Tony Vitello shares emotional take after Tennessee beats Wake Forest in Knoxville finale
Tennessee baseball fans saw a big win on Monday night in Knoxville. But what made the night even more special was what head coach Tony Vitello shared after the game. His words gave people a deeper look into the team's heart, effort, and belief.
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The game was exciting, but what came after left a lasting impression.
Tony Vitello praises Tennessee's full team effort in regional win
It was on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee, where the Vols triumphed against Wake Forest with an emphatic 11-5 win in Game 7 of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional. The victory advanced the team to the Super Regionals, where they now face off against Arkansas. The energy in the stadium was intense, and the players gave their all.
Tony Vitello, who is in his eighth year as Tennessee's head coach, spoke to reporters after the win. He said the crowd's energy was different that night. 'It's tough to describe the energy that was in the building tonight,' Vitello said. 'It was a little bit different. Maybe they listened to Andrew Fischer.' Fischer had earlier asked fans to 'double the noise,' and it seemed like the crowd responded.
Vitello also spoke about how proud he was of his team's performance.
He said each player did something they had struggled with during the season. From the first batter to the last, everyone contributed. The coach pointed out that this was one of the most complete efforts the team had shown all year.
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Nate Snead and pitching staff show commitment and unity
Tony Vitello also gave credit to Tennessee's pitching staff. One standout name was Nate Snead. He threw nearly 100 pitches and showed no signs of slowing down. Vitello said, 'Snead was willing to go 100 pitches today.
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I feel for the guys who didn't get action because everybody was available.'
The coach also mentioned Marcus Phillips and Ben Martin, who were ready to jump in if needed. Though they didn't play, their spirit stood out. Vitello praised pitching coach Frank Anderson, saying he pushes the players hard but also earns their trust. 'There's a lot of love between the pitchers and coach A,' he said.
He added that many of the pitchers don't just want to throw for themselves. They want to do it for their teammates. This team-first mindset was something Vitello deeply appreciated.
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