Tony Vitello stresses importance of SEC play for NCAA Tournament

Tennessee went at it for 14 innings with Clemson on Saturday night in what ended up being a thrilling 6-5 win for them to advance to their region’s final. In the end, Tony Vitello said the trials they went through during the course of their conference season are part of what helped them pull that one out over the Tigers.

Vitello spoke highly of what the SEC season does for its respective teams following the win in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. He said that their league prepares them as well as any teams in country, especially when it comes time for postseason baseball.

“At Hoover, there’s pain in the air for the Vols. Vol fans included that make the trip,” Vitello said. “Our tournament’s unique. You get a one and done. But the comment I made to a few of you guys that were there is that the league prepares you.”

“And so does the ACC. But the crowds we had to play in front of? I’ve kind of head about everything myself. It’s right on par,” said Vitello. “We feel great about our league in all sports, you stick your chest out. But it’s the same deal, man.”

Tennessee won 8-1 over Charlotte in their opener before facing the regional host last night. After going down 4-1 heading into the sixth inning, the Vols scored three runs in the top of the ninth from a home run by Zane Denton to force extra innings. Then, in the 14th, a double by Hunter Ensley made the difference as it got Maui Ahuna home for what ended up being the winning run.

To Vitello, all of that came from the highs and lows they faced this season in the SEC. It’s also going to be what could get them over the edge to a Knoxville Super Regional next weekend depending on how they play in their rematch with the 49ers later on this evening.

Vitello says win over Clemson ‘showed progress’

Tony Vitello believes Tennessee’s extra-inning thriller, which ended in victory for the Volunteers over the Clemson Tigers, showed his team’s mettle.

Vitello’s squad found victory in the 14th inning against their opponents, breaking the hearts of the Clemson faithful in attendance. Afterward, he spoke with the media, where the Tennessee leader explained his feelings of gratitude for winning a showdown like that.

“I think again it shows progress,” Vitello answered, asked how rewarding it is to win a game like that. “That is what you want. It is tough. I spoke with my dad. I don’t know what he did. But all the teams he coached in different sports? They always seemed to peak at the end of the year. There is no recipe for that. You might play your best stat sheet game somewhere in the middle of the year, but really if you could map it out, both teams that played in that game — Clemson and ourselves, I have heard announcers compare the both of us as teams that didn’t start out great and had to find out who plays this position and who goes where. It just makes it more rewarding at the end.”

“To me, it would have been rewarding — it sounds crazy and I don’t know what they had to say, but you can’t be upset with your effort, either team. My words to the team would have been the same win or lose after that thing.”