Q&A with softball after San Diego Classic
So softball sports information director Geoff Thurner sent along comments from some UO softball players after their 2-3 weekend in San Diego. Unfortunately, we don’t have much room in the print edition, so I wanted to run them here.
NEENA BRYANT
Q: Where were some of your key at-bats this weekend?
NB: ”The last one was the biggest for me. It was really frustrating not to get an RBI earlier, so it was great to be able to myself, and made me feel better. It was a good note to end the weekend on.”
Q: How are you seeing the ball at the plate?
NB: “I’m starting to see it a little better. I’ve been struggling a little lately, I’m now contacting the ball more solidly. I put a little more pressure on myself recently, so it’s nice to start to get rid of that.”
Q” You’re such a fun player to watch in the field – you cover a lot of ground confidently. Does having that half inning out there help you recollect yourself and get confidence back if you have an off at-bat?
NB: “I like the fact that I can rely on my defensive skills. Hitting is always an up-and-down battle. I like to go out in the field and help my teammates with my glove. “
Q: Where there teamamtes performances that were exciting for you to see?
NB: “Kaitlin had a great day – it’s nice to see her making solid contact and feeling comfortable at the bat. I feel like the team is gaining more confidence – that’s a good thing to see – as we head into the Pac-10 it’s important to feel more assured.”
Q: Anything else stand out this weekend?
NB: “Mikayla is doing a really great job – she’s going to be a really strong asset. It’s nice that we have so may pitchers to go, especially if someone got hurt like a couple of years ago.”
Q: You’ve personally been put in stressful environments before as one of the team’s top hitters – what are your tricks for dealing with pressure?
NB: “For me it’s mentally about trying to let it go. Anybody can get frustrated and it can build up. I’ll turn to my parents if I need to for support. (Since he was my coach) My dad understands what I’m going through, and he’s good at helping me. He’ll give me some basic tips and boost my confidence.”
KAITLIN VITEK
Q: On Sunday we saw a different Duck team. Talk about that.
KV: “We were really able to relax Saturday night and that made a huge difference. We were able to joke around last night, lighten the mood and let our personalities come out. It loosened us up, and we played the game the way we know we can.”
Q: You looked really confident at the plate and had some successful lengthy at-bats – do you feel more composed in those situations, even when you’re behind in the count?
KV: “The past week, I’ve been getting into a better rhythm at the play. I’ve started a certain routine, and it finally came through, and I’m seeing the ball and hitting it well again. In a couple of those at-bats, being down 0-2 is a tough place for any hitter, but I’ve gotten better at working through it one pitch as a time.”
Q: What were some of the most fun moments on the field this weekend?
KV: “It’s always great to see a freshman like Mikayla step up and get her first win of the season. It was great for our team’s confidence to play two games with no errors and see the same team we see in practice. Watching Neena hit the ball like she did is always fun. It was a great weekend for a lot of players, and finding themselves.”
Q: Defensively did you see a difference in your play behind the plate this weekend?
KV: “I felt better. I called better games, and Mikayla also did a great job of getting ahead. We both felt the team’s support every step of the way, and that everybody on defense had each others’ backs.”
Q: Talk about Mikayla’s performance on the mound from a catcher’s viewpoint.
KV: “She was ahead in every count which gives us so much more leeway calling the game, and that was amazing. Even if a runner got on, she was right back ready to get the next better. She wasn’t just a freshman pitcher anymore, and showed us what she can do. We work really together. She knows occasionally when to shake me off, and I understand what she’s thinking, and we’re ready to try something different. She is able to use different pitches at different places and is comfortable moving it around.”
MIKAYLA ENDICOTT (freshman who won both games Sunday, one as a start and one in relief)
Q: You’ve come a long way in a few weekends – talk about this weekend’s experience.
ME: “I felt like we really came together as a team. It took longer than we would have liked, but it’s happening. For me, I was able to come in and help the team. I tried to stay ahead of the hitters, be focused on doing my job. Kaitlin (Vitek) caught so well and helped me up well. She set up my pitches and called a great game, and also kept the team going at the plate. I know there’ still room for me to improve. The last games were more representative of who I am, and it’s nice that it’s finally happening.”
Q: Talk about the Colorado State game yesterday – it was your first complete game for the Ducks, and the only run they scored was unearned.
ME: “It definitely gave me some confidence. It was fun to start again (it was her second college start), and I controlled the game as much as I could. Being able to go the whole way was a confidence booster. I feeling like I’m growing so much every game, and I want to keep maturing. There are still some little things I can work on, along with staying confident.”
Q: Talk about today’s games vs. Utah and UC Davis.
ME: “Getting ahead early in the first game vs. Utah was important for the team. It helped us get in a groove and allowed me to throw my game. I felt like the team had more fun out there. It was a great atmosphere, and allowed us to come together.”
Q: You’re seeing the freshmen continue to make more and more of an impact each week – is that fun to see from your classmates?
ME: “It’s awesome to see us gelling and realize that we’re not just freshmen anymore. We’re members of the team and contributing and helping win. We’re happy to do whatever part we can.”
Q: What were some of the memorable moments for you on the mound this weekend?
ME: “Coming into the UC Davis game when there was a runner on third and then striking the girl out. That was key since if the runner scored it could change the game.”
Q: Are you equally comfortable in relief as a starter, and do you approach them differently?
ME: ”In both situations, I have to be confident and do my thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s facing only one batter in the seventh or pitching the whole game – I’m ready any way I can help the team. In relief, I particularly focus on throwing for my teammates, especially my fellow pitchers Melissa, Brittany and Sam. I want to set the opposing batters down because I want to show them that I have their back and they have mine. That’s the great thing about the pitchers – we are all like that towards each other.”
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment