Alabama vs. Jacksonville State Postgame Quotes
5/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 23, 2009
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| Tuscaloosa Super Regional Central
Alabama Quotes
Head coach Patrick Murphy
Opening statement: "I want to say congratulations to Jacksonville State on an excellent year. Those are three of the best coaches I've had the benefit of meeting and for 13 years they have just been terrific to us. I know they probably feel bad right now, but they are the first team in the state of Alabama, other than us, to make it this far and they should be congratulated for that. With us, you don't really think of a script like this where you beat a team and throw two no-hitters, it's just unbelievable. It's a dream come true for us. We scored in every inning and Montalvo put them away. I don't know how long we could have played after that, so I'm glad she did."
On whether a previous Alabama team has been playing this well heading into the College World Series: "We probably haven't had a team playing this good with this many run-rule (wins) in the past. The offense has been great. We had too many opportunities today and we could have had a lot more runs early and I was getting worried that we weren't taking advantage of those opportunities to score early. The team defense has been great again, there is not really a bad spot in the field for us."
On the "unspoken goal" of winning the College World Series: "We've still been quiet about (winning the national championship), but I think that now that we are there we can. Getting there was the hardest part. Now we just need to keep the momentum going and worrying about the first game, because we've never won the first game and that is the key, stay in the winner's bracket."
On taking a team with experience in Oklahoma City, back to the College World Series: "This is one of the first times this has happened for us. Amanda Locke obviously didn't get to play last year, but she was there and got to take batting practice there, so she is familiar with the facility and she knows the atmosphere and I think that is going to help her. Reilly-Boccia is about as even-keeled a kid as we've had and I don't think anything there will shock her.
Pitcher Kelsi Dunne
On her command today in the circle: "I just went out there trying to put our team in the best position to win the ball game and a no-hitter happened to come along with it and that's great, but I'm just excited for our seniors and to be able to go back to the World Series again."
On being able to throw a no-hitter in the rainy conditions today:
"I think (controlling the ball in the rain) comes with experience. I've pitched in the rain a lot before, coming from Florida because it rains a lot in Florida and I've just been able to experience pitching in the rain before and I think the key was always keeping both the ball and my hand dry. I was able to do that and keep control of my pitches."
Second Baseman Lauren Parker
On making the third trip to the Women's College World Series in her time at UA: "It's always exciting to be able to go to the World Series regardless of class, but as a senior it's really special because you play with girls like (Montalvo) who are great at what they do. Holcombe, Eubanks and Brittany (Rogers) all do what they're best at and they are the best at it. Everybody else around us kind of picks us up as well. It's just an incredible feeling to get to go back to the World Series, for two years in a row now. It's really special and from here on out you go out and remember that feeling from last year when we were knocked out and you get hungry for it. You have a chip on your shoulder, because you don't want to have that feeling again, so far we haven't had to have that feeling this year and that's what we are trying to avoid, just going out there and playing the best we can and put ourselves in the best situation to win."
Third Baseman Kelley Montalvo
On her feelings rounding the bases after hitting her last home run at the Alabama Softball Complex: "I can't remember the last time I hit a home run and to do it here and hear the crowd, walking up to the plate I just knew that I had to do it. I was just going to war, just me and (the pitcher). Whitney Larsen was coming in, I didn't care what I happened, I just knew she just had to come in and then I just got a good piece of it and it was awesome."
Jacksonville State Quotes
Head Coach Jana McGinnis
Opening Statement: "Our goal coming into today's game was to be a different team from yesterday. We told ourselves win or lose that we wanted to have better at-bats, be more focused on defense and make Alabama earn it. If they were going to win and advance to the World Series, we wanted them to earn it. We are not happy with the result, but I leave this stadium and I couldn't be more proud of any team I've ever coached. This team has made history at JSU, and we made history together. I don't think two Alabama teams have played in a Super Regional ever. I am just proud of our team and disappointed in the losses. We got beat by a very good team. Alabama is a great team and has every ability to win a World Series."
On today's performance versus yesterday's: "I think their mentality was better today. I don't think they were scared at all. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to your opponent. Alabama beat us and they're a very good team. Yes, Ashley (Eliasson) may have thrown some pitches that she thought were strikes, but you have to bear down and find a way to get the outs and we know that. Alabama is just a very good team, and they beat us."
On the wet conditions today: "I'm glad we played. I always tell our team to not worry about the things that you can't control. We can't control the weather. Both teams have to play in the same conditions and the playing field was even."
On Kelsi Dunne's pitching: "She was about the same (as yesterday). I thought she had better control today. Her changeup--I told her when I shook her hand after the game to pack that changeup and take it to Oklahoma City, because that can help her be very successful at the World Series. Her changeup is not in the scouting reports. All the times we've played her, we have not seen that changeup except for a handful of times in a game. She has really worked hard at that pitch."
#15, Pitcher Ashley Eliasson
On her pitching today: "It depended on the batter, it varied. There was one situation where I thought it was close enough to be a strike, but it doesn't always go your way."
On the wet ball conditions: "It makes it a lot harder but you have to fight through whatever gets thrown at you. Today it wasn't good enough."
On the last game of season: "It's hard knowing that we have six seniors leaving, but we have to work harder and move on. I am really proud of our team and how far we got. We just have to keep looking forward."
#4, Catcher Allie Barker
On the wet conditions today:
"Clearly you want a dry field, but they played through it just like we did, so you can't say anything about that."
On this being her last game: "I don't want it end, but I guess that it's got to end sometime. It stinks right now. That's really all I can say about it."
On Kelsi Dunne's pitching: "I don't think she was better (than she was yesterday). She's a good pitcher. Clearly she's a good pitcher. I think I saw less changeups (today). I think I only saw one changeup, but I only batted twice."
