Postgame Quotes
June 8, 2003
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Miami Head Coach Jim Morris
“First of all I ‘d like to congratulate North Carolina State on their year. They have had a great season. It was the first time they have been to a super regional, and it was two great games that we were very fortunate to have won.”
“I thought our guys did a great job. It took a total team effort to be able to win this. It took a lot of pitchers to come in and be able to get it done. Shawn Valdez-Fauli had to pitch a few more innings than we expected him to, just like he did last Sunday, to be able to get a win. Of course, the big hit was the home run by Erick San Pedro. I think he got all of that one.”
On his eight trip to the CWS:
“This one is very special. To be able to take a club that wasn’t given a lot of respect early in the season by the polls. They kept battling and answering questions and trying to prove to people that they deserved to be ranked, because we weren’t ranked by some poll; to be recognized with some of the best teams in college baseball. Now we are a part of the top eight and it just a question of who gets hot.”
Miami Catcher Erick San Pedro
On his 11th inning grand slam home run:
“I got my foot down early and saw it real big and hit it as hard as I could.”
“I knew it was gone when I hit it. I didn’t even feel it come off the bat. Usually when you get that feeling you know it’s gone. I got that one pitch and tried to hit it up the middle, it just got elevated and the rest happened.”
“I was trying to enjoy every minute. I can’t even remember efer hitting a grand slam, especially in a situation like this.”
NC State Head Coach Elliott Avent
“I’d just like to say it was a great super regional hosted by the University of Miami. It’s tough for a season to end especially with this group of guys. In 23 years I’ve never been associated with a group of guys that play with this much heart and character and made plays when they had to and did it sometimes a little short in number and a little depleated, they may have given out some energy today but they never gave out of heart.”
“I do think the heat may have taken its toll on the number of innings our pitchers could go. (Michael) Rogers we felt like could have gone a little more yesterday, (Vern) Sterry today and we had to get Joey (Devine) out a little earlier than we hoped.”
“You could say it was two of the toughest days of my career or two of the best days of my career, I’m here and if I wasn’t here it might be two of the toughest days of my career but to lose as we did sure it makes it tough but we have a group of guys that I don’t think any coach would be any prouder of than I am with this group.”
NC State right fielder Joe Gaetti
“I just want to say that I am so proud of every player on this team, they have gone through so much. We didn’t have a field, playing through a lot of adversity and I am not sure that anybody besides this team felt that we would be here today.”
