Tennessee’s 2026 baseball team is already taking shape, and Chattanooga is about to play a part in that process.
Tony Vitello’s Volunteers have been scrimmaging inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium but will conduct an intrasquad game Saturday afternoon at AT&T Field. The contest will start at 3:30, but gates will open at 2 for fans to watch Tennessee take batting practice.
“This will be a little bit different for us because it will be a little bit more cutthroat,” Vitello said. “It will be a situation where guys need to get three outs regardless of their pitch count, and we’ll divide the team truly up into two. Sometimes guys are sick or a little late from class during the week, or a guy will play for both teams, but there will be two distinct teams in full uniform.
“The biggest thing is that this is a crucial opportunity for our guys to play in a different setting and play with a little bit of pressure. When the Yankees are down 4-3, it’s a big difference from being up 4-3 in that environment, because that crowd can turn on them a little bit. Our guys who are new to Vol Nation need to realize that our fans show out even when we’re on the road, and you’ve got to learn how to deal with adrenaline.”
Nearly 3,000 general admission tickets at $12 apiece had been sold to the intrasquad game as of Friday afternoon, with tickets obtainable through Lookouts.com. The Vols came to AT&T Field last November, but that intrasquad game was rained out in the second inning.