University of Arizona

Head Coach Andy Lopez
Opening Statement:
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for Gene. He has done a marvelous job. I remember coming out here in 1982 as a young coach and working out at this facility. I remember what it looked like then and what it looks like now with 8,000 people. The job they did coming through the loser's bracket speaks volumes for what he has done in this program over the years. The young guy (Banwart) was outstanding. We just have to congratulate them for a marvelous job.”

On WSU's pitching staff:
“I would hard-pressed to think of another program that we have run up against this year. We like our arms and we feel like we can match up with anybody. We are young, but I made the comment that I really like the arms that Wichita State has. I really like their chances. They play well at home. They get some clutch hits when they have to. Their arms are the name of the game. Their young guy tonight was absolutely outstanding. They have kind of a two-headed monster in the bullpen with the left-hander and the right-hander. I like their chances and I hope they win it all.”

On his team gaining experience from this:
“I guess I will feel that way tomorrow on the flight. Right now I am not too excited about gaining experience. I have always said I like teaching off wins. It seems a lot easier. I am sure I will feel better tomorrow. I thought they put four pretty good baseball games together in a pretty tough environment.”

On being in the Wichita Regional:
“Wichita has done a marvelous job with this Regional. This is as good as it got. Congratulations, I hope you win it all.”

Second Baseman Colt Sedbrook
On WSU's starting pitching:
“He was effective, mixing it in a lot, and throwing with good control. The main thing was that he was getting ahead with his fastball. When he was ahead he was usually getting a strikeout.”

On being down 3-0 after five:
“It was tough for us, we were trying to sit on the curveball. He had a good pitching performance and we have to tip our hats off to him.”

Starting Pitcher Mike Colla
On his fifth inning:
“I felt good the whole time I was out there. It was just that fifth inning, I threw a good first-pitch fastball, and came back with a slider that was down but it just looked like he (Weber) sat on it and hit the home run. Those first four innings, I just tried to build off that and threw a bad pitch.”

On pitching in front of the big crowd:
“Its what I came to Arizona for, I want to pitch in front of a large crowd. The goal is to get to Omaha in front of 30,000. It felt good to be out there, it just didn't go the way we wanted.”
 

Wichita State University

Head Coach Gene Stephenson
Opening Statement:
“We made a whale of a run. This team played awesome baseball throughout this tournament. I am so proud of these guys, they battled so well. I really think that I couldn't have asked for anything better. Great defense, clutch hits, and pitching. I told Travis that was the gutsiest performance we have had around here, maybe ever. It has been a long time since we seen something like that. He went on two days rest, and you know at WSU we don't' do that. He went far more than I thought tonight. We stayed with him as long as we could until he ran out of gas. He got us what we needed. I am so proud of him and everybody on the team, absolutely outstanding.”

On winning the Regional after losing the last four:
“There has been a lot of things said over the last few years about how we couldn't get over that hump. There has been a whale of a lot of teams in this country that would have loved to play in the last five Regional finals. I know the players felt the same way, we needed this one. To come back the way we did from the first game was absolutely phenomenal. There is not better feeling and we are looking forward to next weekend.”

On hosting the Super Regional:
“We are looking forward to that. We sure are and the crowd tonight, was so amazing. Every game it has been so emotional for us to see and hear and feel the energy that they bring us. You see how the guys are playing and we just love it. I know I speak for them when I say there is no great feeling than that. I hope we are even bigger and strong next week.”

Starting Pitcher Travis Banwart
On his performance against Arizona:
“I wanted the opportunity. I was ready to get back out there to do what I can do, and what  I have done all season. I wanted to put all that other stuff behind me. Weber called me this afternoon and told me just to relax and have fun. My mindset was different, I wasn't thinking negative at all, everything was just positive.”

On having Weber as his catcher:
“Just being together, having total confidence in your catcher is just amazing. I can talk to him about anything. He can call me up before a start, just like he did today, and tell me to relax and have fun.”

First Baseman Derek Schermerhorn
On winning the Regional:
“This is my life for the last five years and it means everything to me. It is pretty special.”

On finally winning the Regional:
“We are older this year. We were in the same position last year and we played well last year. I think the conference tournament was a huge factor in how we played this weekend. I think being older and being more experienced helped.”

Relief Pitcher Noah Krol
On pitching with the loud crowd:
“I was shaking out there a little bit, you got everybody standing on their feet. I had to try to control my emotions and trust whatever Tyler was going call and throw strikes.”