Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson were ejected from the Vols’ game against Alabama in the first inning on Saturday night.
After Tennessee starting pitcher Chase Dollander was hit in his throwing arm with a line drive, Anderson went out to check on his pitcher and have a word with the umpiring crew. Minutes later, Anderson would be thrown out. Vitello then stormed over to the umpires to discuss Anderon’s ejection and the overall situation. After an animated conversation near the pitcher’s mound, Vitello was tossed from the game.
Following his ejection, while still on the field, Vitello would bump his chest into the umpire, who stumbled backward. Due to initiating contact with an umpire, there will likely be a suspension, or consequence of sorts, coming Vitello’s way.
Vol Baseball: Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello Ejected From Saturday’s Showdown With Alabama
Tony Vitello bumps the 3rd base umpire after being ejected in the top of the first inning. Certainly looks like a suspension will be coming. Frank Anderson also ejected. pic.twitter.com/7QiOrTmb4f
— Zack Rickens (@ZackRickensTV) April 16, 2022
In addition to Vitello and Anderson, Alabama’s first base coach Matt Reida was also ejected in the middle of the game.
Jeffrey Macias — the umpire who ejected Tony Vitello and Vitello bumped — was last night and the 2021 Texas' game's home plate umpire.
Things were intense yesterday and in the Vols' 2021 season ending loss to Texas.https://t.co/B5zDYedNaG
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) April 16, 2022
After the contest in Knoxville, Outkick’s Trey Wallace received word from the SEC in regards to Vitello’s ejection.
“Penalties related to ejections are governed by the NCAA,” the SEC stated. “By procedure, umpires file a post-game report to the NCAA and the NCAA then provides a report (generally the following morning) to the conference office to confirm any related penalties associated with the ejection, at which time any penalties are communicated to the school.”
In summary, the umpires will file a post-game report, which will be sent over to the NCAA. Once the NCAA examines the report, they will come to a decision regarding the penalties that will be handed out. The NCAA will then take that decision and relay it over to Tennessee.
“He’s an emotional, passionate guy,” Tennessee assistant coach Josh Elander said about Tony Vitello after Saturday’s game. “When it comes to our players, he is in the trenches with us every day.”
No. 1 Tennessee would go on to defeat No. 24 Alabama by a score of 9-2 in Knoxville.
