Softball Women's College World Series Press Conference Quotes
NCAA WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
-- Session 2 --
ARIZONA
General comment:
“We are very excited to be here. Every year they get mad at me for saying that. I want to congratulate everyone for getting here. I think that over the years you learn to appreciate how tough it is to get here. I think sometimes our fans don’t realize how difficult it is. For this team it’s been quite a venture to start out the season fairly well and then get into Pac-10 play and lose about every bit of confidence that our young kids had. Then, to have to rebuild that, I think that over the last month they have done a great job. We are very excited and looking forward to a great tournament. I know that it is a tremendous field with a lot of great pitching and a lot of tremendous ball games. We are just really looking forward to getting started tomorrow morning bright and early.”
On rebuilding after the team’s low point in Pac-10 play:
“When we began Pac-10 play, we had three weekends on the road to start and we just were not playing very well. But more importantly, our kids’ minds were cloudy and they were looking like they weren’t having fun. They started to hit the panic button and something had to change. It was a mental set more than anything. The physical skills were there, but mentally we were challenged each and every weekend. The kids were pressing and we just really had to sit down and talk about a little different approach to the game, and try to put a smile back on their face and enjoy the game and not worry about failing. More importantly, give them a plan and try to apply that to gain some confidence back. We worked very hard at that and they bought into it. The last month of the season was a lot of fun and had a little success.”
ARIZONA
On playing Oregon State in the first game:
“It has advantages and disadvantages. It’s a good thing because we’ve seen them three times I think this year so far. They know what to throw us and we know what to throw them. We’ve got good film on them. That’s an advantage. It’s a disadvantage because they know what to throw to you and they know your weaknesses. I think that it is going to be a good matchup. We are really excited to play them. Anybody would be a great matchup.”
ARIZONA STATE
General comment:
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ARIZONA STATE
On how the team all came together
“From the very beginning Coach Myers and the whole staff came to
OREGON STATE
General comment:
“This is
On playing in their first WCWS:
“I was fortunate to be here 10 times as an assistant coach (at UCLA) before the event really got to be this big. You really can’t ever prepare your athletes for it-- that is one thing we talked about. I can explain to you what is going to happen but I can’t even begin to tell you what you are going to experience. I told them to love it, experience it and when you step on the field just do what you do. We have tried to prepare them. Today at practice, clearly they were feeling the nerves and excitement. They were a little out of sorts. They are excited to be here and our coaching staff is pretty experienced at being here. Hopefully we will compete.”
OREGON STATE
On the team’s nerves:
“We were a little tight in practice but it is good to get it out now before our first game. Our team is usually pretty loud, but it was quiet on the whole field. But it got better. ”
TEXAS
General comment:
“We’re excited to be back. There is so much parity in the game; I think every coach has alluded to that. Not only here, where there will be great matchups, but across the board-- in the regionals, super regionals-- there were some tremendous matchups. Everybody was in every game. The biggest thing that stands out with our club is that we’ve got a solid balance and we’re really riding on the coat tails of our seniors. It is a really solid core of seniors. They have kind of said, ‘get on my back, we’re going to try to go do this thing this year.’ Obviously, we’re in great company with the other seven teams, so it is going to take more than just the seniors. We’re looking forward to competing.”
On pitcher Cat Osterman:
“I keep teasing Cat that she has to be 32 by now, because it seems like she has been around for so long, after taking that year off for the Olympics. It’s her last go round with us so we absolutely want to put her out in circle to help lead us to a national championship. Being a senior, she will get the ball all the time. She is ready physically and mentally. If we have to go to (Megan) Denny, for whatever reason, she is ready to go. She is very good in her own right. Cat is great and we’re going to ride her all the way, hopefully.”
