CHATTANOOGA − Tony Vitello heard Tennessee baseball players saying they had a blast playing their first scrimmage in Chattanooga on Oct. 4.
The same held true for everyone involved with the program.
“I think our whole staff and support staff enjoys a change of scenery and a heightened sense of everything,” Vitello said.
Tennessee split into Orange and Grey teams for a scrimmage, which ended in a 7-7 tie after Garrett Wright hit a two-out, two-run homer for the Orange team at AT&T Field. The Vols play a second scrimmage on Oct. 26 at First Horizon Park in Nashville.
Here are observations from the scrimmage in Chattanooga:
Blaine Brown has been a hot hitter to start the fall
The addition of Blaine Brown somehow got a little bit lost in the transfer class that Tennessee brought in, but he hasn’t been forgotten in the fall.
The Rice transfer and freshman All-American has consistently hit in the first two weeks of scrimmages, which is why he was the No. 3 hitter for the Orange team. He smoked a first-inning RBI double off Cameron Appenzeller that one-hopped against the wall. He whacked a third-inning RBI single to right.
Brown also pitches and has had multiple outings in the fall. He did not pitch in Chattanooga.
Taylor Tracey hit a homer to highlight freshman offensive showings
Tennessee’s freshman hitters had notable moments with Taylor Tracey’s opposite-field homer standing as the highlight.
The tall right-handed hitter also homered to right field in a scrimmage Sept. 30. Vitello estimated Tracey has homered four times in 15 at-bats in the fall.
Catcher Trent Grindlinger narrowly missed a grand slam, settling for a sac fly in the third. He singled in the seventh and has another sac fly in the ninth. Infielder Ethan Moore smoked a single to right and took second on the throw in the fifth. Infielder Evan Hankins had a hard flyout to center.
“I think they probably learned a lot about themselves being in this environment we had today,” Vitello said.
Tyler Myatt can hit − and he can play third
Tyler Myatt hit an RBI double off the wall, but it was his fielding that stood out. The Walters State product made a pair of sweet fourth-inning plays at third.
He corralled a grounder that took a nasty high hop and fired to first for the out. He made another clean play ranging to his right on a ball down the line and made the long throw.
Myatt mostly played corner outfield and second base at Walters State.
Jackson Estes is rising on the mound
Freshman Jackson Estes has generated buzz since he got on campus. He showed why in Chattanooga.
The lefty from Arkansas faced six batters in two innings, striking out a pair. He has been up to 97 mph in scrimmages.
Landon Mack, Cameron Appenzeller started
Landon Mack started for Orange and Cameron Appenzeller started for Grey.
Mack, a Rutgers transfer, allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in two innings. He gave up three straight hits to start the second inning.
Appenzeller, a heralded freshman lefty, struck out two looking in two innings. He allowed one run on two walks and one hit, battling through some wildness.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball scrimmage observations from Chattanooga
