He's a faithful guy, ... He's worked really hard this year to show this team that he's worthy, and now to get the opportunity to do this for the first time ... I'm just so very excited for him.

I've never been on a team that subtracted players like this one has.

He can really pitch. He has worked hard and is a very smart guy. I [have] got to say that today he is right there striking out people, stopping rallies, fielding his position, getting base hits and challenging hitters.

I look back on it now and how tough it really was last year and as a team how hard we battled. All the struggles we went through were all worth it in the end.

It's unbelievable. This is what we worked hard for all year is to get to this point. We did it the hard way, but we wouldn't have liked it any other way.

She used to be real hard on herself last year and would get frustrated. I think she's worked through that now — this year I don't see it. I see her more focused. Right now, I think she's our most consistent hitter. She's our leader right now, so that's another reason we need her on the court.