Tony Vitello sends stern message to Vols fans after Tennessee's wild win against Radford
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello had a stern message for UT fans after the program's wild 22-9 win against the Radford Highlanders on Tuesday night. The Vols were ahead 9-4 in the third inning on Tuesday night before Radford tied the game at 9 in the top of the 5th inning. Tennessee center fielder […]
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello had a stern message for UT fans after the program's wild 22-9 win against the Radford Highlanders on Tuesday night.
The Vols were ahead 9-4 in the third inning on Tuesday night before Radford tied the game at 9 in the top of the 5th inning.
Tennessee center fielder Hunter Ensley ensured that the game remained tied in the 5th inning by making a spectacular running catch which resulted in the redshirt senior crashing into the wall.
After the game, which Tennessee won 22-9 thanks to three grand slams, Vitello told reporters that he thought fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium should've given Ensley a standing ovation when he came up to bat after his impressive catch.
"Y’all know how I feel about our fans," said Vitello. "I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t think they were A-plus and arguably the best in the country. But I think the next time a guy risks his whole face running into the wall, it’d be good if he could get a good ovation that next at-bat. Standing would be ideal, but just a good ovation that next at-bat, because he literally has risked life and limb. And I know a lot of fan fares come with that, but just in that particular occasion.”
Everyone knows Vitello loves the Tennessee fan base and the passion that Vols fans bring on a daily basis. But he's still a coach at heart and he was clearly still in "coach mode" while speaking with reporters after the game.
Ensley has a habit of crashing into walls while making insane catches, so I'm sure Tennessee fans will have additional opportunities this season to give him a standing ovation after a great defensive play.