{"id":86225,"date":"2025-03-22T17:35:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T22:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/everything-tony-vitello-said-on-a-series-rubber-match-with-alabama-on-saturday\/"},"modified":"2025-03-22T17:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T22:35:03","slug":"everything-tony-vitello-said-on-a-series-rubber-match-with-alabama-on-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/everything-tony-vitello-said-on-a-series-rubber-match-with-alabama-on-saturday\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything Tony Vitello said on a series rubber match with Alabama on Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. \u2014 <\/strong>Tennessee skipper Tony Vitello spoke briefly on Saturday\u2019s game three win for Tennessee over Alabama<\/a> from Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Here\u2019s a written transcript from what Vitello had to say. <\/p>\n

Up Next: <\/strong>Tennessee returns home for a midweek bout with Queens on Tuesday at 6 pm ET<\/a> before hitting the road again for conference play at South Carolina next weekend.<\/p>\n

\n<\/span>\n<\/div>\n

On the celebration by team in outfield after winning series and response\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think there was just some interaction with their fans and Reese [Chapman], you know, it\u2019s part of the SEC. Those fans will give you hell, but they\u2019ll also buddy up with you. They like being at the park. So, even though there were separate team colors, I think Reese had a little camaraderie with some of those guys. So, they were just barking back and forth at each other in a positive way and they made it a good environment out there. And yeah, our guys had a good response. I think they were motivated from Thursday night game one and it was a long two days. So, the fact they stayed the course was impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tegan Kuhns\u2019 start\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think his presence more than anything. I mean, obviously, he was throwing strikes, but I think his presence was the biggest thing. And to be fair, I mean, he\u2019s looked good since he\u2019s been pitching for us, but with a little bit of arm soreness and undefined role. We\u2019ve had him out there a couple times and kind of been a little restrictive due to pitch count. But he\u2019s built himself up into a position where he can give you a true start. And he certainly did that today.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Braydden Krenzel\u2019s relief outing\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSame thing that he had going on Tuesday. Really good presence for him, as well, but throwing every pitch with conviction. Really has been able to mix and match with off speed and a fastball \u2013 that\u2019s really good. And the ball is coming out of his hand as good as it has ever. And that\u2019s a testament to a lot of hard work. I know he and Frank [Anderson] have done some stuff on the side as well too, so to help with the execution. But I think the bottom line is those two guys [Tegan Kuhns as well] show that they belong in the category. You\u2019ve been bragging on some of these position guys that are young and maybe because they\u2019re keeping it simple, but I think it\u2019s part of their nature. They leave fear in the locker room, which is appreciated from our end.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Ariel Antigua\u2019s day at the plate\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think he just needs reps. I mean, anyone that knows him from where he is from or seen him a bunch \u2013 it\u2019s easy to label him a defender first or defender only guy. But it\u2019s reality, in my opinion, just been lack of reps due to injury. It\u2019s been a bunch of little nagging injuries, one big injury in high school and then playing time and we\u2019ve had a quality group the last two years. So, he just needs reps to get comfortable in there and get back to what he\u2019s capable of doing. To steal kind of his dad\u2019s words, he just needs his mojo back. And I think he\u2019s in the process of doing that. And all these kids need reps.\u201d<\/p>\n

On winning the series without Gavin Kilen\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou just play with what you got. I mean, that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do if it\u2019s a Sunday and we\u2019re not sure who our starter is, or Tuesday. We\u2019ve gassed some guys out over the weekend. We got a lot of guys that have worked hard to earn the right to wear this uniform. So, whoever gets their opportunity needs to take advantage of it. And the guys that are wishing they want more just need to be hungry on the sideline. But it\u2019s a very, very good team, you know, and obviously playing in their park. They\u2019ve started to get to some fans here. Like I said earlier, they\u2019re adding to the environment. So, for the guys to get through this week, which if you look at the schedule \u2013 the timeframe of the spring break thing \u2013 the emotional wins against our first SEC opponent. ETSU has got a great club for us to come out the way we did. You always want better but impressive and a notch in the belt for the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

On any updates regarding Gavin Kilen\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s slowly getting better, but it\u2019s probably at least an eight, nine, 10-day thing. So, as I mentioned, we\u2019ll first look at the ability to maybe pinch hit and then maybe just hit. Maybe defend after that. And then base running will be last. He\u2019ll probably be asked to chill a little bit there. So, daily progress, but probably not playing on Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Everything Tony Vitello said on a series rubber match with Alabama on Saturday<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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