Tony Vitello’s comments following Tennessee baseball’s advancement to the CWS Finals
On Wednesday, Tennessee baseball secured its spot in the Men’s College World Series Final. Here’s a summary of everything Tony Vitello said about the Vols’ victory over Florida State that made it possible.
OMAHA, Neb. — On Wednesday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field, Tennessee baseball triumphed over Florida State, maintaining their undefeated streak in the Men’s College World Series and securing their spot in the finals.
The Volunteers will be competing in the finals for only the second time in the program’s history, the first being in 1951 when they were narrowly defeated by Oklahoma, 3-2, in a single-game championship. The first game of the best-of-three series against either Texas A&M or Florida will start on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ABC, with a potential third game on Monday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN if necessary.
Pitcher Zander Sechrist delivered a strong performance, while Tennessee’s offense tallied 10 runs on seven hits. Second baseman Christian Moore and first baseman Blake Burke were instrumental at the top of the lineup, going 5-for-9 collectively. They contributed three RBIs, scored three runs, walked once, with Moore hitting a triple and Burke achieving his 20th home run of the season.
Tony Vitello addressed the media after the game to discuss his team’s success and their advancement to the finals. Here’s what he said:
VITELLO: “I’m still trying to process everything that happened. With three games in one day, it was quite a whirlwind. Thankfully, it’s gone pretty well. Playing three games in a day is tough.
But it’s been an incredible time in Omaha. Being the middle game was one of the strangest experiences I’ve had. Maybe we won because we have one of the most unconventional pitchers I’ve ever been around in Zander. He pitched really well and led us into the game just as he should. Both teams hit the ball well, made great defensive plays, and have explosive lineups that keep you on the edge of your seat, at least from my perspective. Hopefully, the fans felt the same and got their money’s worth.
If you were a Florida State fan, you certainly got your money’s worth all year, especially considering the memorable season they’ve had, honoring their former legendary coach.”
Q: After getting close the last few years, what’s it like emotionally to now have a chance to take this team to the championship series?
Vitello: It’s a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle after the game, and you want to manage it well. The position we’ve put ourselves in is interesting. Kirby, Snead, Combs, and others are fresh, just like the main characters in “Tombstone.” Zander pitched exceptionally well with a low pitch count. My focus is on ensuring I’m putting these guys in a good position to succeed. Zander was determined to keep pitching today, and we decided to utilize our fresh players.
That’s where my mind is at. It might not be a great answer, but it’s amazing to see the development of players like Burke and Kirby, and Zander’s contribution. We’ve had a lot of build-up to our successes and failures this year, and it’s been fun to be a part of it. Emotionally, I’m mostly following these guys now. I have certain tasks and give them direction, and they listen. But right now, I’m following their lead, which is nice.
Q: You mentioned the game was weird. How significant was getting out of that third inning unscathed, and how peculiar was that sequence?
Vitello: It was crazy. I’m not even sure what happened with Dean’s play. He made a great first step, but on the ball he made an error, he was almost too fast. He positioned himself well to make a choice, and Zander did an outstanding job keeping his composure. Despite a couple of errors, the team played really good defense overall. K.T.’s catch was incredible, and moments like these show how our players rise to the occasion.
As much as we’d like to take back a couple of errors, we did give up a few free bases, though not many. Overall, the guys played excellent defense. K.T.’s catch was incredible. Earlier in the year, you guys asked if he could play center field. Jordan Beck did it too. When a coach tells you that you can’t do something, you need to step up. You should respect the coach, but you also need to rise to the challenge. K.T. has been relentless in the outfield during BP.
I grew up watching Willie McGee, who was fantastic defensively. He treated BP like a game, and that’s how K.T. approaches it. He can play any of the three outfield positions as well as anyone in our conference, and maybe even in the country.
Q: The third inning play by Dean and the play by Blake – you mentioned maturity, are these the kind of plays a mature team makes at this time of year?
Vitello: Dean might smirk at this, but he’s surprisingly mature for his age, both mentally and physically. By this point in the season, freshmen should be playing like sophomores. Blake and others have participated in many postseason games, and even though Zander didn’t pitch here last year, he’s gained valuable experience.
You can succeed on your first attempt, but there’s definitely a benefit in our players relying on past experiences to handle different situations maturely. I am very fortunate to have an exceptional support staff that sticks together through good and bad times. Our closeness stems from a shared desire to win, which contributes to our success. Our players, especially this group, listen and take direction well, which I believe is a sign of maturity.
Q: Sechrist’s last four or five starts have been in big spots and he’s done well. When did you realize he could be more than just a weekend pitcher?
Vitello: As Blake mentioned, Zander has made mistakes but always bounces back. For example, after an at-bat with a runner on third and one out, which is a great opportunity for Blake, he responded with a powerful hit in his next at-bat. Zander, too, has shown resilience when he was frustrated about being taken out of games early. Instead of reacting negatively, he proved himself on the field. Actions speak louder than words, and many players on our team have demonstrated their capabilities by stepping up when needed.
Q: Going back to the preseason or even in the fall, did you anticipate this team having the power numbers that they have?
Vitello: No, but I haven’t really focused on that aspect. Coach Elander has, as it’s something he’s passionate about. He works on power hitting with the guys, but it’s never been a primary focus. Look at today, for example. You could argue that home runs were influenced by the wind and the smaller park. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but we knew our guys would take consistently good swings, be physically strong, and have depth. Even if someone like Reese has an off day, we have players like Ensley who can step in effectively.
Q: After the sixth inning, Zander had 66 pitches while Florida State’s pitcher had 120. Similar to what happened against North Carolina. How much do you think pitch selection and working counts have contributed to your success this season, especially here?
Vitello: It’s important, although we don’t necessarily stress walk totals. We emphasize having competitive at-bats throughout the lineup. If a player takes pitches off, it might not show in their personal stats, but it can hurt the team. When everyone hooks it up, it makes everyone better. The sum is greater than the parts, which fits this group well.
Today, the top of the order performed well, but at other times, it’s been the middle or bottom. This versatility makes us tough for opponents, just like their lineup was for us. Having players like Alex and Cantu hitting key home runs is a great offensive weapon.
Q: The third inning play by Dean and the play by Blake – you mentioned maturity, are these the kind of plays a mature team makes at this time of year?
Vitello: Dean, despite being a freshman, shows surprising maturity both mentally and physically. By now, freshmen should be playing like sophomores. Blake and others have gained valuable postseason experience. Even though Zander didn’t pitch here last year, he’s learned a lot from watching and participating in games, which benefits him.
Past experiences contribute to our players’ maturity and situational awareness. I’m very fortunate to have an excellent support staff that sticks together through good and bad times. Our closeness stems from a shared desire to win, and this contributes to our success. Our players listen and take direction well, which is a sign of their maturity.
Q: Sechrist’s last four or five starts have been in big spots and he’s done well. When did you realize he could be more than just a weekend pitcher?
Vitello: Blake mentioned Zander’s resilience. For instance, after a tough at-bat, he responded with a powerful hit in the next one. Zander has also shown determination when frustrated about being taken out of games early. Instead of reacting negatively, he proved his capability on the field. Actions speak louder than words, and many players on our team have demonstrated their abilities by stepping up when needed.
Follow-up on Zander’s attitude:
Vitello: Zander has never been disrespectful to me, but he shows his capabilities on the field. Actions speak louder than words. Many players on this team exemplify this. For example, K.T.’s defense – even when things don’t go as planned, the players work hard to improve. Nate Snead, who wasn’t initially in the top five or six players in the fall, was unhappy but showed it by working hard. This work ethic is a big part of our current success.
