Tony Vitello makes interesting admission about Tennessee Baseball
The Tennessee Vols are just one win away from reaching the College World Series for the second time in three years. If Tennessee beats Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on Monday night, it will be the Vols' quickest return to Omaha since they went in 2001 and then again four years later in 2005 (the Vols […]
The Tennessee Vols are just one win away from reaching the College World Series for the second time in three years.
If Tennessee beats Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on Monday night, it will be the Vols' quickest return to Omaha since they went in 2001 and then again four years later in 2005 (the Vols previously reached the College World Series in 2021).
A few months ago, a trip to the College World Series seemed unlikely.
Unlike their fast start last season, Tennessee got off to a sluggish start in 2023. The Vols were swept by Missouri in their first SEC series. And UT didn't get its first win against a Power 5 opponent until March 24 against Texas A&M.
Additionally, the Vols didn't win a series on the road until the final weekend of the regular season, taking two of three from South Carolina in Columbia.
Despite the struggles this season, the Vols are in position to be one of just eight teams that reach the College World Series.
An admission from Tony Vitello after the Vols' win against Southern Mississippi in game two of the Hattiesburg Super Regional helps explain why Tennessee got off to such a slow start this season.
According to Vitello, the 2023 Vols baseball team wasn't a fun team to be around when they first got together late last summer.
"In August we weren’t a fun team to be around," admitted Vitello. "It was awkward. There was a lot of space between the players and the coaches, the players and the players, and even the players and the managers on a couple of occasions. Since then, we have been coming together. I think the cool thing about these guys is that it was an emotional win but a quick reflection on it and move forward to tomorrow. Give us another day so we can try to come together a little about more.”
Tennessee outfielder Jared Dickey echoed Vitello's sentiments on Sunday night.
“Earlier in the year, we wouldn’t do that (pick each other up) for each other," said Dickey. "Just how close this team has gotten is really special and I think we’re just doing great things right now."
Baseball is a sport where chemistry matters almost more than talent. After losing a significant amount of talent from last year's squad to the 2022 MLB Draft, it's not a surprise that it took a little while to get things going in 2023. But you gotta give Vitello credit for letting it (team chemistry) happen organically. That's probably the main reason why the Vols are one win away from Omaha on Monday.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
