Post-Game Quotes
June 10, 2007 | Baseball
June 10, 2007
Oklahoma State Quotes
Head Coach Frank Anderson
Tough game for us today. I don't want this to overshadow where we are. There are only 13 or 14 teams left in the country and it's just like a 3-2 game at this point. They got hot at the right time. You can't hardly square up that many balls in batting practice like they did right there. I told Dan (McDonnell, Louisville Head Coach) if they don't get overwhelmed they have a chance to do very well there because they got hot at the right time. They are playing very well and they can pitch enough. They have enough relief pitching and they can run and do a lot of things. I've seen some teams, a Missouri State team four or five years ago, as talented as anybody the first time they had ever been and got overwhelmed. I told Dan if they just go out and play they have a chance to do very well. You never want to lose, but we can't judge what all we have going on here by today. We are heading in the right direction. We are the second winningest team in the Big 12 in the last four years. You have to put yourself in these positions to have a chance to win. The more you can get there, the more you can turn wheel your talent and play comfortably when you are there and not get overwhelmed. I'm proud of this group because we had some things go sideways on us. We didn't have our shortstop for the first three months, Ty (Wright) was out for three weeks at one point in the season. I though they fought through it and won a lot of games with what is really the most unsettled pitching staff I've been around, to have that much success. We scratched, fought and clawed. We just came up one game short. I've been fortunate to be on a championship team in Omaha.
I'm kind of a country guy, but I equate the team with the most camcorders goes home first because they are just happy to be there. They do a parade that goes on the field and kids carry those mini cameras and for some reason the team with the most videos cameras are the first team out, especially teams that just made it the first time.
Dan (McDonnell) and his club have six or seven starters, and I wish them the best because if they handle it I think they can do well. Louisville made this a tough venue and did a really nice job here with the crowds.
There is a lot of parity in baseball. A lot of people are putting money in baseball. I really like the kids the most about this ball club. It's a group that made it fun to come out to the field everyday. They are very good students. They are not without warts, every team has two or three of them. It's a fun group of kids, like Ty (Wright), we've been together a long time, not just he and I but his family. That's what you miss. Every year you think you can't replace the baseball player, but you can. What you can't replace are the people themselves, the relationships that you build. But hopefully they will last forever. That's what is fun about these things. I still get e-mails, text messages and voice messages from players as far as twenty years back to say congratulations or good luck. When it is over you miss the team in the locker rooms and the fun they had with their teammates.
Rebel Ridling
I think Coach said it well today, they squared up a lot of balls and I don't think it would have mattered if we had the best bull pen in the country, they would have hit them today. We've all been through a lot. It's been a fun year. It's a fun group of guys to be around. You don't want to think about your career being over today, but going to the NCAA you take away memories. Guys you can count on the rest of your life. These guys, we all love each other and we all have fun together. It's really a sad deal to see this thing come to an end.
Ty Wright
At the beginning of the game we were just trying to come in and not do too much as an offense. We were just trying to get on base and see what happened. As the runs started piling up it started to get out of hand. At that point you just want to have a good at bat, just play this thing out, knowing that it's your last game. You just want to try to do something positive. Go as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help the ball club. I don't think we are all the way back to where we want to be as a program. I want to see this program not only compete to be in Omaha every year, but have a chance to win it. It's been a battle all year. We were all expecting to get this far and even maybe a little farther. This is just a step in where we want to go.
Louisville Quotes
Head Coach Dan McDonnell
First, we want to congratulate Oklahoma State. It wasn't an easy road for them to get here either. They had a great offense to come out of the Arkansas Region. They have to be the best team we have beaten this year, so I want to congratulate them on their great success and how they handled themselves here. And next it is such a great win for this university. The coaches, the players and the guys I have been leaning on all year did great. Last week we had all ten seniors on stage, guess there wasn't enough room this time but I am sitting here because of those ten seniors as well as all the players.
This is a great day for Louisville baseball.
(On going to Omaha and the difference in levels)
I expect it to be similar to the last few weeks. It is another step similar to college basketball - it is like making it to the Final Four. We have been open to the media all year to try to get them used to this time of year -- the excitement and the people. I guess the stakes were raised last week and they started elevating their game. It is something I will make sure they are ready to enjoy, but they are prepared for it. It is great for college baseball and this university.
(On 21 hits)
Once they got into the NCAAs, it felt like the weight of the world was off their shoulders and they stayed relaxed and focused.
Practices were always crisp. I got on them a little yesterday that we weren't loose and swinging it (the bat) but I talked to some people and I didn't give their starter enough credit. I told them to keep doing what they are doing. You have to swing it to get to Omaha. Teams that get to Omaha really swing it and can score some runs.
(On Omaha) That was the message today. Not to take anything away from Omaha but this will be on of the greatest experiences of their lives and on their home field with their home fans. You have to enjoy the ride.
You talk about the big dance but this is the best part...how you get there is what makes the year so special.
(Travel plans)
We think we're in the Friday-Sunday bracket, so Thursday will be practice and a banquet that night so tentatively Wednesday, but it could be as early as Tuesday.
(On 21 hit performance)
We just wanted to put together a lot of good at bats all post-season...just concentrating on good at bats and hitting the ball hard. Fortunately, we were able to find some holes today. We hit the ball hard and put up 21 hits.
(On OSU pitching)
It seemed like Friday night when we got on their starting pitcher. We were aggressive with the fast balls and they had to go to the bull pen early. That is a big advantage. They had to use a lot of arms and we put good swings on the balls. We kept getting good pitches to hit and we were really aggressive.
(Feeling excitement in the dugout)
Obviously it is an excited feeling and you want to be on the field before the third out is made. I think we have earned it and we played to win instead of not to lose.
(On last three days)
I think it was just like a still frame in my life and I will never forget it. Coming back to Jim Patterson Stadium with 4,000 fans waiting. Coming from old Cardinal Stadium and a couple hundred fans scattered in thousands of seats. This shows a lot of success and Cardinal baseball is on the rise.
(On 21 hits)
It started with Coach's pre-game speech. He said to just relax and enjoy it. It is the third game at the super regional, so just enjoy it and have fun.
(On feeling sympathy for OSU)
We know anything could happen because those bugs can swing it.
(On the last three days)
It was a great experience but we don't just want to show up in Omaha and go two and out. Our next practice we will be focused and ready because we have another week of baseball.
(On pitching with a big lead)
When you just get run after run, it lets you relax up there. I am sure that other pitchers have given credit (to the offense) but the way we call games makes it very easy for us to throw. It is unbelievable the way these guys can hit but we held them to five runs all weekend.
(Loose but not intimidated for the CWS)
None of us have been there so I am sure it will be a different feeling. But Missouri, Miami and Oklahoma State are the cream of the crop in college baseball and we have shown that this team is good enough to beat those teams. I am sure there will be jitters that first inning, but these are good teams that we have beaten and I don't see why we can't do the same in Omaha.
(Playing with senior class)
I have been here for what feels like ten years, personally it is the most amazing thing I have been around.
Everyone respects the game and knows it is a chance of the lifetime and is living in the moment. We played like it was our last game but luckily it is not.
(On Omaha)
Omaha's going to be amazing. There will be a lot more fans but they're not all going to be on our side. I'll never forget this weekend.
