Beavers On The Road: Softball In Norman, Day Two
May 17, 2012
Scroll to bottom for Thursday's press conference video
NORMAN, Okla. - It was much more of a routine day for the Oregon State softball team in Oklahoma on Thursday; if you can call a day of preparation for a big NCAA Regional game routine. The team arrived at Marita Hynes Field at the OU Softball Complex around 11:30 a.m. and promptly began to stretch and warm-up for practice. Each team in the regional was permitted exactly two hours on the field today and the Beavers' window ran from 12:10 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Before practice began, Head Coach Kirk Walker, freshman Dani Gilmore, senior Erin Guzy and junior Elizabeth Santana sat down with the media for a mandatory press conference where they outlined the team's expectations and made clear how important of a role the togetherness of this group has been in its success so far and how it will remain an integral part of all games in Norman and beyond. A full transcript of the press conference and video can be found below.
The practice was a spirited one for the Beavers as the group worked on all aspects of its game - defense, offense and pitching. When you're on this grand of a stage it was good for the team to get a feel for its environment and surroundings for the next three days. OSU got in some great swings at the end of the two hours and Madison Bundy, Mary Claire Brenner and Lea Cavestany (twice) all poked the ball out of the park with plenty of room to spare.
After the practice there was a meeting of all coaches and administrators to outline NCAA policies and protocol for the regional and then the team went to BJ's for some dinner before heading back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow.
The Beavers game against Tulsa begins at 3 p.m. PT/5 p.m. CT tomorrow evening. You can follow everything both on the team's Facebook page and on Twitter @OregonStateSB. The game will be available through a live webcast courtesy of Oklahoma (no audio) at the link here. Up-to-the minute tweets will also follow the game action both on and off the field.
Go Beavs!
NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championship
May 18-20, 2012 | OU Softball Complex | Norman, Okla.
Oregon State Press Conference: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Oregon State Head Coach Kirk Walker
On the regional...
"We are ecstatic about being in postseason and having the opportunity to play great competition. This is a great location, a great complex here at Oklahoma...We are looking forward to a great weekend, a great tournament."
On what he hopes to see out of the team heading into the regional...
"I certainly feel like we are playing really well and not struggling at all. We played No. 1 in the country three games in a row really, really well. When you lose to No. 1 a few times in a row, I don't know if that means you're struggling. Then we go into Arizona who is a very good team and it is a very tough place to play, and we almost take two out of three, so I feel like we are playing well and I feel like we are playing consistent."
On if there is anything he would like to see more of the next couple of games...
"I feel great about who we are and what we are doing. My greatest hope is that we continue to play as we are capable and play to our level and be the team we have been all year, so that is really my hope. To be something better or faster or stronger? No. Just to be us."
On what he expects to see out of Tulsa...
"I think going to the postseason the game is the same, but certainly the venue and the hoopla and the importance of rounds is different. I think our thing is to enjoy what we are doing, enjoy being a part of postseason, but when we step on the field, just play the game. I anticipate that we will be able to do that, and I think that we will be ready for that, and I think Tulsa is going to be ready to do the same thing. I think they are a team that has some very impressive numbers and some very successful things, so for us, we have got to go out and be able to play our game and fight every pitch, every out."
Junior Shortstop Elizabeth Santana
On the mantra of the team...
"I think that we as a team see that we feed off of each other, and that is our biggest thing right now coming into the postseason. The second part of our season, we had two words, and those were "Why not?" Those two words are very significant to our program this year. It is just risking and being able to trust each other, and I think that we have that, and that is what is going to take us far in this regional."
Freshman Outfielder Dani Gilmore
On how to keep her strong season going into the NCAA Regional...
"I think the number one thing is to just stay relaxed. I don't think going into the regional you should overthink too many things. Just look at it as another game or another inning or another pitch. I think being a part of a team and going 20 strong all together is a huge deal."
On the importance of playing as a team...
"It is huge. Staying together is the number one thing for our team. We don't want anyone falling off, and as long as we go hard all the way all together knowing we are all on the same page, I think we will be fine that way."
Senior First Baseman Erin Guzy
On what she is feeling right now...
"I think we are all equally excited. We are excited to be here and compete hard and just go after it and do what we have been doing all season. Especially the last six games, I think we have been preparing well for postseason experience."
On how she would describe her play in her final season...
"I am confident in what I am bringing and what we are all bringing. I think we all just need to stay right within ourselves and continue to do what we have been doing, not to put any additional pressure on all of ourselves and just keep playing hard."
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