University of North Carolina Athletics
Quotes From Maine vs. UNC Wilmington Baseball Game
June 3, 2006 | Baseball
June 3, 2006
NCAA Chapel Hill Regional
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Game #3: #3 UNC Wilmington vs. #4 Maine
UNC Wilmington Quotes
UNCW: Opening quotes from Head Coach Mark Scalf
oth teams played as hard as they could today. There were times when things didn't go our way and there were times when things didn't go their way. I think both teams competed until the final out and that's what going to a Regional tournament is all about. I'm proud of our guys, and I know Steve (Trimper) is proud of his guys. They could have died after we put up three more in the top of the ninth inning, but they didn't. I say that we set the game of baseball back in jest because most people who enjoy baseball and are older, would have enjoyed a 3-2, 2-1, or 4-3 ball game. I'm sure the younger generation in this day and age enjoyed every bit of that 21-19 game. It's a test for the kids and the coaching staff. It's exciting and fun, but there are adjustments that have to be made throughout the game. We have to continue to plug and push on both sides of the ball. We had to have it.
Tomorrow's pitching
RE: I hope the strike zone is bigger tomorrow. We're still okay. We do have some guys available who are fresh. Blake (Hundley) threw 51 pitches today, and he may be able to help us out for an inning or so tomorrow. Other then that, Adam (Paul), Jared (Sutton), and Zack (Booker) could help us as well.
UNCW: RF Jason Appel
Today's game being a slugfest
RE: When Maine put up six runs in the first and we put up five in the second, you had to think it was going to be a slugfest. You have to give them credit because they swung the bat hard, and you had to think it was going to be a slugfest for the rest of the way.
UNCW: CF John Raynor
Momentum
RE: We weren't battling back the entire time. We got ahead and stayed ahead. We got ahead, and it was fun after that. Guys got pitches to hit and when you are playing hard, and enjoying yourself, good things happen.
UNCW: SS Mike Marbry
The Game Overall
RE: I haven't been in a game with 40 total runs. We scored, then they scored and the game flip-flopped the entire way. It was nice to get ahead and see the game go our way.
Maine Quotes
Head Coach Steve Trimper
Opening Statement
"Both teams went out and swung it today and we just didn't get good pitching and defense. It's tough to win a ballgame when you give up a ton of hits and make five errors. That's just something we've got to deal with and overcome, and we didn't do that today. I thought [Jose] Mendoza, our freshman lefty, went out and he mixed it pretty well. The umpires did a good job of calling strikes. Even though both guys wanted more strikes, I think they were very consistent so we tried to throw the ball in the middle of the plate and put the ball in play. Both teams just really jumped at every pitch that was thrown up there. One thing you can commend both teams on is that both teams didn't quit."
On what it's like to manage such a high-scoring game:
"Both teams were just playing hard. It's the regionals, everybody here is good. No one wants to lose, everybody competes and they do it in a professional, classy way. Sometimes those 1-0 and 2-1 games are great to watch. Today you saw 10 people going at it really hard. Whoever got in there as a pinch hitter, they just didn't want to make an out. Pitchers weren't trying to throw balls for doubles. They were trying their butts off today."
Shortstop Curt Smith
On the way Maine hit the ball:
"All we tried to do is do the same thing we did all season, and that's come out and play hard. I just tried to go out there and do what I've done all season, hit the ball hard."
Catcher Sean Parker
On his perspective as a freshman on this year's team:
"I think the freshman class definitely did a really good job because at times there were six of us out there. There weren't a lot of older kids out there, but we did what we could and did pretty well."
On the impact of this NCAA Tournament on next year's team:
"I feel like it was a good experience for all our younger players, who stepped it up and played really well at the regional. [Mike] Powers pitched really well [on Friday night] and Jose [Mendoza] pitched pretty well for a few innings. It's just good to get the younger guys to play and get some experience for next year."
