May 27, 2006
ACC Baseball Championship
Coaches Quotes
May 27, 2006
NC State 8, Florida State 7
NC State head coach Elliott Avent
Great ballgame, great tournament, it's kind of what you expect. It's neat for the fans of Jacksonville, we appreciate everybody coming out. A sports city and we get a lot of people from every team but with baseball being played at such a high level by all of these young men, I just hope this tournament grows and grows and that we can just pack this thing. The City of Jacksonville is lucky to have these players on the field. We have great players in this league. It was a great game. It wasn't the all-time best played by either team, but both teams really fought and both teams wanted to win and maybe at the end, we just made one more play. I'm very proud of the way our teams fought and played throughout the game.
On the ninth inning defensive changes
Drew Martin is a freshman, who practices so hard everyday. He never opens his mouth. He is a great teammate, players love him and want him on the field because they understand how hard he practices so you know he's ready. (Matt) Mangini is a good defensive third baseman too, he's pretty good himself, so we really haven't used Drew that much but Mangini has had some injuries down the stretch and stayed in the hospital back and forth a couple of days getting IVs so down the stretch we've had to use Drew and every time he goes in there he responds. I just thought he was a little quicker, probably a little better defensively in the ninth inning and Marcus Jones gives a little more speed than Ryan Ponds. We keep Ponds' bat in the lineup as long as we can.
On earning the right to host a regional
I hope so. We talk about it upstairs a lot, and we played with the names. I feel like we deserve to host. If you look at our RPI - they told us to play a great schedule and probably nobody puts together a better schedule in the ACC than NC State. I think our RPI is good. Raleigh is a great city. Getting to the championship game, yeah, I think we should be hosting.
NC State third baseman Drew Martin
Basically it is just another game for me. I got my first start the other day and that was a big game. The pressure wasn't on because I had played in it before and I've worked hard and I knew I had the confidence to go in, but if Mangini is in there, he's in the right place and right time too. I felt confident in my ability so I didn't really get too nervous.
NC State second baseman Ramon Corona
On the hit that dropped in the infield
I was kind of shocked. I was sitting fastball and usually I think my hands are quick enough that I can hit it, and I got jammed. As soon as I hit it, my first reaction was 'how'd that happen,' thinking I popped up to the infielder or pitcher. I took a couple steps out of the box and saw that it had a chance of landing in the middle and I guess luck was on my side. I just ran it out and I guess it was just perfectly placed. Any hits like that, and RBI like that, in these games are crucial. It could have been an out and it turned our way and I think we just have to use our momentum with it and take advantage of things like that.
Florida State coach Mike Martin
Opening statement
I tell you, if you like 8-7 games, you saw a good one. I really don't like 8-7 games, especially when I'm on the other end of it, but it was a heck of a ballgame. Just a game that was really deserved by NC State. They did such a good job at getting the job done. They got the hits when they needed them, they made pitches when they needed them. I'm not even going to say what the key to the game was, but there were a lot of important things that happened. I'm just so proud of our baseball team, the way that we came down here a little bit shaky, so to speak. We had played well against NC State, no question about it, at our place, but in the Saturday game they put it on us pretty daggone good. Tonight I just can't say enough about the fight and heart and character of our baseball team.
On not being able to get the timely hits today
Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don't. We had some very good at bats. In the seventh, eighth and ninth innings we hit some balls hard. We just happened to hit it in the wrong spot. They did a very good job of pitching to us. The credit goes to NC State.
On his relief pitchers' efforts
I was very pleased with Jimmy Marshall coming in. The first time he pitched in the postseason, he showed us what we wanted to see, and that was the fact that he was not afraid, he was not intimidated, he went out there and made pitches and didn't get out of himself. It's a shame he had to be taken out, but we wanted to get (Matt DiBlasi) in there anyway if we could.
On if Florida State has done enough to host an NCAA regional
Well, I don't want to say, because I'm not going to speak for the committee. I think that there will be a lot of excitement as the sites are announced on Sunday, and we just hope that we're one of the 16 sites. ... I'm proud of what this team has accomplished. I think that our RPI will be a positive. Let's just hope that the people that decide see things the way I see it.
Florida State junior DH Travis Anderson
On his performance at the ACC Championship
It was huge. I just wanted to come out and help the team out, and ended up getting a few more hits than I thought originally. It was good to swing the bat and see the ball real well. It looked like a beach ball out there this weekend. I'm pretty pleased.
On whether his hot hitting will carry over into next weekend
I think so. Hitting is contagious. If I can be a spark, or Danny (Diaz) can be a spark, or anybody, all we need is that, and it will keep us rolling.
Florida State junior C Danny Diaz
On catching two games and having a good offensive day today
It's huge. Nobody really expected it. We've been in a little bit of a funk. For us, we come out here, and if there was one thing on our minds, it's fight like heck and just give it 100 percent every pitch. Myself, I've been in a funk all year. I'm just up there relaxed and having fun with it. And it was fun catching two games.
