Tony Vitello had a hilarious reaction that no one would have expected to his own player's walk off grand slam
Tony Vitello is as unpredictable at times as they come and wears his emotions on his sleeve often, but that's why in large part he's so beloved as they come. It can even be amusing in certain situations, and that was the case on Saturday at the end of the Vols' 11-1 win over St. […]
Tony Vitello is as unpredictable at times as they come and wears his emotions on his sleeve often, but that's why in large part he's so beloved as they come.
It can even be amusing in certain situations, and that was the case on Saturday at the end of the Vols' 11-1 win over St. Bonaventure at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With Tennessee leading 7-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning and the bases loaded, freshman Manny Marin took the first pitch of the at bat and drove it deep to left. The ball cleared the wall in left inside the foul pole for a game-ending grand slam.
While the dugout celebrated, Vitello had, well, an opposite reaction, let's say.
Vitello's reaction likely had to do with the fact that his team saw an incredible seventh game so far this year in a 15-0 start end in a run-rule shortened fashion. Vitello has complained before about the run rule, as he doesn't feel 10 runs is impossible to overcome and that his players don't get a full game of work.
However, Tennessee isn't exactly wasting the at bats they're getting. They led college baseball in home runs (38) and slugging percentage (.691) going into the weekend while being second in on base percentage (.495). That has grown through two 12-0 and 11-1 blowouts over the Bonnies through two games this weekend, with 6 more home runs adding to the total.
It surely won't be like this moving forward, as Vitello acknowledged after the game the difficulty of the season increasing as it goes along, and that will certainly be the case next weekend in a top ten matchup with the Florida Gators in Knoxville to open SEC play.
If the Vols can send one over the fence to walk off their SEC rivals, you'll certainly see a very different reaction from Tennessee's skipper – whether it's in the seventh inning or ninth.
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