May 29, 2006
BAYLOR HEAD COACH Steve Smith
"It's always exciting to get a chance to continue the season in the NCAA Tournament. I thought we were already in (prior to Saturday's win against Texas Tech), but there were a lot of interesting decisions with this year's selection. So, who knows?"
On the Big 12 Conference receiving seven bids:
"Our league really took a step forward. This is a huge day for the Big 12 - to get that respect from the committee. I thought it was great for our league that Kansas won the conference tournament. It says a lot about the strength and the depth of the Big 12. I would not want to be in the same regional with Missouri."
On the Houston Regional field:
"It is an interesting field because we've played everybody. One of the things you like to do in a regional is go places you've not been and play teams you've not seen. That isn't the case at all with this regional. But I've said it before: nobody has a right to complain about things like that this time of year. It's enough to be still playing because there are so many good teams out there that did not get in."
On returning to NCAA Tournament after losing so many players off last year's CWS team:
"It was important for us to be able to keep rolling as a program. Getting back to the NCAA Tournament gives our seniors a chance to keep playing, and it gives the younger guys a chance to taste the experience of postseason play. And that is very important.
On playing at Rice:
"A regional at Rice is always a tough regional, regardless of the other teams there. I thought the one time we saw (Rice) in the regular season, just looking at their lineup, they were as good as any team we played all season."
BAYLOR SENIOR CATCHER Zach Dillon
On mood of team while awaiting word from NCAA selection committee:
"We weren't too worried because our coaches were pretty assured that we would be in. They've been around it more than we have, so we trusted their assessment of the situation."
On playing at Rice:
"Beggars can't be choosers. It's never an easy road, no matter where you play. The bottom line is that you have to play well, and maybe now we have to play really well. I'd like to say we have a good chance to advance, but you never know. You have to go into it with a positive attitude or else you have no chance. We played Rice a very close game here. But we play Arizona State first, and we have to take care of that game first, and it won't be easy."
On what it will take to win the regional:
"We're going to have to do a better job of getting clutch hits, just like we did last year. You have to have guys step up, and maybe those are guys you might not expect. Who would have guessed Jeff Mandel would hit a game-winning home run against Stanford in the regional championship game last year? Or that Seth Fortenberry would step up in the postseason the way he did last year. That's what it takes."
BAYLOR SENIOR RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER Ryan LaMotta
On having a chance to end career on a more positive note than his outing against Texas at the Big 12 Tournament:
"That's not the way you want to walk off the field, so it's good to just get back out there and have another chance. It's good for all of us."
BAYLOR FRESHMAN SHORTSTOP Beamer Weems
On playing in a regional as a freshman:
"That's why I came to Baylor. I chose a program like this to have a chance to play in the postseason. The Big 12 Tournament was so amazing; I can only imagine what this will be like."
On recent success at the plate:
"I'm feeling good up there. It helps being able to step up and get some big hits in key situations. That gives you a lot of confidence."
BAYLOR SENIOR RIGHT FIELDER Kevin Sevigny
On having faced each of the other three regional participants:
"Each team has gotten better since we played. We've gotten some players healthy like (senior designated hitter) Mike Pankratz. We didn't face Rice's best pitchers when we played. And the Arizona State series seems forever ago. It's a tough regional."
On going to Rice:
"Ever since losing the series at Kansas State a couple weeks ago, we all had it in the back of our minds that we'd go to Rice. We'll see. Anything can happen."
BAYLOR SENIOR LEFT FIELDER Seth Fortenberry
On mood prior to announcement:
"I was a little nervous. Our coaches felt confident that we'd be in, and that kept us relaxed. But it's definitely a relief getting in."
On the regional field and having faced all the teams in the regular season:
"We know what to expect from each of them. It's not an easy road, but the road to Omaha is never an easy road. We'll have to play well."
On team's recent slide:
"It seems the last few weeks we've either been hitting and not pitching or pitching and not hitting. The defense has always been there. It's about time all that came together, because when it does we're a pretty good team. Hopefully that will happen."
On playing at Rice:
"That's about as tough as it gets. Not just playing at Rice, but playing in that boiler at Houston. We'll definitely need to get a lot of water in us before getting down there."
BAYLOR SENIOR LEFT-HANDED PITCHER Cory VanAllen
On playing in hometown of Houston:
"It's going to be nice for me and a few other guys that grew up in Houston. It's a great facility, a great atmosphere, and really good teams. Houston is a big baseball city, so I'm sure the fan support will be great."
