June 10, 2007
Head Coach Pat Murphy
"I'm happy for our guys. This is a great moment. is a great team. We faced two first round picks on the mound and for our guys to come out, the guys who have been doing it all year round, its just wonderful. Its wonderful for our student-athletes to get a chance to experience because it in my mind is the greatest championship venue there is. It's a wonderful environment and its what amateur sports are all about. I'm happy for our guys and our staff."
On when you realized this team was CWS caliber:
"You'd be surprised how possible it is every year. Ask or . Both of these teams almost didn't make the tournament, but its all about playing great at the right time. Anybody can get in because there is a lot of parity in college baseball. If there wasn't, , LSU, would all be in there, but you have to actually do it. We didn't actually play great and we still won five straight. These guys are going to have a lot of fun. It's a great experience.
On whether this is the best team you've coached:
From the standpoint of pure defense in the infield and catching, and three guys who love it out on the mound and go deep in the game every time, and a closer who is in a cage by himself, and from offensively how many weapons we have, yes. Looking back on some other teams that had the experience and the toughness, I don't know about this team yet. It was kind of ho-hum today. We could have added a bunch more runs nad we didn't and that drives me nuts. I think they do it on purpose.
On going to the CWS:
This is unbelievable. At the beginning of the year, our goal was to get to and make a run at the national championship. As soon as it happened, I was just speechless. This is what we've waited the whole season for and now I just can't wait to get out there.
On the win over :
I didn't probably have any of my best stuff, but we got some timely outs and the defense did an amazing job. I lost track of how many amazing plays they made. In the outfield and past the infield.
I've heard that I'm frustrating to face, but you can ask our players because I've faced them thousands of times. [Jeff] Larish had no problem facing me.
On returning to the CWS:
I went two years ago and I didn't even play. I sat in the pen the entire time and it was still THE best experience of my life, by far. Just going there, and being in that atmosphere, having all those people there, the fans and the whole experience. Most people odn't get to do it once in their life and I get to do it twice. It is just so exciting that it hasn't hit me yet. I'm so excited that we're going back and this time I get to play.
On the ASU pitching staff:
Our pitchers just don't give up, we have some pretty stubborn guys out there, including myself. And when the cards are down, we get more stubborn and want to stay out there and keep on working through it. It's a good thing when you have that kind of attitude when you try to wipe it out, whatever happens. All of our guys have all the tools to be great pitchers and they are greate pitchers. Our starting rotation has done a great job and Jarvis out of the bullpen has done a great job. Some of the other guys are at that point where they are willing to contribute and everyone will be on their game for the next couple weeks.
On postseason homeruns:
I wish I knew what the difference was. Wallace is rubbing off on me; I'm trying to catch up to him. I've been seeing the ball really well and trying to get hits and get something started.
On going to CWS:
I don't think this has hit me yet. It's been my dream my whole life and to do it for the team that I've wanted to play for my whole life is just amazing. I don't think it's really sank in yet.
Head Coach Mike Bianco
On the losing the game to ASU:
Obviously it is always difficult when the season ends. Today was probably was a little more than I thought, coming back after last nights game. One of so many games like that this year. After they put that four run inning together there wasn't much left in our tank. The kids competed hard and played hard. But [ASU pitcher Josh] Satow was tremendous today. He didn't allow us to get much started. We had a couple opportunities with runners on early. But we weren't able to get the hit. After that he really just settled in. Lance [] gave us a great effort like he always does. But you have to credit for putting that inning together. The ball that dives for that was ruled a hit and then they are able to double home run right after that. It really busted the game open right there. It was really a tremendous effort. That's basically what I told the kids after the game. Many people that follow us wouldn't believe that we would end up here. Not because of talent but because of the misfortunes and the crazy things that have happened this year. Certainly we are disappointed not to get to . But a few weeks ago I don't know how many people would bet that we would be in , , playing for a chance to get to . I credit these guys certainly. They are tremendous leaders and tremendous baseball players and all will have great careers in front of them. It was just a crazy year that zapped us a little bit.
On ASU's talents:
They are good. People always talk about their offense so you always expect that coming in. We saw that today. One of the things they do just as well is play defense. They didn't open up any doors for us. It seemed like when they had to make a play, they made a diving play in the outfield or a double play in the infield. I believed two errorless games. But not just errorless games, that's one thing, but to make plays. Plays, if you don't make, open up the door, momentum changers. They are certainly deserving to be a national seed and I think they will do pretty well in .
Justin Henry
On trying to bounce back from yesterday's loss:
We just try to take game we've experienced before, with tough losses, and we thought we'd be able to bounce back from that like we have all year. That's one thing we've done well this year is bounce back from tough games. Today we just weren't able to get the hits when we've needed them. As coach said we had runners on early in the game and we had chances. We just weren't able to get the big hit when we needed it. They got the big hits and the big runs in the inning and we weren't able to do that.
Zack Cozart
On the game against ASU:
All year we've been battling back from a hard loss like that. Today just wasn't our day. The offense didn't give Lance [] a chance. [ASU pitcher Josh] Satow kept us in check and we couldn't muster anything together.
On ASU pitcher Josh Satow:
He frustrates you. Once you start looking for that change up he'll just throw a fast ball that looks like it's 90 [mph] but its not. It's a change up. He did a great job. You have to tip your hat to him.
Lance Lynn
On four run inning:
I felt good the whole entire day but that inning they just put the hits together when they needed to and I wasn't able to get anybody out that inning. It is just one of those things that happen in baseball. They were able to get the big hits when they needed to and I wasn't able to stop them.