Virginia Postgame Quotes - Game 1 vs Army - NCAA Regional
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2012 NCAA Division I Baseball Regional – Game 1
Army (41-14) vs. Virginia (39-17-1)
Davenport Field | Charlottesville, Va. | June 2, 2012 | 1 p.m.
University of Virginia Quotes
Virginia Coach Brian O’Connor
Opening Statement:
“First, I’m very proud of our club and really proud of Branden Kline. What he did yesterday, starting a game and throwing an inning and then come back today to give us five-plus strong innings. I thought it was a great effort on his part and we were able to put a few things together. Obviously we were able to be opportunistic with what their pitcher was giving us and took advantage of situations. We have a lot of guys on our team that this is their first time in the regionals and as much as you tell them that this is another ball game, obviously there is a lot at stake. Until you go through it and experience it, they’re not quite sure what they’re in for and now that we’ve got the first [game] out of the way we can be glad we won and prepare for tomorrow.”
Branden Kline
On restarting pitching today:
“We just tried to treat it like a bullpen session with what happened yesterday. I think I threw 20 pitches. I just tried to use the positives from that and attack Army’s lineup. They put a bunch of good swings off of me but luckily my defense was back there to help back me up when I left balls over the plate.”
On his ankle issue:
“I just kind of rolled my ankle a little bit. It was just kind of a little shock, nothing too serious. Just a little pain for a few seconds and then went away. It was nothing too serious.”
Branden Cogswell
On his double from today:
The first pitch was a good pitch and I didn’t want to let another pitch go. Off the bat it felt good and I didn’t really follow the ball. I was thinking two right out of the box and it found a gap and it was a good at bat.
On playing his first game in the NCAA tournament:
Yesterday felt different. Under the circumstances from yesterday, today felt really different. You just have to treat it like another game and not press too much and go out there and play lax and confident and have some fun.
On his stats:
You go in doing your job at the plate no matter what you have to do-bunt or move runners. That’s what you have to do. Stats are stats as long as you’re doing what’s best for the team.
Stephen Bruno
On his hit in a 3-0 count:
It is a great hitting position to be in. 3-0 and bases loaded and he had to throw a strike. I was just trying to be aggressive and put the ball in play and score some runs. As a hitter it is a mindset. You have to be a hitter and you have to be confident and make a play in that situation. The only opportunity you have is to be aggressive.
On Keith Werman:
Today he got hit in the head running to first base. He is going to put himself in line for our team and he’s done so for the past four years and I’ve played with him for three years and he is just a great role model for everybody-our young players and our veterans. Whatever the situations is, whenever we need him he is going to step up and play fundamental baseball. We have a lot of confidence in him.