). Just because we won a game they think they can try and distract me. Tomorrow awaits.

“But the kid (Ensley) is a tough kid. And like Cal (Stark), both those guys have added the hit by pitch to our repertoire on offense where we didn’t have that. We didn’t have bunting, we didn’t have good base running, we didn’t have aggressive things going on early in the year. And now it’s an offense where you say, we’ve got a multitude of ways we can have success.”

On what Christian Moore is doing differently in the last week….

“Normally when something happens physically and you’re a little out of sync you can maybe start to create a bigger monster there or something that’s not really there. I think his frustration caused a little bit of a downward spiral which it’s hard as a baseball player. There’s a lot of repetitions, so when it’s not going well for more than a few in a row that can happen to these kids— they get frustrated but once he kind of shed that frustration, got in the cage and got to work a little bit and then just kind of started playing I believe on that Sunday like he did against Mississippi State with that loose attitude. Again, our guys have their own personalities so I don’t think he’s ever going to be as goofy as Blake Burke but it is nice to see him have his intent focus but at the same time relax and play a kids game here.”

On if they anticipated Ensley being as good defensively as he has been…

“No. Don’t tell him I said that but he’s worked hard at it. Now it kind of comes easier to him but he’s worked really hard at it. He played the infield, he kind of played all over. He played a lot of football. Because of football he had an arm injury. He also had a hand injury at one point with us. Being a guy from not necessarily in the deep south as far as baseball reps adding up— he just needed reps but to make them count you have to have some intent behind them and he’s definitely got that and it’s nice he’s stacked a bunch of those and he’s become more than just a good defender.”

On what he’s liked about Cal Stark….

“We work on that popup but you can’t simulate that deal where it’s so high in a tough sky and it’s kind of in the perfect spot where nobody else can get there. It was chaos and a really big part of the game and a really good hitter so taking charge. A lot of the guys on our team have started to take charge instead of like in the fall — Gilbert, Russell, Beck — these guys aren’t here I’ve got to be a leader. They’ve just started to take charge of what their situation is. So if I need to be good at bunting or I need to be good at umpire reporte like Chuck and Cal have done, Dickey getting good in left field— whatever it is just take charge of your situation and that’s what he did on that play but also that’s kind of what he’s done in various ways and has made him a strong personality in our lineup.”

On what he saw from Andrew Lindsey…

“You don’t want to put a premise out there so much that it happens. I don’t know how much there is to that book “The Secret” but you don’t want to keep saying something, we had to discuss it and I’ll be danged if he doesn’t go out there and kind of not look like he’s looked himself the last couple weeks because he’s been in a nice little rhythm, but as he does he kind of gritted it out and got the more competitive the situation the better he competed and he got us into that middle part of the game. That was huge because it’s a long weekend for everybody in this league that’s playing three games so for him to eat up as many outs as he did and put us in the situation he did was huge.”

Camden Sewell written transcript

On coming in during the fifth inning with one out…

“That was a really good hitter [Charlie Condon] and everyone knows it. In that specific instance, you’ve got to execute pitches and fortunately I was able to do that. I got a swing and a miss in a big situation. That’s basically all that happened.”

On improving with runners on base….

“I think the biggest thing is to try and throw it over the plate. If you try not to make them swing and miss, they swing and miss more often than not. If you throw it over the plate and try to make them hit it, they will swing and miss. That’s kind of my approach and fortunately that happened tonight.”

On getting back to himself on the mound, separating himself from injury…

“It’s just been good going back out there and getting back into a rhythm and a flow. Getting back to feeling more like myself. I think that’s the biggest thing – just getting out there. I think every pitcher would agree. The more you are out there, the more comfortable you will be. That’s been the biggest thing for me.”

On Christian Moore’s power surge…

“I don’t even know how many he has hit over the last week. I know at one point it was like three in 24 hours or something. Obviously, that’s huge for the team. He’s a good kid and plays the game hard. We love him. We will try to continue this journey we are on right now.”

On Hunter Ensley and Christian Scott’s play….

“Those two guys specifically have been huge turning points for us, honestly. They kind of take control out there and lock everything down – and [Jared] Dickey also. Their performance on the offensive side has been tremendous and we are very excited to keep it rolling.”   

On getting run support…

“It obviously helps, but at the end of the day – they try to put up runs and we try to put up zeros. As many runs as they can put up and as many zeros as we can put up – we will be in a good spot. It’s finally everyone playing together, and I still think that’s the biggest thing.”

On Andrew Lindsey…

“He competed. It wasn’t his best stuff, but the dude competes and he’s a winner. That’s all you can ask. Go out there and put everything on the line. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But at the end of the day, you don’t want to look back and say you wish you could have made more effort. That’s the bottom line and he does that every time he’s out here and all we can say is thank you. We will continue rooting for him and playing for each other.” 

Hunter Ensley written transcript

On which diving catch was his favorite:

“Probably the second one. I was kind of shifted over to right center, because that kid, his spray chart is more right center, and it was just a longer way to run and the slide was cooler, I think.”

On if he’s ever been hit three times in one game:

“Yeah, but I think probably when I was 10 years old when people couldn’t throw strikes. But no, not since I’ve been over 10.”

On which HBP will bruise the worst:

“I would say the last one would be the biggest bruiser. It was the only one that really squared me up.”

On what position he played in high school:

“I played shortstop in high school, for my high school baseball team. But in summer ball, when we played travel ball, competitive travel ball, I would move to the outfield. Center and left field.”

On how much more comfortable he’s gotten in center field:

“I think it goes back to the summer a little bit. I played quite a bit of center field and left field this summer. Got comfortable out there, and he gave me the confidence. He said, ‘Go out there and play center field and play hard,’ and then I mean, the more reps you get, the easier it is, and the better reads you get.”

On if this win sets the tone for what’s to come this weekend:

“A Friday night win on the road is huge no matter where you go. Obviously, it gives us confidence. We haven’t been in a 1-0 Friday night win position [on the road] yet this year, so it gives us confidence going into tomorrow.”

On what Christian Moore’s success does for the offense:

“CMo (Christian Moore) always has that power. He’s just putting great swings on the ball, hunting pitches and getting them. But I mean, it puts runs up on the board. He probably had what, 4 or 5 RBIs tonight? It was huge for the offense.”

On what was different for the offense in the last couple innings compared to first six:

“I wouldn’t say much different. Had great at-bats all night, I would say, even the first four or five innings. But, kind of started timing them up a little bit and stuff was starting to fall. Drawing walks, getting hit by pitch…”

On how it’s been these past six weeks being a consistent contributor:

“It’s awesome. This is a team that I grew up watching and wanted to play for. So, I put this jersey on, and I go out in center, I play as hard as I can for these guys around me. Really, I just want to win. So whatever it takes for me.”

On how fun it is to see Kirby come in followed by Camden:

“For both of them, it’s perfect for what we’re trying to do in that situation. Kirby [Connell] comes in and faces a lefty, and he doesn’t get the bunt down. I think he foul bunts out, so that was awesome. And then Cam [Sewell] came in and did what he’s great at. Working around guys, getting guys to swing and miss and getting big outs.”

On how important Christian Scott is to bottom of the order:

“For him, it’s confidence. He’s going to show up to the field, and he knows he’s in there. Just building off his confidence. You keep stacking at-bats and stacking hits, and a three-hit night? That’s huge for your confidence, and that’s what it’s all about.”

On if Blake Burke could hit that house up on the hill:

“Yeah, probably. I would say he could.”

On if he (Ensley) could hit it opposite way that far:

“Probably, if there’s enough velo behind it, maybe it it’s like 100 away, I could probably get it up there.”