The University of Mississippi Athletics
NCAA Oxford Super Regional Practice Sessions
6/4/2009 | Baseball
NCAA Oxford Super Regional participants Ole Miss and Virginia take part in a pre-tournament practice session Thursday and afterward participate in a press conference.
Virginia | Ole Miss
Virginia Press Conference
Head Coach Brian O'Connor
OPENING COMMENTS
"We are very excited to be here in Oxford. The hospitality since we landed in Tupelo yesterday has been tremendous. It is a beautiful campus and stadium. We are very fortunate to be here. We had a great weekend last weekend in Irvine and played some of our best baseball of the year. Now we are in the position that you work for all season, to have a chance to go to Omaha. Our coaching staff and players are really looking forward to this series."
Is it an advantage that Ole Miss has played in a Super Regional four of the last five years?
"I don't know that there is an advantage to having been in a Super Regional before. It's just baseball. Whether you call it a weekend series or a Super Regional, it's all the same. I don't think our team will look at it any differently. I don't think our players are feeling any pressure to win this series. I think they are a confident group. They will go out and play the same way they have all year."
On the pitching performance at the Irvine Regional
"To go into any regional and only allow two runs is pretty special. I don't know that I'll ever see that again. It was one of those special weekends. Everyone did their job from our starters to our bullpen. But pitching is only about 50 percent of it. We made some really incredible plays behind our pitchers and we were very consistent. I don't think we made an error all weekend. I think the unique thing about this year's team is we have that great pitching and defense, but I think we have the best line-up since I've been here."
Senior RHP Andrew Carraway
Do you feel the pressure to make it to Omaha?
"The last few years we have had some great teams. We've played for the ACC title and hosted two regionals, so the pressure might have been on me at some point to win a regional and now we've done that. Now we are on the verge of the ultimate goal. I think the only thing now is excitement. If we keep playing our brand of baseball there really is no pressure."
On the Irvine Regional ...
"We were a little surprised to see that we were going to California. We went out there last year so we thought we might be a little closer to home this year. We were a little surprised when it popped up, but we have a lot of competitors on our team and a lot of guys who want that challenge. Seeing that we were going to face Stephen Strasburg and UC-Irvine, we were excited about that challenge. There are a lot of ways to make it to Omaha and no matter what you are going to go up against great teams. It is a big confidence boost when you have that challenge in front of you and you overcome it."
Sophomore UT/LHP Dan Grovatt
Is the team playing its best baseball of the year right now?
"We started 19-0 so I feel that we have played the same all year. I think that's why we are having the success are we right now, because we have played on an even keel all year. I think we are just getting that big hit or pitch and that's why we are seeing so much success right now."
On playing in front of 10,000 people ...
"Everything that happens in the game is going to be in front of me, so I'm not going to be worried about the fans behind me. Obviously, there are going to be people back there, but everything that happens is going to be on the field. If there is 10 people there, if there is 10,000 people there the approach of our team isn't going to be any different."
Ole Miss Press Conference
Head Coach Mike Bianco
How is Drew Pomeranz coming along and when do you plan to use him?
"I think the first thing that we will think about is how does he feel. He's felt good the day after, but it's still going to be short rest for him. We probably won't make that decision until probably tomorrow after the game. The biggest reason is because the game is so early and he won't know until he gets to the game and starts stretching and playing catch."
What would it mean to the program to finally break through and reach the College World Series and is there any added pressure?
"I don't think you look at it that way. The goal has been the same every year. The goal is to get to the College World Series and win a national championship. Personally, I don't think the kids feel any added pressure. There is pressure with it, and there is pressure when you play at a program like ours in front of a large crowd. It's inevitable that there is going to be expectations, but I don't feel like this year is any different that any other year. I don't feel like anyone's expectations are any greater than ours as a coaching staff and as a team."
Is there ever a temptation to coach any differently in a tournament like this to try and get over the hump?
"I think there is always that temptation for everybody in every game. I think the right approach is to believe who you are and what you have done to this point. Both teams deserve to be here and it really comes down to who plays the best. The team that pitches, catches and hits the best is the team that is going to win. The goal is do what you can and to do it well and the rest will take care of itself."
What do you see out of Virginia's offense?
"Their offense is a lot like ours. They don't have a lot of trouble scoring, but it's not by the long ball. They steal bases and they hit .330 as a club. I'm assuming with the runs that they score, they are good with runners in scoring position. When you look at their offense, they swing the bat. There is no doubt that they can hit as well as pitch."
Junior OF Jordan Henry
How do players think about having the opportunity to get to Omaha?
"This is my first to experience in Oxford, but we're looking at it as another weekend. Obviously it's a big one. We're going to go out and play like we have all year and have that same mentality. We just have to play good baseball, and we are looking forward to tomorrow's game."
How important will it be to take advantage of every opportunity?
"They have a great pitching staff and are very deep there. We have to take every opportunity we can. We have to keep the same approach we've had all year and be aggressive and come up with big hits when we have runners in scoring position."
Junior RHP Phillip Irwin
How are you feeling about starting tomorrow?
"I'm really excited about it. We are just going to keep that pitch-by-pitch mentality. It's going to be a big weekend with a great crowd out there. This is my first Super Regional to play in and we are really excited about it."
Sophomore INF Matt Smith
What is your approach to facing Virginia's pitching?
"We're not going to do anything different than what we've done all season. We're going to use the same approach that got us here. There is no need for us to feel like we need to do anything else except for what we've done up to this point."
How long did it take the team to put Monday's win past you?
"Monday night after the game you could tell the fans and players were obviously pumped up. Everybody took a few minutes to enjoy it and think about it because there aren't too many times you have the chance to win a Regional. It's one of the greatest experiences I've ever been a part of. We had to come back Tuesday and start practicing to get ready for a Super Regional. We enjoyed it, but at the same time we are looking forward to bigger and better things this weekend."
