3 standout performances in 2024 College World Series ft. Dylan Dreiling
The 2024 College World Series provided excitement to college baseball fans. This was capped off by a thrilling 6-5 win by Tennessee over Texas A&M that handed the Volunteers their first-ever national championship.
The Tony Vitello-coached squad completed a sweep of all the titles available for a college baseball program. Tennessee captured the SEC Eastern Division, regular season and tournament championships. They also won the regional and super regional titles and finished the 2024 season with a 60-13 record to become the first SEC squad to win 60 games.
Tennessee's title-winning conquest had standout performances worthy of mentioning and became part of the team's sporting lore.
Here are three standout performances by Volunteers players during the 2024 College World Series.
3 standout performances in 2024 College World Series
#1. Dylan Dreiling goes berserk in College World Series Finals
Dylan Dreiling delivered what is arguably the most standout performance in the College World Series. The sophomore left fielder was instrumental in Tennessee's surge to the national title as he came up with 13 hits, three home runs and 11 RBIs during the CWS.
Dreiling was also the first player in CWS finals history to score at least a home run in all three games. He made all of the homers in the seventh inning of each game.
#2. Zander Sechrist provides solid outing on the mound for Vols
Zander Sechrist delivered his most outstanding performance as a Tennessee Volunteers starter in the most important game of the season. Sechrist, who is 5-1 in 18 starts and allowed a 3.22 ERA this season, pitched a six-hitter in 5 1/3 innings.
The senior pitcher allowed one run and struck out seven batters. He held the fort for the Volunteers into the sixth inning before their defense saved the day and prevented a Texas A&M comeback in the eighth and ninth innings.
#3. Tony Vitello guides Tennessee to first national title Tennessee coach
Tony Vitello certainly deserves the highest praise among the Volunteers 2024 NCAA baseball team as he guided the team to a 60-13 record. This was the first-ever 60-win season for an SEC-affiliated team in history.
Vitello provided calm and strength to Tennessee, especially when they lost Game 1 of the CWS Final to Texas A&M. The seven-year coach gathered his troops to win the next two games, en route to winning the program's first national title. The fan-favorite coach finally won his first title and joined the crowd in a much-deserving celebration.
He led the team to an SEC triple crown, winning the Eastern Division, regular season and tournament titles; the Knoxville regional and super regional championship and capped it off with the national title.