Army West Point Athletics
Army Press Conference Quotes: NCAA Regionals
May 31, 2018 | Baseball
The Black Knights are set to take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m. on Friday at Doak Field at Dail Park. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with Jim Barbar and Troy Eklund on the call.
NCAA Division I Baseball Championships
Raleigh Regional
Army Practice Day Press Conference Quotes
Jim Foster, Head Coach
Opening Statement:
"We got here by beating Navy twice last week in a best-of-three. The week before that was Bucknell in a best-of-three. We've come a long way this year, we played a challenging early season schedule and that helped us a lot. I want to thank Bob Beretta for bringing me in here. I was at Boston College for two years and have been here quite often with them. I've been coaching over at Rhode Island before that and we've come here a few times with them. Elliot (Avent) and I go way back and Butch (Thompson) and Coach (Mike) Glavine from Northeastern too, so it's nice to be in this regional surrounded by some really good baseball teams and in a really good college baseball spot like Raleigh. You can't really ask for anything more."
On what it's like to be at a regional in his second year at Army
"It's my first time here as a head coach, but I've been doing it for a while. I started coaching college in 2004 at Brown University when I got done playing professional baseball. I've been here as a player when I played at Providence College. I've been out to three regionals. I've been to Ole Miss for a regional and played in a super regional at Boston College. Right after that season Bob called me from Army West Point. I took a ride down there and met these guys. It's been great and it's an unbelievable spot. These guys are such a pleasure to coach and work with every day. It's a coaches' dream, they give you everything they got every single day. We've come a long way and have become a true team. That's what I'm most proud of. We've got some talented players and they come out here and play hard. We're a true team and as far as the coach goes, no matter what level you're coaching at, this is what you're looking for. They've accomplished a lot just by sticking together."
On what the junior and senior class have meant to the program
"That's the key. Having guys up at the top and the leadership in the locker room is everything. The way Jon Rosoff and Matt Ball have led us as seniors is something I'll never forget. These guys are leaders in life. Off the field and in school they're at the premier leadership institution in the world in our opinion. They just needed someone to show them how to work every day and how to go about their business. Without the older guys buying into that and passing it on in the locker room, you don't have anything. John and Matt have led the way in that department. As far as our junior class goes, I couldn't be more proud of the group. If you've seen the improvement they've made from last year to this year, it's been incredible.
In terms of production on our team, John and Matt have been really productive players as leaders and seniors, but that junior class has been there every day playing hard, doing the right things on and off the field. The way they've stepped up has been a real key to our season. Guys walk into our locker room and it's not freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. It's 'hey we need you, let's go.' We've created that atmosphere. It's everybody doing it together every single day. It seems like somebody stepped up every single weekend for us. We like to play small ball and put pressure on the defense. That's our recipe. We've got some pretty good arms that I think will hold their own in this regional. Hopefully we can get a lead. If we get a lead we can be a little more aggressive. We'll see and it should be exciting.
I know our guys are battle-tested. We've seen teams from all over the country, played a great schedule and I'm just proud for the school and proud for Army West Point. Last week after we won it (Patriot League Tournament), one of the coolest things was hearing how excited people were outside of post at Army West Point. We have a large following with us including Colonels. We get text messages from guys serving the country all over the world. You think about how big the army is and you're part of something that's bigger than you. To make those guys proud and everyone whose gone through Army West Point, and to get Army West Point baseball back to where we want to be is something we're real proud of."
John Rosoff, Senior, Catcher
On what it's like to be in this position about to play at the NCAA's
"It's just one of those things where we are excited about the opportunity. None of us on the team have had that opportunity yet to play in a regional so we're really grateful to have the opportunity to come here and play in a regional like this. We're really excited to get going."
On what his year has been like overall
"It's been incredible. Coach Foster came in last year and has tried to turn the program around and this year really put it together. The biggest thing coming into this year was going out every day and never quitting, and I think we did that. Winning the Patriot League Player of the Year is just a result. I want to go out and play for the guys. It's been special."
On what it's like for him and the three other North Carolina locals returning
"It's really cool. It's great to see family and friends but we want to play."
Tyler Giovinco, Junior, Left Handed Pitcher
On what it's like to be in this position about to play at the NCAA's
"It feels special to be back. We've got a few guys from North Carolina and I'm one of them. It's good to be back home. It's been a long season, guys have put in a lot of hard work and this is what guys should expect every year. The guys are ready to roll."
On how much confidence his three complete games gives him
"I have a reasonable amount of confidence, knowing I can go deep into games and it helps our offense by just keeping us in the game. Our big thing all year has been pitching defense. It builds a reasonable amount of confidence knowing I can do that for our team."
On the Vegas NHL team
"It's a long season for them and they're in the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year. It's big for the city itself and all year Matt Hudgins and I have been playing for the city after what happened in October. It's brought the season together. They've faced adversity before and I'm sure they'll be just fine."
