June 5, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Jones’ Photos 
| Green’s Photos | Russell’s Photos
Vanderbilt Quotes
Head Coach Tim Corbin
Opening Statement…
“I think the first thing is to congratulate Belmont on a great year. I’m really happy for Dave Jarvis. The fact that they could take that program and get to a regional this year. They have a lot of good kids. I have good relationships with several of the kids on the team. I looked forward to watching how they progressed over the season.
“In terms of tonight, I’m proud of the group. I’m proud of what they did. Tonight was a pitching night. When you can take care of 14 of the outs on the mound, that says a lot of Taylor Hill, and Mark (Lamm) finishing up. Taylor was really good tonight. He was very strong for us. He gave us exactly that type of effort last week and it was good to be able to see him get that effort again and be on the topside of things after tonight.
“Offensively we did enough. We scored in four frames. We played some pretty solid defense. I’m happy with the way the kids isolated things this weekend and took each game separately. They didn’t get too far ahead of themselves. It just speaks to the maturity. As we’ve talked about many times, the consistency to play 60 times and be successful 50, I’m proud of them.”
On the team’s performance…
“From start to finish, it was really solid. I don’t feel like any of these games, though, despite what the scores look like, they didn’t feel like they were runaways. Particularly last night, it was back and forth until we separated ourselves late. Even tonight, it wasn’t like we put a big inning together, it was one, two, one, two. I think the fact that the kids play frame-by-frame-by-frame has a lot to do with that. We talk about winning frames of a ballgame and every time we’ve won the frames of a ballgame, we’ve been undefeated this year. I think this game speaks to that. The pitching allows us to stay in the game, and the offense chips away. It’s been that type of consistency throughout the year.”
On the two Nashville teams playing in the regional championship…
“I was asked that question regarding Tennessee baseball and I think it’s a very underrated state. It was kind of neat that Belmont and ourselves were in a final. You had a team in Troy that, as I mentioned last night, I thought was an SEC team. Oklahoma State has tons of tradition. Josh Holiday can speak to that. Belmont did away with them, they did away with Troy, and so they deserved to be in the final. Obviously we played ourselves into that. There are a lot of good baseball players in this small little state and the Midwest. We’re proud of that.
Third Baseman Jason Esposito
On playing just three games in the regional this year versus five last year…
“After that first game, we got a lot of confidence going into the second game. Our pitching kept us in ballgames. It was close with Belmont on Friday, it was close with Troy on Saturday. Our pitching holds it town for us and they’re a big part of our 50-win season so far. Playing three games is nice, but that’s just a tribute to how well we’ve been playing and how well we’ve been playing together.”
How much better can this team play…
“I don’t know if we can play any better just because of the fact that we go out and play our hardest every day. Every game we’re out there we play it pitch-by-pitch, frame-by-frame. It’s all about rallying behind the pitchers and scoring runs for them because we know that they’re going to do the job. That’s how we play; we play hard for each other.
Pitcher Taylor Hill
On his performance tonight…
“I think it was pretty good. There are still some things I could work on. Our defense played great, and that’s how you win games – pitching and defense. We had timely hitting as well, and Curt (Casali) caught another great game. I couldn’t ask anything more of him.
Pitcher Mark Lamm
On getting the last three outs tonight…
“It was really special. Coming full circle, from being in the bullpen back in 2007 and going back out there. It kind of hit me afterwards. I didn’t really think about it beforehand but I’m glad I was on the winning end this time and not the other side. It pays tribute to what Taylor did tonight and what Jason did all weekend. I’m happy I got a shot to get back out there.”
Belmont Quotes
Head Coach Dave Jarvis
Opening Statement
“The story of the game tonight was Taylor Hill and his performance. I thought it was a very outstanding performance. I know Taylor and I know his family. What an outstanding young man. I’m happy to see him flourish like he did tonight.
“It’s bittersweet for our kids to see the season come to an end after all we accomplished. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and this group of guys, the character they showed and the way they played. They respected the game throughout the course of this year. And I gave so much credit for that to our senior class.”
How about two Nashville teams playing for an NCAA regional championship:
“I’m in favor of that every year. It’s really a testament to these programs. I credit Tim Corbin and we look at his program, we steal thing from his ideas and try to copy a lot of things that he does.
“To say goodbye to this team…and especially to this group of seniors, they were so special to me. They had the character to get this ship turned around, and their will was such a part of the turnaround.”
Does Vanderbilt have the ability to contend for a national championship?
“There is no doubt in my mind at all that they are capable of doing that. They are extremely well coached and extremely well prepared for any situation, and have depth and offense. Also look at some of the defensive plays they turned in against us. Those were game-changing plays. When you put those three aspects together, I definitely think they are capable of doing that.”
Talk about Vanderbilt’s team strengths:
“They never allow you to get in a comfortable rhythm. They apply a lot of pressure to your defense, and they have such good depth up and down their lineup. Vanderbilt takes that (depth) to another level.”
Pitcher Nate Woods
Talk about Taylor Hill’s performance against Belmont:
“He has a great fastball, great off speed. He kept us off balance and off our toes. He was outstanding.”
About the season and how you guys came together late to win the A-Sun tournament and accomplish things no other Belmont squad has achieved:
“I credit the coaches. Our staff stepped in…and kind of told us to start playing playing with more desperation and enjoy the game. It started being more fun.”
Pitcher Jon Ivie
How are you feeling after playing in the regional championship?
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t win (tonight) and get a shot again tomorrow. But we did something that no other Belmont team has ever done. I’m proud to be part of that.”
What does your achievement tell other small schools?
“I think it helps them. It shows that a (small) school can make it this far, and maybe further some day.”
Infielder Judah Akers
Your thoughts on Belmont’s season:
“It has been an awesome experience. The senior class has really set a high standard and carried us, especially down the stretch. I think it’s a positive. This sets the bar high. The expectation levels increase, knowing that we’ve won a league championship and we’ve been to a regional. It will be fuel to the fire.”
Were you surprised by this team accomplishment?
“It wasn’t a surprise to us. Our coaches told us all year that we were going to win the A-Sun championship and go to a regional this year. We never got any negative from the coaches. It was more we are going to do this and do that.”
Talk about the winning Commodore squad:
“They’ve got pitching like crazy. Their hitters are patient hitters. It’s fun to play against them, and be on this stage, in the championship game. We weren’t going to back down from them at all, but I definitely think that Vanderbilt has an unbelievable squad.”
