KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee baseball is headed to Omaha for the third time in four seasons. Playing in the College World Series is exciting for any team, but the Vols are also thrilled to spend more time together.
Head coach Tony Vitello said the memories made off the field are just as rewarding.
"There's a lot on the line, and you want to win, but the thing you don't want to lose is another day with the guys, another trip with the guys, another bus trip, or another plane, or an hour delay where Zander does something goofy," said Vitello. It's the type of team you don't want to be robbed of that extra day, extra moment or extra hour with your guys."
Although Sunday night's win is a rewarding victory that the Vols will remember, Vitello believes the bond his team shares will last longer than any thrilling win.
"A win gives you an exhilarating thrill for quite a while if it's one like this. Sometimes, just for a night, but you can't take away that teammate stuff I mentioned earlier," said Vitello. "Regardless of how things go from this point forward, that will go on for as long as we're alive."
Christian Moore and the 2022 team fell short of the College World Series when he was a freshman. Moore said reaching back-to-back trips to Omaha is a remarkable feat for him and this team.
"It's honestly amazing," said Moore. "Just being able to do it on our home turf, and like you said, a couple of years ago we fell short, but to be able to do it today was something special for us."
Utility player Dalton Bargo is from Omaha and transferred from Missouri to Tennessee this season. Bargo said this is why he wanted to play for the Vols: to bring home a national title in his hometown.
"It's everything that I expected. This is why I made the decision that I did, and why I came here is to win and get back home. That is exactly what we did, and I expect nothing less," said Bargo. "We still have a couple more weeks of baseball to play, and it's time to bring home a natty."
Freshman pitcher and Pigeon Forge native Dylan Loy also said this season has already been a dream come true for him.
"It's a dream," said Loy. "You can't really put it into words."
Tennessee continues its success in the postseason, as this is the first time in program history the program has gone to back-to-back College World Series. The program will look for its first national championship in history when the post-season run starts later this week against Florida State.
