June 4, 2007
NCAA Nashville Regional
Final: Michigan 4 Vanderbilt 3 (10)
Michigan Coach Rich Maloney
Opening statement
Well first of all I’d like to say the Vanderbilt is the No. 1 team in the country, and we were very fortunate that we were able to squeak the first game out because that gave us an opportunity to win this tournament. They have superior pitching than anyone in the country and I’m truly humbled by the way my boys played. They played with energy and passion and they played to win. We truly felt that last year when Vanderbilt knocked us out twice that when they became the No. 1 team in the country I told the boys that we’ve got a real shot, because I truly felt that we played with them and any given day we could possibly win. I had no idea that we’d ever get a shot at them, and then the incentive of the media saying that this would be the easiest regional was a positive from our standpoint. But that wasn’t why we won this tournament. We made plays at the right time, and I tip my hat off to this group because they believed and we were fortunate to win this.
On Oaks’ homer
Well it’ll be one that will go down in Michigan history. I don’t know if you could have a more dramatic homer against the number one pitcher in the country. From a coaching standpoint it wasn’t some great call, as it turns out Oaks made me look good. When there was nobody on base and David Price throwing, Alan has superior power and we’ve seen him hit mammoth home runs in practice. You’re not going to get many hits off of Price and you’re hoping you get a long ball.
On Price
I think David Price was throwing lights out, I respect Tim’s decision, it’s a tough one as a coach. He shouldn’t have any second thoughts as a coach because he gave them the best chance to win by pitching Weathers and pitching Price.
Adam Abraham
On the eighth inning
When coach gave me the ball I had a two-run lead with one guy on and I can’t ask for anything more than a two-run lead. I went in there throwing strikes and they got a couple hits, and after they came back my first thought was I just want to keep it here. I can’t give up anything else and I battled through it and when (shortstop) Toth made that error it ran through my head `jeez, here we go.’ Cislo made a great play for me and it was a team victory out there, but it was nice to have a two-run lead to start.
Nate Recknagel
On the tournament
The experience was awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place like this wehre the whole stands were completely packed, it was so loud I could barely hear myself. It was an unbeleivable experience.
On regional MVP honors
I feel like a lot of other people deserve them as well, a lot of people did a lot of great things, I’m just really humbled.
Michael Powers
On facing the heart of Vanderbilt’s order in the bottom of the 10th:
Well I knew coming into the game that there was a good chance I was going to pitch – that’s the situation you dream of to be out there with the chance to win it for your team. That’s what we’ve been planning for the fall, I was ready to go all day. They’re a great hitting team but I’m confident in myself and it worked out for us.
On Alvarez’s near-homer
I thought it was gone. It wouldn’t be the first time…Derek’s a great player, a great athlete and he made a great play for us.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin
Opening Statement
I’d like to congratulate Michigan. This is tough, but they won this series fair and square. They bought back from adversity, they jumped out in front, they faught an eighth-inning onslaught, they fought off an error, they caught a ball at the wall, they pitched, they won. There’s no excuses, none whatsoever. We had some chances, but tonight the magic may have been about a foot away, who knows. I just hurt for the kids – that’s all. You come this far and you play so well and you just want to see them take it as far as they can. This is tough, this is tough. I hurt for them. I really do.
Worst loss of his career?
It feels like it right now. I really thought this is why you play Regionals at home to get that momentum we’ve been looking for and I thought in the eighth winning we would take it. Then the Oaks kid stepped up. He’s a freshman and hadn’t been in any of the games and he hits a 3-1 fastball off the best pitcher that I’ll ever coach. I’ll ever coach. That happens. You can’t put your figure on why things happen sometimes in this game but they do. This was our first opportunity at this. We’ll be back. We’ll do this again, but this is tough.
On what he told his team
Not much. They don’t want to listen to me at that moment. I just told them I’m proud of them and that I love them. I’ll get together with them tomorrow and tell them what’s in my heart, but right now they’re just devastated. They’re sitting in that dugout looking at each other. As athletes, this is all we do. They’re down here all the time – every minute. It’s like you’re slamming on the breaks after going 100 miles per hour.
On the team’s ability to come back
I just thought we were going to win again. I did not visualize sitting in front of you talking about a loss tonight. I still think it’s a bad dream. I just didn’t see t this coming. I just thought we were going to win again and that’s just the power of the kids…Michigan earned this victory.
On Price’s availability
No more than 20 pitches. When got through that first inning, quite frankly, I didn’t think we would go back out there. But when we did, I wanted him to face Recknagel and the next kid because I knew they had Putnam out of the game. When they came up with Oaks, we checked the scouting report good. It wasn’t like we didn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t bite on two breaking balls that we’re down. He was supposed to. And then he hits a 3-1 fastball and he crushed it. He absolutely crushed. But else who do you want out there? You guys would tell me I’m a fool if David Price isn’t out there and he feels miserable right now.
On the last inning
We had exactly who we wanted up…What more can you say about these kids. They battled.
On reflecting on season
I can’t do it right now. I just really love my kids. It’s fun to coach them. From a coaching standpoint, I don’t think ever had as much fun in my whole life. They make it fun. They’re low maintenance. There’s not one selfish kid in the bunch. They’re unbelievable and trust me when I say this, I’ve never seen a team like this and I think that’s why we’ve been successful. We had some holes too, but we overcame a lot because of the way the kids felt about each other.
On Price
This won’t be what I think about him. I think about everything else that he does for our program…What he’s meant to our program it’s unbelievable. He left me a note tonight on my desk and I kept it with me. It just said, “Coach, I came up to your office. You weren’t there. If you’re nervous or scared about this game, let me know and I’ll coach it and you can sit back.’ He’s amazing. He’s an amazing young man. He’s been raised well.
Any game you lose is tough. What else can I say? We obviously don’t want to lose and when it happens, it’s a shock to us.