NCAA Softball Championships Dahlonega Super Regional Game 2 Quotes

North Georgia Head Coach Mike Davenport

Opening comments:
"A battle of two great teams as evenly matched as you can be, I have to give credit to Carson-Newman and Stephanie Templeton.  Just a great performance by her on the mound.  I know she has had some injuries in the past, been hit in the face a couple of times by some softballs.  She is a warrior on the field and I just have to congratulate them as well as their coach Vickie, what an excellent job and great run they had through postseason play."

On the offense in the game:
"One of our freshman coming up big for us, Pilar getting the big hit with runners in scoring position.  And Kasey Knight went three for four on the day and that’s just tough, as well as she runs the bases for us it was great to get her on that many times was key for us.  We scattered eight hits around and Templeton just kept mixing them up and we couldn't push anything across until that inning."

On the play of the defense:
"Sarah has just carried the load for us all year and she did again for us today.  She scattered three hits from Carson-Newman and I think there leadoff hitter Jesse Howard had two of those.  It's tough when you get your leadoff on.  The seventh inning walk really put us in a pickle, when Templeton created the walk and then Sarah Little doubling to center field.  Sarah Phillips is a warrior, she battled the entire tournament.  Again, credit Carson-Newman for just going right at her offensively but she just continues to impress me.  It's unbelievable."

On the supporting staff:
"These last couple weeks I just want to credit all of the folks who helped us run this tournament, you being one (Time Whitmire) and our SID David Beall.  Everybody that worked on our facility, our field crew that we kind of threw together and they were outstanding with all of the weather issues to deal with, our administration just running a first class operation and our kids really appreciate everything they did for us."

On playing in front of a hometown crowd:
"Its unbelievable and they are here to watch softball.  I know there are other venues and other sporting events going on but for a little town in the North Georgia mountains to get that many fans here to watch two great teams go at it.  I was in awe when I looked back at the crowd it was amazing to see how many people were here pulling for us or Carson-Newman.  It was impressive."