May 11, 2013
Missouri Head Coach Ehren Earlywine
Opening statement …
“It was Chelsea Thomas’ day again. Fourteen innings against the best hitting team in the conference and potentially the best hitting team in the nation, and she hasn’t given up a run to them. We’re blessed to have a kid like that on our team. JJ [Jenna Marston] got the timely hit that we needed, the big double, the two-run double, and really after that it was ball game.”
On how big this tournament is for the Missouri program …
“Just to clarify I want all of our programs to do well. I don’t care about being ‘the one.’ I want to be one of many. I’m a Mizzou sports fan in general. I’m glad that our team is able to play in a championship. I’m proud of them. Had we had more depth in pitching during the regular season things might have been different, but we’re in a good spot right now. I have a very difficult decision to make during the next couple of hours which is going to determine a lot and I won’t know the answer to that until game time.”
On what he saw out of Kelsea Roth today and her home run off the scoreboard …
“They threw a change up on the first pitch, which, typically speaking as a hitting coach, that’s not a great choice to swing at a first a pitch change up. But, when they hit a home run it is a great choice. You just kind of roll with the punches. But she’s had a nice year, really proud of all she’s done. I know last year we had huge expectations for her, and I know she had huge expectations for herself. And I think the weight of that was probably too much to carry. And so this year she came back a lot more relaxed and now she is surrounded by other people who are also hitting so it takes some of the pressure off her and in turn she’s had a nice year.”
On the 12-inning game earlier in the season against Florida …
“It was an awesome game to watch. I know some of the people in this room had the opportunity to see that game and win, lose, or draw that was championship softball at its finest. Florida didn’t necessarily lose that game it was just one of those deals where it was kind of like you get the lucky hit because everybody was playing great softball – defense, pitching, hitting – we just happened to end up on top. Nobody dominated that game. It was a really well played game on both sides. I’m sure Florida has the advantage tonight in that they probably want to redeem themselves.”
#18, Chelsea Thomas, P
On how she felt today …
“I felt pretty good today. My stuff was working pretty well. I had a little trouble with my changeup, but for the most part it was working pretty well.”
On getting stronger as the game went on …
“Yeah, I kind of found my low rise in the later innings and when my low rise gets better my drop gets better and that’s how it works for me.”
On how big the tournament championship is for Missouri softball …
“It’s huge. We would love to be the first SEC champions from Missouri and we are looking forward to tonight.”
#10, Kelsea Roth, 1B
On how big the tournament championship is for Missouri softball …
“We are just so excited to be in this game, and it’s just a dream and an honor.”
On if she knew her home run was gone off the bat …
“That particular one, yes. It felt good when it left the bat.”
Tennessee Co-Head Coach Ralph Weekly
Opening Statement …
“First, I would like to thank Mitch Barnhart and the University of Kentucky for the first class facility. The tournament was run in a first class manor. I just have to give credit to Missouri. We were scooting along 15-3 in the SEC until last weekend and we played Alabama, Florida, and other good teams. Then we ran into Chelsea Thomas and didn’t score on her in two games. Right now, she is the best pitcher I’ve seen in two years. If she was healthy, which I wish she was for her sake, she could pitch every day for them. She had a great day today. It’s all about the kids at this stage. We were up at Missouri last week and other than the fact that they beat us two out of three they treated us pretty well. I do not think our team is in decline. I think that we met a red-hot Missouri team at the wrong time. I think that they will go far in the postseason. I also think their coaching staff is very good.”
On not playing SEC teams the rest of the year …
“Last year, we were fortunate enough to go to the World Series and we didn’t get out of conference until the second game. We ended up drawing Georgia in the Super Regionals and played Alabama in the opening round of the World Series. I think that it is a testament to the SEC and what the people have done to make it this strong of a conference. I am not sure if we are out of the conference just yet, but it will be nice to play a couple of new faces this weekend.”
On preparation for Regional’s …
“We are going to practice on hitting the dropball.”
#88, Raven Chavanne, IF
On how you prepare for a pitcher like Chelsea Thomas …
“As a hitter you are not going to typically face a pitcher better than Chelsea Thomas. She is the SEC Pitcher of the Year, and I am just glad we improved from the last time we faced her. We just didn’t get that key hit to score those runs, but you can only move forward from there and learn from it. I think it is going to help us in postseason and in regional because you are only going to see teams with good pitchers so you know it’s going to be really beneficial.”
What is it that makes Chelsea Thomas tough …
“Just her movement. She is that rare combination of where she has decent speed and movement. Usually, it’s just someone who is either completely movement or just speed and she is just that rare combination. We got five hits off her and we improved from last week and learned from it and we just got to give her credit when credit is due.”
#20, Ivy Renfroe, P
On how you prepare for a pitcher like Chelsea Thomas …
“I can’t actually say much, but I think it will definitely help them (the hitters) along the way facing a really talented pitcher like Chelsea. I think it will help them knowing they won’t face anybody as good as her, but definitely a really talented pitcher.”
On the two big hits by Missouri …
“They were probably not good pitches, and I know the home run wasn’t a good job on my part. But, she (Jenna Marston) did a good job of taking it out and keeping her hands through and following through with the pitch on the home run. Other pitches, I know the gap one, I left it up a little bit but I she did a good job again of keeping her hands through and putting good hits on the ball.”
