Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello has been suspended four games following his ejection from the Vols’ home game against Alabama on Saturday night, according to a UT spokesperson on Sunday.
Vitello’s suspension will cover Sunday’s series finale against Alabama in Knoxville, Tuesday’s home midweek matchup against Bellarmine, and the first two games of the Vols’ series against Florida in Gainesville next weekend. Vitello will be able to return for the series finale against Florida on Sunday, Apr. 24.
After Tennessee starting pitcher Chase Dollander was hit by a line drive in the top of the first inning, pitching coach Frank Anderson went out to check on his pitcher and have a word with the umpires. Anderson spoke with the crew for a moment before being ejected from the game. Once Anderson was ejected, Vitello then began his own spirited conversation with the crew. After Vitello was ejected, the Tennessee head coach then made contact with the third-base umpire in the form of a chest bump.
Watch the full incident here:
Here is the full situation with Vitello and Anderson getting ejected today.
It appears Pit. Coach Frank Anderson was not happy with Alabama's reaction to Dollander's injury? Then umpire clearly wanted smoke with Anderson and tossed him while he was talking to another umpire… pic.twitter.com/yj7ai4T9jC
— 11Point7: The College Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@11point7) April 17, 2022
Tennessee Baseball: Two Vol Pitchers Injured In Win Over Alabama
Tony Vitello and Anderson will both be suspended for Easter Sunday’s series finale against No. 24 Alabama in Knoxville. By rule, any assistant coach that gets ejected from a game must serve a suspension for the following game.
Coincidentally, Vitello’s last ejection came one year prior to Saturday night, on Apr. 16, 2021. Vitello was ejected in Tennessee’s series-opening matchup against Vanderbilt but did not serve a suspension in that game.
During his first season at Tennessee in 2018, Vitello was suspended for two games after being ejected in a game against Kentucky. During the final game of Vitello’s suspension, the Tennessee head coach set up a lemonade stand outside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Fans lined up and were eager to meet Tennessee’s new coach, who would go on to become a fan favorite on campus just a few short years later.
Tony Vitello will return from his suspension on Sunday, Apr. 24, against Florida in Gainesville.
A couple additional notes
-No appeal process
-Josh Elander and Frank Anderson will split head coach duties following today’s game.
-Vitello back for series finale against Florida https://t.co/oYDnpIEUQW— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) April 17, 2022
