NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Super Regional Press Quotes
5/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 2015 NCAA Tuscaloosa Softball Super Regional held its media and practice day Thursday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. Quotes from the press conferences are below:
NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Press Conference Quotes
Thursday May 21, 2015
Alabama
Head Coach Patrick Murphy
On playing against Oklahoma in the Super Regional...
"It's unfortunate because you don't want to beat your friends and I consider Patty (Gasso) a friend. I just have a great respect for everything she does. This is kind of like the end of the line because I worked for Team USA, I think it was 2010, and we went to Colombia for a junior qualifier. Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendley were on that team. It was an unbelievable team with an all-star cast and now they are both seniors, but it was a heck of a 14 days in Colombia. I knew back then both would be great college players because they were both very good back then. Having the opportunity to play against those types of players is one of the reasons why you are at Alabama. We have an opportunity to go to the World Series and play a very good opponent in Oklahoma."
On the margin of error when playing Oklahoma...
"When you get to the World Series, everyone knows it's a game of inches. The margin for error is very small at the World Series. Whether it's because of a bad call or good call, a strike or a ball, an error or mistake; this weekend will be the exact same thing. This is like the first round of the World Series for both teams. The margin of error against a team like Oklahoma is very small, so you better be able to get a bunt down when it's called for."
On evaluating young pitchers...
"It's cool that two of the three finalists for National Freshman of the Year will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend. It's awesome for you guys to see those two. It's the biggest gamble of my career, trying to judge a pitcher who is a freshman or sophomore and ask yourself `in four years, can she beat teams in the SEC? Can this kid take us to the World Series?' You just pray that number one she stays healthy, number two that she is still in love with the game of softball and number three that she does all the things she needs to in order to get into the University of Alabama academically. Those are three tough things to make sure all of them get done. I saw their pitcher at under-16 nationals and thought she was very good as well. Alexis (Osorio) has gotten better and better as the year has gone along. I am surprised because she was very good this summer and then she had a couple of low spots this spring. I think she has really picked it up considerably ever since the third game against Florida through last weekend, she has been awesome."
Infielder Danae Hays
On facing Oklahoma in the Super Regionals...
"We are excited to play against Oklahoma this weekend. They are a great team and they've never been here before, so we are excited to show them what the SEC atmosphere is all about. We are excited to play against a great team."
On the opportunity to play against Oklahoma once again...
"Dancing in the rain was by far one of the best memories I've had since I've been here. There are a lot of great memories when we have played Oklahoma. I feel like we've had a great history against them. They are just a fun team to play against. Some of the best memories I have had have come playing against them."
Oklahoma
Head Coach Patty Gasso
On playing against Alabama in the Super Regional...
"I agree with Patrick about playing Alabama. We respect the Alabama program and I believe they respect the Oklahoma program. I think our programs are similar in the way of our traditions and our expectations as programs that have a goal of reaching the World Series. As programs, we both expect the same things. There's a reason, why this happens I'm not exactly sure, but we are here. It's going to be a great weekend of softball for any fan."
On having two of the top six all-time home run hitters in NCAA history in the same lineup...
"You are in the season and playing and trying to do what you do, but when it quiets down, which isn't very often, you look back and say `wow, this is pretty amazing.' Just to be a part of Lauren's home run race and Shelby chasing it along with the dynamic of that and the attention they get, that our program got and the attention that softball paid to this record was pretty impressive. I had comments from high school coaches saying that when they heard she broke it they stopped the game just to announce it. People are paying attention to our sport, so it has been something else and been pretty neat to see."
On consistently having power hitters...
"When you go out and recruit there is something you see, they just have incredible hands. When you see that, I think of them as women amongst girls and when you see that, you try and bring them to your program. I am not out just looking for big home run hitters. That's a tribute to our hitting coach Tripp MacKay and the things he has done with our hitters. They come in, train, work hard and get stronger, so they all don't start that way. But to see some of the power numbers that they are putting up is a part of their training as well. Everyone in the lineup is pretty dangerous at any time. I say that we are never out of a game. As long as we have one strike, and we've been in that position where we were one strike away from a game ending on us and we've kept it alive by some good offense."
Infielder Lauren Chamberlain
On facing Alabama in the Super Regionals...
"We are excited to play at Alabama in the Super Regionals. They have great fans and a great atmosphere. It's just a chance to play a great ball club, so we are looking forward to it."
On breaking the NCAA all-time home run record...
"It means a lot. I think it was something I was excited to break and be done with. I think after breaking it, I had a chance to really look at it for what it was and was able to embrace and cherish it. I was excited about the process it took to get there."
