South Bend Regional Final Round
Michigan vs. Cal State Fullerton Postgame Quotes
May 30, 1999
Recap | Box Score
FULLERTON HEAD COACH GEORGE HORTON
"You're the number one seed and there is an added sense of pressure when
you come to a regional. I think we played with a different personality
in each of the three games and we got better with that as the games went
on."
"The competition in this tournament was outstanding. We haven't had this
type of competitive games in a long time. And hopefully that will bring
out the best in us next weekend. S I have a lot of respect for all three
clubs in this tournament."
"Michigan just kept coming at us. We pride ourselves in hitting a lot of
balls up the middle but they were just killing us up the middle and it
was like we were getting beat at our own game. We just stayed with it
and persevered. We have found a lot of different ways to win all year
long. Today we used the inside game and some patience at the plate and
timely hitting to get the runs."
"I was a little concerned. Marco (Hanlon) didn't seem to be on his game
early S it just seemed like everything was going their way. Marco did a
great job of turning it around and staying with it mentally and getting
us to the point where we could get it to Kirk with the lead. But had
(Marco) been mentally weak, it could have been real ugly early for us."
"I thought we would score some runs. I didn't think it would be through
the bunting game. S It didn't come as easily as I thought it would."
"S It wasn't a case where we thought we would come in here and walk
through it. We knew it was going to be very difficult for us."
"I was really happy with our style of batting in the first game. We hit
a lot of linedrives and sprayed it around a lot. Then, against Notre
Dame, it was more of a power game for us. Today, it was some linedrives
and the bunting game. S In games like this, you have to get the key hits
and execute."
"It's a lot easier to play when you have a big lead. Hopefully, we can
take the experience of this tournament and have it help us down the
road."
"Saarloos did a fabulous job. Both games were his to win or lose. The
only times he has struggled this year is when we've had a big lead, but
not in tight games."
"When you are playing teams of this caliber, you can't afford to give
them four or five outs. Our biggest problem all year ahs been infield
defense and they have worked very hard on improving. I'm proud of them
for their performance here."
SENIOR RIGHTHANDER MARCO HANLON
"S I wasn't very happy about falling behind and the couple walks that I
did have. I think that might have been a result of not having my stuff
in the bullpen and carrying it into the game."
RELIEF PITCHER KIRK SAARLOOS
"It was kind of the same as the last time I faced Michigan. I was
confidence about facing these guys. I kind of knew their tendencies from
facing them last time. I was really looking forward to being out there.
I shut them down the last three innings. I was in the bullpen just
waiting, because I knew it was going to be a lot of fun."
JUNIOR THIRD BASEMAN RYAN OWENS
"(On the potential double-play ball) I was just trying to make contact.
I hit it really hard, but I happened to hit it right at the shortstop.
It kind of hopped on him."
"(on the home run) I was looking for an offspeed pitch and he threw a
changeup up and I got it."
SOPHOMORE DESIGNATED HITTER AARON RIFKIN
"I was looking for something I could drive to the outfield. The first
pitch was a fastball away and I was thinking that he would try the same
thing on the next pitch. That's where he threw it and at first I was
hoping that it would just drive in a run but the wind was blowing pretty
hard and it carried out."
MICHIGAN HEAD COACH GEOFF ZAHN
"I couldn't be prouder of this group of kids. No one expected us to do
anything, but we played like champions and we are champions."
"Our men are determined to be successful (in the future). (Our young
players) were taught by a group of 14 seniors who will not settle for
mediocrity. We'll be young next year, but we'll be tough."
"Ohio State has had an outstanding year. I hope the Super Regional
doesn't leave the area. It will be a good battle between two good
teams."
MICHGIAN SENIOR SECOND BASEMAN BOBBY SCALES
"Fullerton is very aggressive. They're a good team and don't beat
themselves. We tried to come out smoking. We've done it all year. I felt
we just lost our aggressiveness and they capitalized."
"The whole season, we've battled. We are a team with a lot of
confidence. We believed in ourselves and our ability to win."
