June 25, 2007

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North Carolina

Head Coach Mike Fox
(opening statement): "I have to congratulate Oregon State. Back-to-back national championships is unbelievable, especially in Division I baseball today. Obviously I am disappointed. I can't begin to explain how proud I am of our players and the season we had. The last day of the season is always hard. Obviously you want to end it here (Omaha). Hopefully we'll be back here again next year."

(about the players that are leaving): "We have a core of players on our team that have put our program where it is today. The four freshmen that came in 2005 put our program on the map. They have a great desire to win and they are a very special group."

(about the season ending): "You try to hold it together. We've been together since August. I've seen these guys more than my wife and children. You become attached. You care for them. I can't show how much I care for them right now because they'll think I'm a wimp. The wonderful thing about coaching is the relationships."

(about leaving runners on base): "It seemed like we couldn't get that big hit with runners on. We didn't take advantage when we needed to. We hit the ball hard but we just couldn't get it to fall our way."

SS Josh Horton
(about leaving runners on base): "They made good pitches. To win a national championship you have to have good pitching. They held us under four runs both nights. It seemed like we were hitting the ball hard right at them. We just couldn't get it done."

(about his goals this season): "My goal was to get back here to play for the national championship. I wouldn't say the same result though. I wouldn't trade a national championship for the relationships I've built this year with this team. I couldn't ask for a better year. All I wanted to do was get back here (Omaha) again."

Oregon State

Head Coach Pat Casey
(opening statement): "I don't know what to say. In the 7th or 8th inning at Virginia, something happened in our dugout that energized us and inspired us. I've never had that feeling before. Something strange happened. Some type of energy followed us from there. It's a huge tribute to the players to my left (Reyes, Wallace, Barney, Santschi) and in the locker room."

(about being in the same company as USC and Texas as repeating as national champions): "We felt like that already. I don't have to convince this team that it's Texas or USC. They're Oregon State. That level of confidence and pride has created this team's success. I trusted them. We don't need to be anybody but who we are."

LF John Wallace
(about getting to UNC's closer in the 2nd inning): "Anytime you can get to the bullpen in the 2nd inning that's something special."

(about the triple): "It was a 2-1 count. Coach told me he was a slider pitcher, and I was sitting on it. He threw it in and got in on me. I knew it had a chance and I took off. I knew I had to get hard out of the box."

SS Darwin Barney
(about winning two national championships in the last three years): "All I can think about is what just happened between the lines. That's what's most special. It's all about the team. The guys that were not in the game were at the top step cheering us on."

(about the pressure of defending the national title): "It's been like that since September. We're the defending national champions and we're put on a pedestal. There are high expectations all season. Every team is gunning for you. We have a bullseye on our back. The way this team responded is special. We're good team on the field and together. He knew and always had trust and believe in our club."

RF Scott Santschi
(about whether the season seems too long): "It feels complete. Every season is long at points. It's over for this team. This group of guys will not play together again. It's not too long. We're a family."