May 31, 2009
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Photo Gallery 2
North Carolina Head Coach Mike Fox
Opening Statement...
"We're very excited to have won another regional. Certainly my hat?s off to the other three teams in this regional and the sensational seasons they've had. We played extremely well today. Probably the most satisfying was our three seniors, of course Garrett [Gore] and Adam [Warren] and
Mike McKee contributed and I thought that was even more special. Obviously Garrett and the day he had and Adam on the mound. It kind of made a statement that seniors are important to college baseball to come back. I?m more happy for those two guys, really those three guys counting Mike [McKee], than anything else to win this regional. It was a team effort and I thought we left no doubt today."
Adam Warren, Sr., RHP
On his last two starts...
"I'm throwing. I'm not walking many people. I had a revelation during the 11 days I had off this week and I had found my cutter, slider. That was a lot better for me today. And the defense was just unbelievable out there. It's a lot easier to throw strikes when you have those guys out there."
On reaching four straight super regional appearances...
"This says a lot about the teams that we've had. We've had a lot of great players here and it's been real special for me, Garrett [Gore], and Mike [McKee] and Mike [Cavasinni] also to be a part of those teams.
So, I've enjoyed it all and I'm having a blast out here just being able to play with this group of guys for a couple more weeks."
Garrett Gore, Sr., RF
On his two home runs...
"To be honest, coach [Scott] Jackson told me 'Sit slider on the first guy,' and I sat slider but I got a fastball and some reason I swung. And it went out. And the next at-bat he said 'You're going to get a slider, and I said 'I'm sitting it.' And I got it. I was legitimately sitting a slider that time. And it went out."
On reaching four straight super regional appearances...
"I'm just enjoying the ride. I mean it's been unbelievable. I thank God every day that I was blessed to come to school here. This is the reason why I came to school at the University of North Carolina. Not only to get a great education but to try to make it to Omaha and try to play in these big games. I've been fortunate enough to do it and to do it with a special group of guys."
Dustin Ackley, Jr., 1B/CF
On his impressive hitting throughout the regional...
"I was seeing the ball pretty well, I guess. I mean it helps when you find holes. I've seen weeks where I've seen the ball just like this weekend and I've gotten one or two hits. It's just one of those times where you're finding holes and putting good swings on balls when you get hits. It's just one of those weeks."
Kansas Head Coach Ritch Price
Opening statement...
"My compliments to North Carolina. Certainly they deserve to be a national seed. I'd also like to congratulate their administration for running a first-class regional. This is the best regional I've ever played in."
On the future of the program...
"I think we're obviously excited about getting to the championship game. I don't even know how many teams actually played for the championship in a regional today. It's a big step forward for us obviously, and I think it's one of those things where we're still trying to grow and mature as a team, and I think we'll be better for the experience a year from now and in the future that we were able to get to the championship game today."
Tony Thompson, Sophomore, 3B
On looking to the future...
"It means a lot to us. We're looking forward now, we're going to have a great program building. I think we put Kansas Baseball on the map with what we've done this year. We have a really good young team and we have a lot of guys coming back, so we're pretty excited for next season too."
On Adam Warren...
"I think he really spotted up nice. He has pretty good velocity too, and he was painting corners all day. He was getting ahead with the fastball, and he was using his off-speed after his fastball, so he was using everything pretty effectively. He kept us in check most of the day, and hat off to him. He was a fantastic pitcher, one of the best we've seen all year."
Travis Blankenship, Junior, Starting Pitcher
On his plan for the game...
"The plan is to just get ahead of every hitter. When you fall behind plus a powerful offense like North Carolina has, you can't fall behind because you're just going to get hurt when you do. Hat off to them, they're a great hitting team, and one of the best-hitting teams we've faced all year."
NCAA Baseball Championship
Chapel Hill Regional All-Tournament Team 2009
Pitcher: Adam Warren, North Carolina
Pitcher: Shaeffer Hall, Kansas
Catcher: Jose Iglesias, Coastal Carolina
First Baseman: Dustin Ackley, North Carolina
Second Baseman: Levi Michael, North Carolina
Third Baseman: Tony Thompson, Kansas
Shortstop: David Narodowski, Kansas
Outfielder: Garrett Gore, North Carolina
Outfielder: Ben Bunting, North Carolina
Outfielder: Brian Heere, Kansas
Designated Hitter: Zac Elgie, Kansas
Most Outstanding Player: Dustin Ackley, North Carolina
