Tony Vitello suspended following Tennessee baseball vs. Alabama ejection

Tony Vitello was suspended following his ejection in Tennessee baseball’s 9-2 win towards Alabama on Saturday.

Vitello is not going to coach Sunday within the finale of Tennessee’s sequence towards Alabama. Neither will pitching coach Frank Anderson, who was ejected previous to Vitello. UT continues to be awaiting phrase from the SEC and NCAA relating to potential extra self-discipline stemming from the ejections.

Hitting coach Josh Elander will function the performing head coach with Vitello and Anderson suspended. Anderson, who was ejected previous to Vitello, acquired an computerized one-game suspension as an assistant coach.

It’s Vitello’s second suspension in his 5 seasons because the UT coach. He acquired a two-game suspension in March 2018 throughout UT’s sequence towards Kentucky. 

Vitello and Anderson have been tossed within the first inning by third-base umpire Jeffrey Macias within the aftermath of Chase Dollander being hit on the pitching arm by a line drive from Alabama’s Zane Denton.

Anderson ran onto the sphere first after Dollander went down holding his arm. Anderson appeared irate with the Alabama dugout and head coach Brad Bohannan, who coaches third base, after Dollander was hit by the road drive.

Vitello was already out of the dugout checking on Dollander when Macias tossed Anderson. Vitello ran straight at Macias, whereas Anderson continued speaking to second-base umpire Joe Harris.

Vitello and Macias argued for a few minute earlier than Macias ejected Vitello. Vitello took off his hat and bumped Macias, who jumped again and moved away from Vitello. Harris and first-base umpire Javerro January acquired between Vitello and Macias.

Macias was the home-plate umpire in UT’s 6-3 loss Friday night time and in its 8-4 loss to Texas within the Faculty World Collection final yr. The Vols have been visibly annoyed by Macias’ strike zone Friday.

It was the primary time Vitello was ejected since April 16, 2021, towards Vanderbilt. Anderson had not been ejected since April 7 , 2019, towards Mississippi State.

Vitello hosted a pizza and lemonade shindig on the nook of Pat Summitt Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard whereas serving the second sport of his suspension in 2018. All proceeds benefited the Nationwide CASA Affiliation, which helps and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so abused or uncared for youngsters in the US might be secure, have a everlasting house and the chance to thrive.

This story shall be up to date.

Mike Wilson covers College of Tennessee athletics. E mail him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and comply with him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you happen to get pleasure from Mike’s protection, contemplate a digital subscription that can enable you entry to all of it.