No. 24 Kent State Baseball Pre-Austin Regional Press Conference
6/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Kent State baseball seventh-year head coach and Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year Scott Stricklin, senior left-handed starting pitcher and MAC Pitcher of the Year Kyle Hallock (Sandusky, Ohio) and senior right fielder and First Team All-MAC selection Ben Klafczynski (Granger Township, Ohio) sat down with the media following the 2011 NCAA Austin Regional practice session at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on the University of Texas's campus to discuss the team's journey to the 2011 NCAA Championships and what lies ahead on the path to Omaha and the College World Series.
The Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament champions drew a No. 3 regional seed for the first time in program history and will square off with No. 2-seeded Texas State Friday (June 3) at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST) at the University of Texas's UFCU Disch Falk Field.
No. 5-ranked Texas (43-15), which earned a No. 7 national seed for the tournament and the No. 1 seed in the regional as host, and No. 4-seeded Princeton (23-22) will also take part in the Austin Regional. The two squads will meet in the opening-round nightcap of the regional on Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST).
The winner of the game between the Golden Flashes and Bobcats will face the winner of the clash between the Longhorns and Tigers game on Saturday (June 4) at 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST). The losers of the opening-round games will meet in an elimination game at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST). The winner of the first elimination game will square off with the loser of the Saturday nightcap in a second do-or-die contest Sunday (June 5) at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST). The regional championship game will be held that evening at 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST). Should the remaining undefeated squad be dealt a loss in the regional final, a second game will be played Monday (June 6) at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST) to decide who advances to the NCAA Super Regionals next weekend (June 10-13). The College World Series will be held June 18-29 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.
Thursday Pre-Regional press conference quotes: Kent State
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Head Coach Scott Stricklin
Opening statement: First of all, our team feels very fortunate to be in Austin. I think the most satisfying thing for our team is that we are a three-seed. In the history of our program and especially these last 10 years we've been in the regionals seven times, and six of those prior to this we've been a three-seed. Everybody knows that's a pretty tough task, so to get out of the four-seed and get a three-seed is a big deal for us. We feel very fortunate to be here. That being said now we have to play a very good team in Texas State in their backyard, too. We know we have a big challenge in front of us. But as a team we feel like getting a three-seed is a great accomplishment for us because it puts us in a great position to make a run at a regional title.
On the heat in Texas so far: It's been treating us pretty well. Actually, the last few days in Ohio it's been almost just like this. On Monday and Tuesday we practiced right at 1 p.m., which is the same as the game time for us. It was hot and humid. To be honest with you, throwing batting practice on Tuesday I felt a lot worse in Ohio than I did today. It was hot. We have the same FieldTurf surface at our field at Kent State, so the players are familiar with it.
On playing Texas State: I've actually followed them from afar all year long, just because one of their coaches called me early in the year and we were trying to schedule in 2013. Ever since then I've been following them. They've had the same type of year that we have had. They've won a lot of games and done well in their conference. I've been casually following them all year. I certainly didn't know a whole lot about them until we were able to look at the stats and get a scouting report on them. We know we're going to see a great pitcher tomorrow in Carson Smith and they've got a great lineup. It's going to be a tough challenge.
On pitching Kyle Hallock on Friday: There are two reasons. First off that's our conference pitcher of the year right there. Kyle Hallock is a senior and a captain. The coaches voted him unanimously as pitcher of the year. The second reason is that Andrew Chafin threw on Saturday. He threw 109 pitches on Saturday, and the way our rotation worked David Starn, our other left-handed starter, threw on Saturday as well. Kyle threw on Thursday, so he's the rested guy. He really competes. This is the third regional that he's been in. He can throw a lot of different pitches for strikes. But the number one thing that guy does is he really competes.
On being better equipped for this year's regional: There's no question. We were beat up last year going into the Regional. Having to play six games in a conference tournament really pushed us. Our bullpen got stretched and just the travel and everything we had to go through last year really took a toll on us. Then we had to face Gerrit Cole in UCLA, so that didn't help much either. But we're in better shape this year both mentally and physically. Our guys are rested. We've got Kyle Hallock on the mound who's going on more than regular rest, so we're in much better shape than last year.
Senior OF Ben Klafczynski
On facing Carson Smith: Well what's helped us this year is that we've faced some pretty good pitching throughout the year. I know our team is capable of hitting a good pitcher like that. We just can't try and do too much. We need to find a good pitch and make a good swing on it.
On playing in a big ballpark: Well our team isn't really big on homeruns. We're more of a gap-to-gap hitting team, so I don't think it hurts us that much.
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Senior P Kyle Hallock
On the talented pitching in the Regional: As pitchers we like it. Our pitching coach always says that the pitching mound is elevated for a reason. It's our stage and our chance to express ourselves. I'm looking forward to it.
On pitching in a big atmosphere: I threw at Arizona State my sophomore year. I threw against Oral Roberts with 5,000 people in the stands. I've pitched on many big stages before, so I won't be worried about the fans. I'll just be focused on the hitters.
On Texas State hitters: We've gone over the scouting report, and I'm going to take each hitter one at a time. I'm not going to look forward or backward. Hopefully my best goes out there and beats their best.
