Postgame Quotes
May 16, 2009
Recap | Final Stats |
Postgame Quotes
Kansas 9, #11 Kansas State 3
May 16, 2009 – Lawrence, Kan.
Head Coach Ritch Price:
On TJ Walz’ performance:
“He’s pitched better than anyone on our staff has pitched all year. Usually that guy pitches on Friday night, but the reasoning behind it is that (Kansas starting pitcher) Shaeffer (Hall) is a fly-ball pitcher. We try to pitch him at night when the wind’s not blowing out, which happens a lot in Kansas. He also eats up innings, because he’s a strike-thrower. He protects our bullpen and we know we’re going to get six innings out of him every time we give him the ball.”
On if T.J. Walz could pitch on Fridays next year:
“If Shaeffer (Hall) doesn’t sign (a professional contract), then we intend to move T.J. to Friday night and put Shaeffer in-between the two right-handed pitchers (Walz and freshman Lee Ridenhour) next year. If we were starting the season over today, we would do that now. But, when you’ve been as successful as T.J. has been on Saturdays we’re just leaving it as is.”
On if the change could come earlier than next year:
“If we get into a regional, we may switch (the rotation). We’ll look at our match-ups. If we’re facing a team that’s got five or six left-handed hitters in their line-up, then we’ll leave it with Shaeffer. But the bottom line is that we have confidence whenever either guy is on the mound for us.”
On the record crowd Saturday:
“It was really a big-league atmosphere with the crowd tonight. I think our players fed off of it; it really got them jacked up. It was great to see.”
