Coaches and players from Texas State and Texas met the media Thursday at the Aggie Softball Complex as the teams prepared for Friday's opener of the NCAA College Station Regional.
Quotes and video are posted below.
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RICCI WOODARD, HEAD COACH
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"Well obviously we couldn't be more excited to be here. I think anytime you get a whole bunch of Texas teams in the same spot, you get an exciting weekend. We know that our season has kind of started over so what's happened in the past doesn't really have anything to do with the future so our plan is to play one pitch at a time. Again, we're really excited to be here and we appreciate Texas A&M hosting us."
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On the matchup with Texas again…
"I'm hoping we take in a little bit of confidence because we came out on top of both of those games but they were both pretty close games. It's not like we dominated either of those games. There is definitely a disadvantage because they know us as well as we know them. I think both teams have to find a way to counteract a little bit. I think that's probably the puzzle for the weekend is figuring out how not to bring the exact thing you brought last time. There is a slight disadvantage but to be able to drive right up the road and play teams that you're familiar with, in my opinion, actually helps. Whether it's a team we've played or haven't played, won or loss, there's a little bit of advantage because you know each other and a little bit of a disadvantage because you know each other. In my opinion it's going to be the team that plays the best that's going to win the ball game."
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On what being the number two seeding means for Texas State's program…
"Well anytime that Texas State can get a two seed above a power-five school, it puts us in a great situation for the future, hopefully. I promise without the two sitting next to me, those things don't happen. It's one of those deals where these young ladies have worked their tail end to put us in that spot so I appreciate everything they've done but it is a situation where if we don't take care of business, those things change in a hurry. So I think everybody understands the importance of it but now we have to finish it. That's one of our big things this weekend is finishing what we started.
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RANDI RUPP, JUNIOR RHP
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On advantages and disadvantages of already having played Texas…
"It's huge. We've competed and we continue to compete against them. We know what to expect now. We've played them twice this year. Again, we put the past in the past and just come out ready to go. We are going to play one pitch at a time like Coach Woodard said. I think we've done a good job of competing on every pitch these past couple of weeks, just competing and staying focused and just playing ball out there. "
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On if she was recruited by Texas…
"We went to a couple of their camps but not necessarily. Both of us were not recruited by them, no."
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On the dimensions of this field and it being called a "hitters' park"…
"Honestly I think any field can be a hitter's park if we don't spin the ball and work the corners. I think we played here about a month or two ago and one did leave the yard. But looking back over it, it was right over the plate. So if I just work the corners and spin the ball like I know how to, I think we'll have a great shot at coming out and getting the job done."
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SARA RUPP, JUNIOR C
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On advantages and disadvantages of seeing this team twice…
"If we just come out and play, we know what their lineup is defensive wise, then pitching we know what to expect. But then again they are out to get us so that's another thing we have to remember is just come out and compete and play ball. We can't take them lightly because I'm sure they're ready to go too."
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On how much fun it is being in College Station for this regional with Texas schools…
"It's awesome. We're close to home. This is what we've been working for all year so to be able to come to College Station, it's pretty nice. We have a big fan base coming. A lot of our families get to attend because it is two hours away. I think that's huge for us to be able to be close to home and we did get to sleep in our own beds last night. That helped us a lot, to be able to travel a day before instead of a couple days before we play."
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CONNIE CLARK, HEAD COACH
"Yeah it's good to be here. I don't always say that about being in College Station, but it's good to be here. I'm excited about getting the opportunity and seeing our name go up in the bracket. And to have it be just an hour and 40 minutes down the road and having it be an All-Texas Regional, a true Texas regional if you will with Texas State and Texas Southern and the Aggies and us. It's been a few years since we've been over here and we are happy to be back and getting things under way in the postseason. I think we've done some great things this season. Our strength of schedule has set us up well and plowing through that and then going into conference play. It's just great to stay close and hopefully our fan base follows us over here and we have a great weekend."
All-Texas Regional…
"It's tremendous. I think that we were looking at the RPI and seeing things down the stretch and based on the seeding opportunities we knew that this was something that could happen. I would have been surprised if we would have been sent somewhere else knowing how the committee does business in trying to keep teams together close. We have seen Texas State and Texas Southern this year. Obviously we faced the Aggies last year in this regional and there's so many players from our backyard. All four rosters are heavy with Texas talent and we are just blessed to have those type of young athletes in the state of Texas so primarily doing a lot of recruiting and again I think that bodes well for it being a exciting atmosphere this weekend. I know we've heard from several of our future Longhorns that are going to be in the house and I'm sure the other three teams will have that as well. It should make for an interesting crowd. We'll help bolster the excitement for the weekend."
On the potential Texas A&M matchup…
"I've been through the rivalry a few times and trying to explain it to this group. We tried to simulate it as best we could in practice. But you never know until you're in the middle of it in. I don't care how well you simulate in practice we've tried to give them bits of information about what's coming. We need to stay focused on what we need to do and try to tune out the crowd as much as we can. I'm sure the Aggies will ty to have a little it of fun with us. That doesn't change the way we go about it. We just have to stay in our bubble a little bit and have each others backs and continue to stay focused on yourselves in a big environment like this. We have to execute the moment. I know we are going to have some weather issues so what. Just keep playing and going about our business. I think it's nice to be in the heat of it but it will be interesting to see how it goes in the heat of it."
RANDEL LEAHY, JUNIOR C
On playing Texas State for the third time…
"I think it's a total advantage to have played them twice this year. We have a game plan against them so that's a definite advantage. Our team is ready to kick some butt."
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KELLI HANZEL, SENIOR 1B/2B
On Playing Texas State again…
"I definitely look at it as a learning experience and we are looking forward to this game. I think it's going to be the team that adjust the most the fastest. We've played them twice and the same for them. They've seen our pitching and we've seen their pitching. We've seen their lineup and they've seen our lineup. I think it's all about who adjusts the fastest and who just goes out there and competes."
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TIARRA DAVIS, SENIOR LHP/1B
On a potential Texas A&M Matchup…
"It's very exciting but our first focus and our main focus now is on Texas State. Once we get the win there we'll all focus on Texas A&M. But it's just about getting the win there and taking it one day at a time and being the best team that given day. We are looking to do that every single day this regional so we can get to Supers."
Quotes and video are posted below.
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TEXAS STATE PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
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RICCI WOODARD, HEAD COACH
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"Well obviously we couldn't be more excited to be here. I think anytime you get a whole bunch of Texas teams in the same spot, you get an exciting weekend. We know that our season has kind of started over so what's happened in the past doesn't really have anything to do with the future so our plan is to play one pitch at a time. Again, we're really excited to be here and we appreciate Texas A&M hosting us."
Â
On the matchup with Texas again…
"I'm hoping we take in a little bit of confidence because we came out on top of both of those games but they were both pretty close games. It's not like we dominated either of those games. There is definitely a disadvantage because they know us as well as we know them. I think both teams have to find a way to counteract a little bit. I think that's probably the puzzle for the weekend is figuring out how not to bring the exact thing you brought last time. There is a slight disadvantage but to be able to drive right up the road and play teams that you're familiar with, in my opinion, actually helps. Whether it's a team we've played or haven't played, won or loss, there's a little bit of advantage because you know each other and a little bit of a disadvantage because you know each other. In my opinion it's going to be the team that plays the best that's going to win the ball game."
Â
On what being the number two seeding means for Texas State's program…
"Well anytime that Texas State can get a two seed above a power-five school, it puts us in a great situation for the future, hopefully. I promise without the two sitting next to me, those things don't happen. It's one of those deals where these young ladies have worked their tail end to put us in that spot so I appreciate everything they've done but it is a situation where if we don't take care of business, those things change in a hurry. So I think everybody understands the importance of it but now we have to finish it. That's one of our big things this weekend is finishing what we started.
Â
RANDI RUPP, JUNIOR RHP
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On advantages and disadvantages of already having played Texas…
"It's huge. We've competed and we continue to compete against them. We know what to expect now. We've played them twice this year. Again, we put the past in the past and just come out ready to go. We are going to play one pitch at a time like Coach Woodard said. I think we've done a good job of competing on every pitch these past couple of weeks, just competing and staying focused and just playing ball out there. "
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On if she was recruited by Texas…
"We went to a couple of their camps but not necessarily. Both of us were not recruited by them, no."
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On the dimensions of this field and it being called a "hitters' park"…
"Honestly I think any field can be a hitter's park if we don't spin the ball and work the corners. I think we played here about a month or two ago and one did leave the yard. But looking back over it, it was right over the plate. So if I just work the corners and spin the ball like I know how to, I think we'll have a great shot at coming out and getting the job done."
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SARA RUPP, JUNIOR C
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On advantages and disadvantages of seeing this team twice…
"If we just come out and play, we know what their lineup is defensive wise, then pitching we know what to expect. But then again they are out to get us so that's another thing we have to remember is just come out and compete and play ball. We can't take them lightly because I'm sure they're ready to go too."
Â
On how much fun it is being in College Station for this regional with Texas schools…
"It's awesome. We're close to home. This is what we've been working for all year so to be able to come to College Station, it's pretty nice. We have a big fan base coming. A lot of our families get to attend because it is two hours away. I think that's huge for us to be able to be close to home and we did get to sleep in our own beds last night. That helped us a lot, to be able to travel a day before instead of a couple days before we play."
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TEXAS PRE-TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
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CONNIE CLARK, HEAD COACH
"Yeah it's good to be here. I don't always say that about being in College Station, but it's good to be here. I'm excited about getting the opportunity and seeing our name go up in the bracket. And to have it be just an hour and 40 minutes down the road and having it be an All-Texas Regional, a true Texas regional if you will with Texas State and Texas Southern and the Aggies and us. It's been a few years since we've been over here and we are happy to be back and getting things under way in the postseason. I think we've done some great things this season. Our strength of schedule has set us up well and plowing through that and then going into conference play. It's just great to stay close and hopefully our fan base follows us over here and we have a great weekend."
All-Texas Regional…
"It's tremendous. I think that we were looking at the RPI and seeing things down the stretch and based on the seeding opportunities we knew that this was something that could happen. I would have been surprised if we would have been sent somewhere else knowing how the committee does business in trying to keep teams together close. We have seen Texas State and Texas Southern this year. Obviously we faced the Aggies last year in this regional and there's so many players from our backyard. All four rosters are heavy with Texas talent and we are just blessed to have those type of young athletes in the state of Texas so primarily doing a lot of recruiting and again I think that bodes well for it being a exciting atmosphere this weekend. I know we've heard from several of our future Longhorns that are going to be in the house and I'm sure the other three teams will have that as well. It should make for an interesting crowd. We'll help bolster the excitement for the weekend."
On the potential Texas A&M matchup…
"I've been through the rivalry a few times and trying to explain it to this group. We tried to simulate it as best we could in practice. But you never know until you're in the middle of it in. I don't care how well you simulate in practice we've tried to give them bits of information about what's coming. We need to stay focused on what we need to do and try to tune out the crowd as much as we can. I'm sure the Aggies will ty to have a little it of fun with us. That doesn't change the way we go about it. We just have to stay in our bubble a little bit and have each others backs and continue to stay focused on yourselves in a big environment like this. We have to execute the moment. I know we are going to have some weather issues so what. Just keep playing and going about our business. I think it's nice to be in the heat of it but it will be interesting to see how it goes in the heat of it."
RANDEL LEAHY, JUNIOR C
On playing Texas State for the third time…
"I think it's a total advantage to have played them twice this year. We have a game plan against them so that's a definite advantage. Our team is ready to kick some butt."
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KELLI HANZEL, SENIOR 1B/2B
On Playing Texas State again…
"I definitely look at it as a learning experience and we are looking forward to this game. I think it's going to be the team that adjust the most the fastest. We've played them twice and the same for them. They've seen our pitching and we've seen their pitching. We've seen their lineup and they've seen our lineup. I think it's all about who adjusts the fastest and who just goes out there and competes."
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TIARRA DAVIS, SENIOR LHP/1B
On a potential Texas A&M Matchup…
"It's very exciting but our first focus and our main focus now is on Texas State. Once we get the win there we'll all focus on Texas A&M. But it's just about getting the win there and taking it one day at a time and being the best team that given day. We are looking to do that every single day this regional so we can get to Supers."