NCAA Softball Super-Regional Post-Game Quotes
May 28, 2006 | Softball
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South Florida Coach Ken Eriksen
"Once again, we had an opportunity early in the game to score some runs and put up a mark on the board that could have made a difference down the line, but we failed to capitalize. I think some people may have put a little extra pressure on themselves. But the one thing our team has done all year is stay close in a tight ballgame and our team gave a pretty good display of them. If there's one thing the team convinced themselves of this weekend is not just that they can get on the field with good teams or teams that are ranked number one in the nation but that they can play with them, which is another step, and that they also have an opportunity to beat them."
"This team is one of the classiest teams I've ever coached. If you don't have your emotions under control, you don't have a chance to beat a team like this. I thought our kids handled everything well all weekend long."
"It's a great core coming back. When you have a centerfielder the quality of Samantha Ray and a shortstop and third baseman the quality of those kids ... We've always said that she (Ecks) can go in the circle all day long, but if she doesn't have anything behind her, it's nothing. Cristi and Bree Spence have spent all year making sure their teammates get the accolades. We've always told them not to try to strike anyone out, just get outs and make plays. They've made some plays that make you go wow, and it's nice as a coach to sit back and go wow."
South Florida Pitcher Cristi Ecks
(on the Andrea Duran home run on her first pitch of the game): "If I let things like that bother me the it's going to affect me the rest of the game. So I had to shake it off. I didn't really have any other choice. Of course that's frustrating, but I couldn't let that show on the field. But I had to shake it off. That's all I could do."
"They (UCLA) are obviously a great hitting team 1 through 9. You can't really stop them, but I did the best I could to try to keep them off-balance, and I think I did a good job with that."
(asked if she would like to pitch against Duran again): "I would, actually. I like pitching against people like that because I know they're good, and I can handle them. I'd like to give it another shot."
South Florida Outfielder Samantha Ray
(on Ecks in the first inning): "She doesn't really act like a freshman on the mound. They got theirs (early) and we thought we would get ours later."
"We knew at the start of the season that we could play with anyone. We had a few hiccups on the road, and we thought we could just throw our uniforms on the field, but we realized we couldn't. From there we played hard, and from the beginning we knew we could play with anyone."
UCLA Coach Sue Enquist:
"I want to tip my cap to South Florida. They did a terrific job of competing inning by inning. I'm proud of the way we came out. We played a little better today. Jelly (Selden) had command of her pitches, was getting ahead. It was great leadership. Andrea Duran was critical for us, and we had a handful of players who came through with some big hits. We were able to run a bit and and show a little bit more Bruin softball. I'm proud of how we're 19 strong today We did what we needed to do to get it done. I'm proud of the kids."
(On being up 1-0 after the first pitch): "It's just an interesting dynamic when the first pitch (is hit for a home run). It gives Jelly confidence when she goes out to defense, and it sets the tone. It's interesting because that hit was indicative of what Duran has done for our club all year. She's a leader, and she sets the tone for us."
(On Duran being named the Pac-10 Player of the Year): "The conference is so competitive. There are so many terrific ballplayers. Of course I'm biased, but I was thrilled. She has so much humility in her game. I can remember the day she was told, she was literally caught of guard. She has so much humility, and that's also what makes her the hardest worker on the team."
(On playing Tennessee in the World Series): We just have a tremendous amount of respect for any opponent we play. There is so much talent, and everyone is balanced. We're look forward to the competition. Overall, our feeling is just that we are really excited to get there. This group, including the coaching staff, does not take it for granted that you automatically are going to get there. There's too much talent out there."
UCLA third baseman Andrea Duran:
(On going to to the World Series): It means everything. I just want to end on a good note. It's good that we're going back, but no matter how we do there, it's been a great year for all of us."
(On UCLA's experience in the WCWS): "Our team is one of those teams that we know not to make it bigger than it already is. A lot of us have experienced that now, so we're going to go in there calm."
UCLA shortstop Jodie Legaspi:
(On scoring the extra two runs in the fifth inning): "South Florida did a great job of putting the ball in play on Jelly, but at the same time, we put up some more runs on the board. For us it was very important especially against a great ballplayer like that."
UCLA pitcher Anjelica Selden:
(on having 1-0 lead): "One run isn't that big of a cushion, so I still have to be on top of my game and be focused the entire time. The biggest part about me being able to go out there and shut them down and get groud balls is giving our team momentum when they go up to hit."
(On going to the WCWS): Last year, everything was new, being a freshman. I feel like I'll probably be more relaxed because of the experience from last year, especially with last year being such a fight for us. I'm looking forward to this year because we're all relaxed and have this quiet confidence."