We had to get a key hit there. If you asked me the two guys I wanted up, it'd be those two guys - it's a tough game, and you can't get hits every time you want.

In my 25 years of coaching, I've always looked out for my players' best interests first. I believe if a player is a guaranteed first-round pick ? a guaranteed first-round pick ? then he should go (to the NBA) if that's what he wants to do.

I thought all three games were good ball games. I was a little disappointed that we didn't hit as well as we had throughout the rest of the season, but the positive side to that though is that we did hit at the right time.

There was some good and some bad. We started off very good and hit the ball good but as the game went on I think we made some mistakes from a pitching standpoint and we were giving too much of the plate.

It may not look like it, but he has an unbelievable inner toughness. It's not physical toughness when you get poked in the eye as much as it is mental toughness. He came out and played like it never happened. He was fearless.

He's grown and matured over the years in such a unique way.