Tennessee’s defense kept the Vols in Game One of the College World Series. It also eliminated any chance Tennessee had to gain an early advantage against Texas A&M. Errors and spectacular plays ruled the day.
First, three errors kept runners alive and advanced runners into scoring position, which ultimately led to the the Vols’ 9-5 loss against the Aggies. Game Two will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST in the best-of-three series.
It’s certainly worth noting that the Vols haven’t lost back-to-back games since playing Alabama in the first SEC series of the season in March. There is a great chance Tennessee will even up the series on Sunday, which would lead to a deciding Game Three on Monday. Unfortunately, the Vols’ tendency to make baffling mishaps in the field will likely continue with them through the end of the season. That could be their demise.
It would be a shame if the Vols lost out on its first championship in a major sport since 2008 when the Lady Vols secured a national title in basketball. Amongst the major sports (football, baseball and men’s and women’s basketball) the Diamond Vols are by far the closest to winning a national championship, but they’ll have to either overcome or eliminate errors soon. However, it’s going to be tough for the Vols to suddenly get much better in the field this late in the season. Fundamentals and focus aren’t usually taught during postseason play.
Tennessee is rated 42nd best in the country in fielding percentage. By comparison, Texas A&M ranks 29th in the nation. That may not seem like a big difference, but the two teams certainly seemed like polar opposites on Friday. The Aggies didn’t give up an error against the Vols, who oddly enough nearly made enough electric plays in the field to overcome their other ineptitudes with their gloves.
The most troubling part about Tennessee’s defensive struggles is twofold. First, the Vols seem to lack focus at times in the field. The College World Series is no place for attention deficit disorder. Second, the defensive problems have reared their ugly head with eight errors throughout the College World Series.
It would be a shame for the Vols, with so much at stake and so much talent at the plate and on the mound, to fall short of a championship because of very fixable fielding issues. And while those issues are very fixable, they should have been fixed long before now, which may be too late.
Tennessee coach Tony Vitello is known as the master puppeteer. He’s incredible at getting the best out of his players, managing the Vols’ pitching rotation and getting more power at the plate than a locomotive this season. Vitello is an incredible motivator and his team wants to play for him. Don’t be surprised if the Vols play much better on Sunday, but fundamentals can’t be remedied overnight.
If they don’t, it will be up to football coach Josh Heupel to turn in that next major championship. With an athletic department on the rise, that’s all the Vols need – a championship – to legitimize their work under athletic director Danny White, as one of the best in the nation.
Without that elusive championship in the College World Series this season the Vols will have just dropped the ball.
