June 13, 2010
Florida State 7, Vanderbilt 6
NCAA Super Regional
Dick Howser Stadium – Tallahassee, Fla.
Postgame quotes
Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin
Opening Statement:
“I’d like to first congratulate Florida State. They’ve got a fine team and I’m not just saying that. They’re a scrappy bunch. I’d like to thank the people that put on this regional; you’ve obviously done it many times and you do a nice job and make everyone feel good. Congratulations to Mike [Martin] too. He’s a mentor from afar. What you have here is because of him. 30 years, to think that he was just starting coaching when I was graduating from high school is unbelievable. But, I’m proud of my kids, what can I say? I just think the level of consistency that they’ve displayed throughout the year and how they’ve put themselves in this situation to fight back. Even the last inning didn’t feel like we were going to give up, neither did I feel like we were going to lose this particular game. It came down to a couple of big innings for Florida State. It came down to a situation where we had the bases loaded and couldn’t really muster a hit but it our nature or our spirit. We stayed on course and got ourselves back in the game and gave ourselves a chance and came up with a big inning. Looking at the scoreboard 7-3, we fought our way right back.
On then season coming to an end:
I hate that Giobbi’s leaving, I hate that Brian Harris is leaving. That hurts me because I really, really, really wanted them to go a little bit further to see what I’ve seen as a coach and enjoy what’s out in the middle part of the country in a lot of a part of June. That’s the way it goes, and it stinks. One thing about college baseball is the end is the end. It’s not like basketball or football where coaches have a couple weeks to wind down and talk to their kids. Baseball is a cruel sport in the fact that once it ends, you may never see your kids again. So from that standpoint it stinks, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We finished in second place. We just get back to Nashville and call it a year.”
On the job Drew Hayes did settling things down:
“He did, he slowed down the game. Came in to a very difficult situation with the bases loaded and I just think if we give up two or three, I wasn’t really concerned about that. The game was reminiscent of the first game, they jumped out to a 4-0 start but I just felt like if we could creep back in there, they would feel us coming, which I feel like they did until they got the big hit there at the end. Still, at the end they felt us coming too. Drew was able to kind of shut things down and pitch a very good ballgame and keep them right there. That’s very important in a situation when you are trying to get back in.”
On the decision to walk Holt and pitch to Sherman Johnson:
“Well, it is a tough call but Holt is their go-to-guy. Mike said that in his opening statement here on Thursday and he was having a good day. He was reaching base four times in a row and we gave him a hall pass. We were going to make a younger kid try to hit a breaking ball or try to hit an off speed pitch. We had him to two strikes, he just did a nice job of putting the ball in play and we were on the defensive with the bases loaded and two outs. Give the kid credit. Just give Sherman Johnson credit. He put a good swing on the ball.”
Catcher Andrew Giobbi
On being on five teams NCAA Tournament teams, what made this team so special this year:
“I think this team, more than anyone else just believes in each other. We believe in ourselves. There is no game that we weren’t in, there is no game that we were out of. There are so many memories and so many great plays throughout the year and I’m just happy for us.”
First baseman Aaron Westlake
On the ninth-inning rally and coming back to nearly tie the game at the end:
“Yeah, this team does not quit until the last out is over. It’s been in our DNA all year. We had that eighth inning that was quick but we came back and that didn’t hurt us at all because we thought we were going to win the game. That’s the confidence we have in each other and every time it doesn’t work out that way. We were expecting to win.”
Florida State Head Coach Mike Martin
Opening Statement:
“I am very appreciative of the class that Vanderbilt University showed; that is an outstanding baseball team that really showed resolve, character all weekend. It’s very commendable and I can see why everybody is so please with Tim Corbin and the job he has done at Vanderbilt.
“To these men up here, you’ve got one guy (Sean Gilmartin) that came here from California wanting this opportunity; the guy beside him (Tyler Holt) had been once and suffered disappointment last year and was a huge leader on our team. What do you say about Michael (McGee) and the job he’s done and we kind of extended him today and he got out there and got it done. Then to see these two young men (Sherman Johnson and Jayce Boyd) – one didn’t even play much last year (Johnson) I think he pinch ran in one of the Super Regional games that we played yet he came up today with one of the biggest hits of the year when you are clinging to a one run led and you are extending your closer longer than you have and Boyd who hit the ball hard all day long and has really played a great first base. These young men – some will be future leaders and some are leaders already.
“It was a great weekend for all of us.”
FSU pitcher Sean Gilmartin
How long did you think you were going to go today?:
“I had somewhat of an idea being a big ballgame as it is. I told our coaching staff yesterday that I was good for at least three more today. I was able to come out and keep us in the ball game.”
FSU third baseman Sherman Johnson
On doubling in the eighth:
“The first pitch was a change up and I swung through it. It was a good pitch. The second pitch was a slider. Kind of battled back and he threw a fastball away and he came back with a change-up. The first time I didn’t really see it but the second time I saw it. And I hit it.”
On Vanderbilt walking Tyler Holt to get to you:
“It’s a baseball decision but as a competitor I take it as a challenge. That’s how I see it. I know all these guys would, too. If I’m a coach I’d probable do the same thing they did but standing on deck I see it as a challenge.”
FSU outfielder Tyler Holt
On being intentionally walked in the eighth inning:
“After I scored I was saying thank you. As a competitor I wanted to hit. The rain delay kind of started fiddling with my body and I honestly felt sick coming out. When I came up to the plate I don’t think I was all there; it was a blessing in disguise and Sherm came through.
FSU pitcher Mike McGee
On Vanderbilt scoring three runs and almost coming back in the ninth:
“I don’t even know what I was thinking; I tried to refocus. I knew if I made my pitches I would be okay and I had one more out to get.”
