Postgame Quotes – UCLA 6, Georgia 1
UCLA 6, Georgia 1
May 24, 2024
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
opening statement
“I want to give a shoutout to Georgia. We know that they’re a quality team. We know they can hit (and) they can pitch. They had a great season. I also hope that Kuma – I want to send prayers – I hope that she is O.K. That didn’t look good. But a worthy opponent, which makes it even more rewarding for us. When you can get after a team like Georgia, it builds great confidence for us. When it comes to the Bruins, I’m just going to say I’m proud. It’s been a long journey. It’s been a challenging journey. We have trusted the process. We flipped a corner, and our goal was to be the best at the end, and here we are. I’m just proud of every single Bruin being able to get the win, not only her in Supers, but to do it in two is saying a statement. We’re ready to play and I can’t wait to get back on the stage with this team.”
on the performance of the young pitching staff
“I am beyond proud. Just beyond. The growth. The trust. It’s been an emotional journey. I’m going to say it a million times, the quarterback behind the plate (Sharlize Palacios), to be able to have an all-American-experienced leader to stay with them. It’s been tough. It’s been tough to grow and to learn, but I definitely credit KT (Kaitlyn Terry) and I credit Taylor (Tinsley). … One of the biggest things that happened was when Taylor needed to take a little bit of a break, KT was able to step in. It puts in a position to be able to say we’re just prepared to play the game. I think the best part is that they simplified it. People say all the time, and everyone said it: ‘They have no experience.’ But they actually have a lot of experience. I’ve seen Taylor and KT do great things in travel ball. I’ve seen them do great things in high school. They’ve put the team on their back. They’ve played the game for a long time which is why we wanted them to be here at UCLA. It just took them some time to kind of get into their game and I’m really proud because they’re right where we need them to be at the right time. So, proud. That’s probably the biggest word.”
on production from Thessa Malau’ulu
“I’m just going to say what I love is when I see a complete a team and when everyone is contributing. A big part of that is that they are trusting each other. They are passing the bat. It’s a ‘we versus me’ mentality. That’s when UCLA is at its best. Shar hitting two bombs and Maya hitting, those are standout moments. But the ability for everyone – that just means that they’re comfortable and they’re here to have quality at-bats and you get to see rare production. But to answer your question about Thessa, she’s waited for her moment to be able to truly be a contributor and she’s been patient and been a great teammate and she’s a heartbeat now. She’s a big part of the core and just culture and good vibes so I just love to see the game pay her back. She put a lot of work in with Coach Lisa (Fernandez) to be able to get her swing to where it is right now. Like I said, I love when the game pays you back.”
closing statement
"The only thing I want to say is I'd like to follow up to be able to say how proud I am of Taylor. She could have stayed close to home. She could have stayed with her teammates, but she had a bigger picture vision of not only being able to compete on the stage, but also get a degree. She's a solid student. And I talked to her because there was a lot of people when we were going through the recruiting process that said you shouldn't go away from you, you should stay close. I shared with her how awesome it would be to be the role model to be able to say that you can go and strive for your own goals and dreams. Because you could always go back home. I'm really proud. Taylor is so much bigger than that. Her goals, her dreams, where she's going to go and what she's going to do in life -- softball is what she loves to do, but the degree she gets from UCLA is going to carry with her for the rest of her life. I'm very proud of her ability to make good decisions academically and athletically. Obviously, we're very proud she's a Bruin. We've been waiting for this moment. I could picture it. She's worked for it. It's awesome to be able to see her play her game tonight."
UCLA pitcher Taylor Tinsley
on recording the last out
“I was feeling a lot, but definitely just super excited. This is a special group of girls. I’ve loved every single game with Shar behind the plate and just everybody behind me and in the dugout. It’s fun. It’s been so much fun to get here and I’m excited for the rest.”
on what it means to reach the Women’s College World Series
“Well, I mean I’m just super excited. I feel like I’ve watch softball for a long time before I even got to college, so the Women’s College World Series was something me and my parents always watched. Me and my friends in high school watched, too. I’m just super excited to be on that stage and help out the team and I hope for some competitive and fun softball.”
on the offensive support
“It’s definitely a comfort feeling to know that our offense is going to have our backs. Me and KT, we definitely know we’re going to get it done, but just to know that Shar, Maya and everybody else in the lineup, they’re definitely going to have us. Even on defense, too, I mean Maya has been lights out at short and our outfield has been kind of crazy. It’s been really rewarding to have the team have our back just like we have theirs.”
on how the growth process has been since the first time UCLA played Georgia in February
"I think, for all of us, we're definitely a different team now than when we were at the beginning of the season. Honestly, just take it game-by-game. Yesterday is history. One hundred days ago (since the last time) we played them is history, so it was just a new day and new game. Here we are. It was a lot of fun to compete against a bunch of my friends who I played travel ball with, over half the team. I just know them too, from my hometown. Super good to just see them again and compete."
on if this game was a full-circle moment, playing against her hometown team
"It was a little bit of a full circle. Growing up, I was more so a Georgia Tech girl with my dad at the games, so I was definitely the little girl running around Tech's field. But even in Athens, too, I know the area well, the girls well, the coach well. I can't even put it into words."
UCLA catcher Sharlize Palacios
on the meaning of the phrase “It’s already written”
“It’s basically saying it’s already written out. We know how it’s going to end already. You just have to trust the process and sit back and enjoy it. Personally, I think it’s very faith based. I tryst the author and I trust this team and it’s such a fun time to play with these girls.”
on what it means to be in the lineup with Maya Brady
“Ugh, I’m going to get emotional. It feels so nice to be able to do this with her. We’ve really come a long way since travel ball. Maya, Nelly (Janelle Meoño), Jadelyn (Allchin), it feels so rewarding to be able to hug them and say we’re going to finish it at OKC. And just the belief and to be able to see (Brady) flourish, like I’ve always been her biggest fan since I was 12. It’s just so fun to play with her sister and knowing that you have family that has your back, it’s the most rewarding thing. And I know I have trust in her and support from her. It’s awesome to be able to look at her at short and be able to give her that hug afterwards and say we’re making it to OKC.”
on watching Taylor Tinsley and Kaitlyn Terry’s growth this year
“I think Coach I and I both knew that they belong in OKC. They are pitchers that belong in OKC. They belong to take the mound there and it’s going to be fun to watch them there. Honestly an honor to be able to work with them. I always say this, I forget how old they are. I feel like they are my age. They honestly have just surpassed my expectations and I’m just so happy for everything they’re gaining right now and I just can’t wait to see them go off in OKC.”
on what emotions she's feeling to win on this stage as a senior
"A lot of gratitude. I'm happy to be here with my girls. This is the team I want to take to OKC. This is the army I want to go toe-to-toe with anyone with. I can't wait to finish out my career with these girls."
May 24, 2024
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
opening statement
“I want to give a shoutout to Georgia. We know that they’re a quality team. We know they can hit (and) they can pitch. They had a great season. I also hope that Kuma – I want to send prayers – I hope that she is O.K. That didn’t look good. But a worthy opponent, which makes it even more rewarding for us. When you can get after a team like Georgia, it builds great confidence for us. When it comes to the Bruins, I’m just going to say I’m proud. It’s been a long journey. It’s been a challenging journey. We have trusted the process. We flipped a corner, and our goal was to be the best at the end, and here we are. I’m just proud of every single Bruin being able to get the win, not only her in Supers, but to do it in two is saying a statement. We’re ready to play and I can’t wait to get back on the stage with this team.”
on the performance of the young pitching staff
“I am beyond proud. Just beyond. The growth. The trust. It’s been an emotional journey. I’m going to say it a million times, the quarterback behind the plate (Sharlize Palacios), to be able to have an all-American-experienced leader to stay with them. It’s been tough. It’s been tough to grow and to learn, but I definitely credit KT (Kaitlyn Terry) and I credit Taylor (Tinsley). … One of the biggest things that happened was when Taylor needed to take a little bit of a break, KT was able to step in. It puts in a position to be able to say we’re just prepared to play the game. I think the best part is that they simplified it. People say all the time, and everyone said it: ‘They have no experience.’ But they actually have a lot of experience. I’ve seen Taylor and KT do great things in travel ball. I’ve seen them do great things in high school. They’ve put the team on their back. They’ve played the game for a long time which is why we wanted them to be here at UCLA. It just took them some time to kind of get into their game and I’m really proud because they’re right where we need them to be at the right time. So, proud. That’s probably the biggest word.”
on production from Thessa Malau’ulu
“I’m just going to say what I love is when I see a complete a team and when everyone is contributing. A big part of that is that they are trusting each other. They are passing the bat. It’s a ‘we versus me’ mentality. That’s when UCLA is at its best. Shar hitting two bombs and Maya hitting, those are standout moments. But the ability for everyone – that just means that they’re comfortable and they’re here to have quality at-bats and you get to see rare production. But to answer your question about Thessa, she’s waited for her moment to be able to truly be a contributor and she’s been patient and been a great teammate and she’s a heartbeat now. She’s a big part of the core and just culture and good vibes so I just love to see the game pay her back. She put a lot of work in with Coach Lisa (Fernandez) to be able to get her swing to where it is right now. Like I said, I love when the game pays you back.”
closing statement
"The only thing I want to say is I'd like to follow up to be able to say how proud I am of Taylor. She could have stayed close to home. She could have stayed with her teammates, but she had a bigger picture vision of not only being able to compete on the stage, but also get a degree. She's a solid student. And I talked to her because there was a lot of people when we were going through the recruiting process that said you shouldn't go away from you, you should stay close. I shared with her how awesome it would be to be the role model to be able to say that you can go and strive for your own goals and dreams. Because you could always go back home. I'm really proud. Taylor is so much bigger than that. Her goals, her dreams, where she's going to go and what she's going to do in life -- softball is what she loves to do, but the degree she gets from UCLA is going to carry with her for the rest of her life. I'm very proud of her ability to make good decisions academically and athletically. Obviously, we're very proud she's a Bruin. We've been waiting for this moment. I could picture it. She's worked for it. It's awesome to be able to see her play her game tonight."
UCLA pitcher Taylor Tinsley
on recording the last out
“I was feeling a lot, but definitely just super excited. This is a special group of girls. I’ve loved every single game with Shar behind the plate and just everybody behind me and in the dugout. It’s fun. It’s been so much fun to get here and I’m excited for the rest.”
on what it means to reach the Women’s College World Series
“Well, I mean I’m just super excited. I feel like I’ve watch softball for a long time before I even got to college, so the Women’s College World Series was something me and my parents always watched. Me and my friends in high school watched, too. I’m just super excited to be on that stage and help out the team and I hope for some competitive and fun softball.”
on the offensive support
“It’s definitely a comfort feeling to know that our offense is going to have our backs. Me and KT, we definitely know we’re going to get it done, but just to know that Shar, Maya and everybody else in the lineup, they’re definitely going to have us. Even on defense, too, I mean Maya has been lights out at short and our outfield has been kind of crazy. It’s been really rewarding to have the team have our back just like we have theirs.”
on how the growth process has been since the first time UCLA played Georgia in February
"I think, for all of us, we're definitely a different team now than when we were at the beginning of the season. Honestly, just take it game-by-game. Yesterday is history. One hundred days ago (since the last time) we played them is history, so it was just a new day and new game. Here we are. It was a lot of fun to compete against a bunch of my friends who I played travel ball with, over half the team. I just know them too, from my hometown. Super good to just see them again and compete."
on if this game was a full-circle moment, playing against her hometown team
"It was a little bit of a full circle. Growing up, I was more so a Georgia Tech girl with my dad at the games, so I was definitely the little girl running around Tech's field. But even in Athens, too, I know the area well, the girls well, the coach well. I can't even put it into words."
UCLA catcher Sharlize Palacios
on the meaning of the phrase “It’s already written”
“It’s basically saying it’s already written out. We know how it’s going to end already. You just have to trust the process and sit back and enjoy it. Personally, I think it’s very faith based. I tryst the author and I trust this team and it’s such a fun time to play with these girls.”
on what it means to be in the lineup with Maya Brady
“Ugh, I’m going to get emotional. It feels so nice to be able to do this with her. We’ve really come a long way since travel ball. Maya, Nelly (Janelle Meoño), Jadelyn (Allchin), it feels so rewarding to be able to hug them and say we’re going to finish it at OKC. And just the belief and to be able to see (Brady) flourish, like I’ve always been her biggest fan since I was 12. It’s just so fun to play with her sister and knowing that you have family that has your back, it’s the most rewarding thing. And I know I have trust in her and support from her. It’s awesome to be able to look at her at short and be able to give her that hug afterwards and say we’re making it to OKC.”
on watching Taylor Tinsley and Kaitlyn Terry’s growth this year
“I think Coach I and I both knew that they belong in OKC. They are pitchers that belong in OKC. They belong to take the mound there and it’s going to be fun to watch them there. Honestly an honor to be able to work with them. I always say this, I forget how old they are. I feel like they are my age. They honestly have just surpassed my expectations and I’m just so happy for everything they’re gaining right now and I just can’t wait to see them go off in OKC.”
on what emotions she's feeling to win on this stage as a senior
"A lot of gratitude. I'm happy to be here with my girls. This is the team I want to take to OKC. This is the army I want to go toe-to-toe with anyone with. I can't wait to finish out my career with these girls."