April 8, 2025 • 18 mins
Darren Headrick talks with Kentucky Baseball Coach Nick Mingione. Send in your questions on social media each week for Coach Mingione to answer.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
A tough two week stretch against back to back top
five teams begins for Kentucky baseball this week. The Cats
will be on the road against the Louisville Cardinals tomorrow
night at eight o'clock from Jim Patterson Stadium before they
welcome in the Texas Longhorns for a three game series
this Friday through Sunday. Hello everybody, I'm Darren Hedrick. We
welcome you into the Nick menje Oon Show. Coming up,
(00:22):
we'll sit down with the head coach to talk about
that tough series against Old Miss, plus how the team
is performing. Coming up stick around, It's the Nick menje
Oon Show on the UK Sports Network. Kentucky's getting ready
for a trip over to the Derby City tomorrow night
to take on the Louisville Cardinals. As we welcome you
back into the Nick menje oonne Show and coaches alongside,
and as we look back on last weekend against the
(00:43):
Old Miss Rebels.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Just what a weekend?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
First of all, a compact series, thirty one innings in
twenty four hours. Weather didn't cooperate the team obviously going
through some adversity. Just what did you tell the guys
this weekend? As you battled, ol miss.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I'll start with the weather because that was definitely the
elephant of room, and looking at the forecast earlier the week,
I'm like, I don't know if we're gonna play a game,
like seriously, Like I was sitting there looking at the weather.
So for the second time in nine years, we called
it a meteorologists Like, you're looking at the meteorologists like
(01:21):
who I was?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
I'm not one. I don't have an agree I fake
to be one.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
But you know, the weather, So first off, like blessings
and my prayers go out to all the people in
Kentucky that have been affected. I mean, it is like
devastating stuff. So we're talking about I hope my perspective
is you appreciate it. We're talking about college baseball and
like what really what's going on in or like lives
are being changed forever. So I understand that. And looking
(01:49):
at the weather this week, I was just like, man,
I don't know if we're going to play. And so
you said a compact series, and you know, so thankful
for our turf. You know, James and our crew did
an unbelievable job and for us to be able to
even get in two games on Friday was incredible, Like
the opening, I found a new radar through all this,
(02:10):
like our meteorologists has really helped me, like I feel
more equipped. And so for us to get those three
games in, like you said, and you know, really twenty
four hours less than twenty four hours, was really remarkable
and three hard fought games for both teams. I mean,
obviously we lost this series. We had to walk off
in the first one, and then they get the home
run in the ninth, and then in game three, just
(02:33):
back and forth.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
She saw a battle.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Those twelve innings, they score, we score. It was just
back and forth, and we had our chance. You know,
I think anytime as a coach, you want to put
your players in positions to be successful and to succeed.
And you know, we had our chances. And now we're
sitting there with five SEC losses by a total of
seven runs. And so the guys are fighting, they're competing hard.
(02:57):
What I told them was, I just reminded them how
close we were. If they don't like this or love this,
they're in the wrong team, because this is what the
SEC is all about. It's too evenly matched. You that
team's top ten team in the country. You can't tell
me that we're not right there with them, the same
way we felt with a lot of the other teams
we've played. So they're fighting, their competing. We got to
find a way to get on the other end of
(03:18):
these one or two run games.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Well, that was going to be my next question for you,
Like you talked about, I think five SEC losses since
that Georgia series have come two runs or less. And
I know for you and the staff as you sit
down and evaluate, it's not like there's meltdowns.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
It's a pitch here, it's a play there, and like you.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
And I were talking off here, it's a little bit
like playing a shell game right now.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, And you know, I love the saying you can
never underestimate new points of one run and that means
from a preventative standpoint, but also from a production standpoint.
So just understanding and valuing, and you know that's the beauty.
This is why the SEC is so good in baseball,
and it has been for years. We've played for the
(04:00):
national championship fifteen to last sixteen years, I'm pretty sure
someone from our league has done that. And last year
we have half the field and there's over three hundred
division and baseball programs, and the SEC has half the
field in the College World Series while casts included.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And the reason why is.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Because we are in these games all the time to
where it is literally every pitch there's something that could
happen that could affect the outcome of the game. And
that is the beauty of what we go through, you know,
And having watched you know, I love college basketball, watching
March Madness and watching these games and how close they
(04:36):
are and how one decision and one play and one
free throw. It's just like it is the beauty of
college athletics.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And like you said, it comes down to execution.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
And when we've executed, boy, has it turned out really
well for us, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And we'll talk more about hitting coming up over the show.
But you know, looking after this past weekend, no opposing
starter in SEC play against Kentucky has gone deeper than
five innings. Eight of those starters have failed to make
it through four full innings. I think that just speaks
to how tough your lineup is up there battling and
(05:11):
taking pitches and just chewing up pitch counts.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, and you know, it's been really neat to watch
from this standpoint is we've done it different ways. I
think when you go back and you watch the video
and you say, how did we get to this guy, Well,
we hit this guy. How did we get to this guy?
As you mentioned there, like we've just grinded him out
and jacked his pitch count way up because our ability
(05:34):
to just take marginal pitches and foul off balls and
just grind them out. And then other times it's like, hey,
it's been a little bit of here, a little bit here,
a little bit there, and then pow boom you get
your big inning and it's like boom, you got them.
So our ability to do it in different ways has
been good to see. And you know, give coach, it's
on a coach gouz In a lot of credit, like
(05:55):
they have to have the guys ready to do that,
and the preparation that's gone into beating a starter is
obviously crucial because the quicker you can get to that bullpen,
the better and we need that street to continue.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yes, no doubt about it, coach.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And when you talk about the fight of this program,
we saw it against Old Miss. Every time the Rebels
got the home run and the ninth inning or the
twelfth inning, your team fought back, had a chance to
win it in the home half.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Let's take a quick time out.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
We'll continue with the Nick Najiones show right after this
here on the UK Sports Network. Well, the Wildcats turned
in some great performances on the mound this past weekend
against the Old Miss Rebels, and coach let's just start overall,
how pleased were you with what you got from your
guys across the weekend against Old Miss?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know how we could have
been happier. I'll just start with Nate Harris, freshman getting
his first SEC start and goes three and a third
and doesn't give up a run. You know, it's like wow,
all right, here we go, you know, freshman, you know,
starting out a series. And I thought the job that
Scott Rouse did was phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Nick McKay looked way.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Better and more under control, you know, got four innings
from him. I thought Jackson Novy again threw the ball well,
Simon Gregorson had the right look, made a change to
his delivery. I thought coach Roseel did a great job there.
Evan Byers, of course, just phenomenal. Cole Henchell through the
ball grade Robert Hogan looked like Robert Hogan, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So I just thought the job that coach.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Roseell did, you know, as a whole, just moving and
matching the pieces and getting guys in and out at
the right times. I think there's a science to that,
as you know, especially when you think about how many
guys like totally through we had to fill thirty one
innings right in less than twenty four hours. That's hard
to do to what guys like Evan and now through
twice in a day. It's just like those guys did
(07:44):
so good, and just super pleased with those guys in general.
James McCoy continues to give us beginnings. Tommy got us
some big outs, like so, I just when you sit
back and you look from a week ago, he's like, man,
I didn't throw the ball as.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well as we would have liked to.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
And the job that they did just turning it around,
I thought was great.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
And then I just compliment our defense.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I thought, defensively, you know, outside of a couple plays
in some really tough conditions, I thought we defended the
field at a well enough clip to win those games.
And it showed for us to even be in those games.
So proud of the pitching staff. They are the tip
of our spear and we'll go as far as they
take us.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
And definitely want that and need that to continue.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
You mentioned Simon Gregorson, and we know how dominant he
was in high leverage situations at his prior school. He
went two and two thirds, didn't allow a run this
weekend against Old Miss. He's got a deep repertoire being
so experienced.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
On the mound.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
What is the key for him though, to have success
when he's out there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
For Simon, it's been consistency. And when I say consistency
I mean consistent in everything, consistency in his delivery, consistency
he's throwing a two seamer now, the consistency in that
his four seam or his off speed pitches like that,
consistency needs to be there, and we saw that and
(09:07):
I love the adjustments you know that he made from
the stretch of the adjustments that he made with his delivery,
you can see there's a noticeable difference. And what has
come from that is the consistency of his pitches. To
go two and two thirds against a team that could
really hit, never gave up a hit in two and
two thirds in high leverage to your point situation. So
consistency is going to be his key and has to
(09:29):
be his key moving forward.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Scott Rass you mentioned him as well, and you've used
him as a starter, you've used him in long relief.
What is it about him that he can basically do
whatever you need and chew up innings with his stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
He's a dog, you know, this guy is super tough,
and the intent was to throw him Game two. Well,
what happened, Darren is we were about to bring Nick
McKay in the game, so we got him hot. So
we're like, hey, there's a forty five minute delay here,
he's already hot.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Like, instead of trying to get.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Nick because it was a double header, yeah, instead of
get Nick to sit down, cool down, then have to
get him heated back up to play, We're just like,
we're just gonna roll with Nick. So the intent was
to start Scott, but because Nick was hot and we
didn't want to burn that, so we capitalize on that advantage.
And that is the beauty of Scott Rouse. It doesn't
matter like he is. He has got a pitch. When
(10:21):
you tell him to and he'll do whatever he can
to help the team, and his heart has been amazing
with that. And it's just I love the way the
team responds with him on the mound. They just believe
in him and his full attack mode mentality is definitely
a good thing.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Ben Cleaver, we got to mention him.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
He matched a career high with eleven strikeouts over six innings,
only one earned run, allowed two runs on three hits.
What did you see from him that was so effective
against that old miss line up.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
He's just so competitive.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I mean, this is a guy that threw over one
hundred pitches a week before, obviously with the Thursday Friday
Saturday series. He's short today, I saw just a tough,
competitive dog. I mean, this guy is just conte us
to attack the strike zone. I mean, didn't walk a
guy with eleven punch outs against a team that could
really hit. Just attacked, attacked, attacked, and his competitor spirit
(11:10):
is unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Talking about watching a team rally and want to play
behind him. Man, it's that guy. I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Just why again we talked about it last week, but
just want to compliment him on the job that he's done.
Physically and mentally to put himself in our team in apposition.
He definitely stepped up when we needed it, and.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I got told him after the game.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
After the game, I hated that we couldn't get that
one for you because what he did for our team
was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Let's take our final time out.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You're listening to the Nick benje oone show here on
the UK Sports Network. It's our final segment of the
show this week on the Nick Menjione Show. Kentucky at
Louisville tomorrow night. That's an eight o'clock Eastern first pitch
from Jim Patterson Stadium in the Derby City and a coach,
You've got an opponent this weekend in Texas. I know
you're focused on Louisville right now, but it's only the
second time ever that Kentucky's played Texas. You've got to
(11:58):
go back to nineteen ninety three find the only other
time you've played the Longhorns. And I was just curious
with Oklahoma and Texas both on the schedule the rest.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Of the league.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
You kind of know by now the coaches what they
like to do personnel wise and all that is. It
kind of fun to have a couple of new teams
on the schedule this year that you you get to
scout and kind of learn instead of, you know, the
teams you're already familiar with, or is it easier to
play the teams you're familiar with.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You know, when people have asked me, Hey, how's Texas
and Oklahoma and baseball, I'm like, amazing, and they're like,
what do you mean. I go, well, Texas has been
in College World Series more than any other program in
the history of college baseball and crevirong Oklahoma just played
for the national championship in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
And they're like, wow, we had no idea, And.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I go, oh, yeah, no, I did so.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I just I believe we have the best league and
we brought in two teams that make are even better.
So obviously the head coach from Texas is Jym Saw,
who's been at A and M, so the style of
play and things like that, or you know, we're familiar with.
The jersey obviously is totally different. So the style of
play there. And then I've never competed again, I have
(13:13):
I will say this, I have not competed against Oklahoma
I want to say, since I know this is I'm
like going like way way back now, but it might
be two thousand and eight or nine, like personally for that,
since I've ever played them that I could remember, or no,
maybe I played them, sorry in twenty sixteen at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I'm trying to go back. Maybe we played at Dodger.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Stadium one time.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
This is when I was a Mississippi State.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
So yeah, it's been it's been neat to just add
two quality opponents to our league, and that's what we want.
We want to make the case for our league to
have the most teams in the postseason. And then i mean,
look what happened, you know in basketball this year, how
good the Southeastern Conference was. I think it only makes
you better and sharper and prepares you for the postseason.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
While we're on the topic of the I've been meaning
to ask you. This year, you open and close on
the road in the SEC, but this means that you
get to have back to back home series in the
middle of it, whereas last year you did the opposite
and head back to back road trips. So I'm just curious,
do you like having the back to back home series
or do you like opening and closing at home.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, I would prefer not to have the back to
back and open or closing at home.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
That would be my preference.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I think it always helps to either start or finish
the season at home, but it is nice in the
middle of it to.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Just kind of have a little bit of a.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Sec homestand you know, where you can get comfortable for
a couple of weeks. So I think they're good. But
if I had my pick, I would have it the
other way. But at the same time, it's one of
those things where you get ten weekends and you get
five at home a five in a road, so like
you gotta play well in all of those.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
So I guess it does just a matter of preference.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Let's go back to a couple of your hearers left
as we got a couple of minutes left on the show,
But I wanted to ask you about Devin Burks four hits,
four RBIs on the weekend. Every time he got a
base hit, he was driving in a run and coach,
I think the more impressive thing was they were coming
with maybe two outs in the inning or two strikes
on him. Just kind of take me through what you
saw in his approach in those key at bats.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
What a great competitor, you know, and for us to
get to walk off win with him there, and you know,
I thought we had another one. He crushed that ball
right in Game three, right at the short stop. I mean,
we're a couple feet away from it being different. But
you know, all you can do is hit the ball
hard and you win, you know. And his at bats
(15:38):
have been so good. And then the job that he
did behind and play defensively, you can't say enough, Like
he caught all those games. His body was in that
good at position physically, and then also like to be
able to be that good excuse me, offensively.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
I mean, wow, what a weekend for that guy.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
And there's a reason why he was voted by our
league as all SC's like preseason.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
There's a reason why.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
And his competitive spirit in nature is just resonates throughout
our team, and.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
He impacts the game on both sides. As we always
talk about.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It's like the way he's leading you verbally and nonverbally
with our pitching staff is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I feel like every week you and I could sit
here and talk about Tyler Bell.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
But four more.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Hits this weekend, and you look at your numbers in
SEC play and he's right at the top in batting
average and hits. What is it about his approach that's
allowing him to succeed against some of the toughest pitchers
in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
He obviously he's super talented, but you can't say enough
about his like makeup and his ability to understand there's
always another level. Tyler Bell is not the guy that
is just gonna sit there and be satisfied and walk
in with his chest puffed out.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Like.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
This guy is an unbelievable worker and unbelievable teammate. But
this guy understands It's like, hey man, every day is
a new day and it has its own deals that
go with it.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
And he just works. He trusts his preparation. He yes,
he's super talented.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
He's not afraid to make adjustments, and he's very confident.
He's a very confident player. And it's been neat to watch.
I can tell you this. Everybody's comfortable when he's sitting
there in that batter's box or on the field right
like he just gives you that piece and because you
know how much he cares, you know how competitive he
is and you know how much work he puts in
(17:28):
and Gladys Walcot.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And also we should mention Patrick Carrera had a big
weekend with four hits and nine at bats. He just
continues to be steady every week. But coach, we're running
out of time on this week's show. Louisville coming up
tomorrow night, so we hope to see some Kentucky fans
make it out to the Derby City.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
That'd be great, you know, late game on the ACC Network.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Bring your warm clothes, cheer on the Cats, appreciate everything, Darren,
Go Cats.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
And that's head coach Nick Minjeon. We'll see all tomorrow
night in the Derby City.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Is Kentucky takes on Louisville at eight o'clock our airtimes
seven forty five. This has been the Nick Manngione Show
here on the UK Sports Network
A tough two week stretch against back to back top
five teams begins for Kentucky baseball this week. The Cats
will be on the road against the Louisville Cardinals tomorrow
night at eight o'clock from Jim Patterson Stadium before they
welcome in the Texas Longhorns for a three game series
this Friday through Sunday. Hello everybody, I'm Darren Hedrick. We
welcome you into the Nick menje Oon Show. Coming up,
(00:22):
we'll sit down with the head coach to talk about
that tough series against Old Miss, plus how the team
is performing. Coming up stick around, It's the Nick menje
Oon Show on the UK Sports Network. Kentucky's getting ready
for a trip over to the Derby City tomorrow night
to take on the Louisville Cardinals. As we welcome you
back into the Nick menje oonne Show and coaches alongside,
and as we look back on last weekend against the
(00:43):
Old Miss Rebels.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Just what a weekend?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
First of all, a compact series, thirty one innings in
twenty four hours. Weather didn't cooperate the team obviously going
through some adversity. Just what did you tell the guys
this weekend? As you battled, ol miss.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I'll start with the weather because that was definitely the
elephant of room, and looking at the forecast earlier the week,
I'm like, I don't know if we're gonna play a game,
like seriously, Like I was sitting there looking at the weather.
So for the second time in nine years, we called
it a meteorologists Like, you're looking at the meteorologists like
(01:21):
who I was?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
I'm not one. I don't have an agree I fake
to be one.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
But you know, the weather, So first off, like blessings
and my prayers go out to all the people in
Kentucky that have been affected. I mean, it is like
devastating stuff. So we're talking about I hope my perspective
is you appreciate it. We're talking about college baseball and
like what really what's going on in or like lives
are being changed forever. So I understand that. And looking
(01:49):
at the weather this week, I was just like, man,
I don't know if we're going to play. And so
you said a compact series, and you know, so thankful
for our turf. You know, James and our crew did
an unbelievable job and for us to be able to
even get in two games on Friday was incredible, Like
the opening, I found a new radar through all this,
(02:10):
like our meteorologists has really helped me, like I feel
more equipped. And so for us to get those three
games in, like you said, and you know, really twenty
four hours less than twenty four hours, was really remarkable
and three hard fought games for both teams. I mean,
obviously we lost this series. We had to walk off
in the first one, and then they get the home
run in the ninth, and then in game three, just
(02:33):
back and forth.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
She saw a battle.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Those twelve innings, they score, we score. It was just
back and forth, and we had our chance. You know,
I think anytime as a coach, you want to put
your players in positions to be successful and to succeed.
And you know, we had our chances. And now we're
sitting there with five SEC losses by a total of
seven runs. And so the guys are fighting, they're competing hard.
(02:57):
What I told them was, I just reminded them how
close we were. If they don't like this or love this,
they're in the wrong team, because this is what the
SEC is all about. It's too evenly matched. You that
team's top ten team in the country. You can't tell
me that we're not right there with them, the same
way we felt with a lot of the other teams
we've played. So they're fighting, their competing. We got to
find a way to get on the other end of
(03:18):
these one or two run games.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Well, that was going to be my next question for you,
Like you talked about, I think five SEC losses since
that Georgia series have come two runs or less. And
I know for you and the staff as you sit
down and evaluate, it's not like there's meltdowns.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
It's a pitch here, it's a play there, and like you.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
And I were talking off here, it's a little bit
like playing a shell game right now.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, And you know, I love the saying you can
never underestimate new points of one run and that means
from a preventative standpoint, but also from a production standpoint.
So just understanding and valuing, and you know that's the beauty.
This is why the SEC is so good in baseball,
and it has been for years. We've played for the
(04:00):
national championship fifteen to last sixteen years, I'm pretty sure
someone from our league has done that. And last year
we have half the field and there's over three hundred
division and baseball programs, and the SEC has half the
field in the College World Series while casts included.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And the reason why is.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Because we are in these games all the time to
where it is literally every pitch there's something that could
happen that could affect the outcome of the game. And
that is the beauty of what we go through, you know,
And having watched you know, I love college basketball, watching
March Madness and watching these games and how close they
(04:36):
are and how one decision and one play and one
free throw. It's just like it is the beauty of
college athletics.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And like you said, it comes down to execution.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
And when we've executed, boy, has it turned out really
well for us, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And we'll talk more about hitting coming up over the show.
But you know, looking after this past weekend, no opposing
starter in SEC play against Kentucky has gone deeper than
five innings. Eight of those starters have failed to make
it through four full innings. I think that just speaks
to how tough your lineup is up there battling and
(05:11):
taking pitches and just chewing up pitch counts.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, and you know, it's been really neat to watch
from this standpoint is we've done it different ways. I
think when you go back and you watch the video
and you say, how did we get to this guy, Well,
we hit this guy. How did we get to this guy?
As you mentioned there, like we've just grinded him out
and jacked his pitch count way up because our ability
(05:34):
to just take marginal pitches and foul off balls and
just grind them out. And then other times it's like, hey,
it's been a little bit of here, a little bit here,
a little bit there, and then pow boom you get
your big inning and it's like boom, you got them.
So our ability to do it in different ways has
been good to see. And you know, give coach, it's
on a coach gouz In a lot of credit, like
(05:55):
they have to have the guys ready to do that,
and the preparation that's gone into beating a starter is
obviously crucial because the quicker you can get to that bullpen,
the better and we need that street to continue.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yes, no doubt about it, coach.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And when you talk about the fight of this program,
we saw it against Old Miss. Every time the Rebels
got the home run and the ninth inning or the
twelfth inning, your team fought back, had a chance to
win it in the home half.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Let's take a quick time out.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
We'll continue with the Nick Najiones show right after this
here on the UK Sports Network. Well, the Wildcats turned
in some great performances on the mound this past weekend
against the Old Miss Rebels, and coach let's just start overall,
how pleased were you with what you got from your
guys across the weekend against Old Miss?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know how we could have
been happier. I'll just start with Nate Harris, freshman getting
his first SEC start and goes three and a third
and doesn't give up a run. You know, it's like wow,
all right, here we go, you know, freshman, you know,
starting out a series. And I thought the job that
Scott Rouse did was phenomenal.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Nick McKay looked way.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Better and more under control, you know, got four innings
from him. I thought Jackson Novy again threw the ball well,
Simon Gregorson had the right look, made a change to
his delivery. I thought coach Roseel did a great job there.
Evan Byers, of course, just phenomenal. Cole Henchell through the
ball grade Robert Hogan looked like Robert Hogan, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So I just thought the job that coach.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Roseell did, you know, as a whole, just moving and
matching the pieces and getting guys in and out at
the right times. I think there's a science to that,
as you know, especially when you think about how many
guys like totally through we had to fill thirty one
innings right in less than twenty four hours. That's hard
to do to what guys like Evan and now through
twice in a day. It's just like those guys did
(07:44):
so good, and just super pleased with those guys in general.
James McCoy continues to give us beginnings. Tommy got us
some big outs, like so, I just when you sit
back and you look from a week ago, he's like, man,
I didn't throw the ball as.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well as we would have liked to.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
And the job that they did just turning it around,
I thought was great.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
And then I just compliment our defense.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I thought, defensively, you know, outside of a couple plays
in some really tough conditions, I thought we defended the
field at a well enough clip to win those games.
And it showed for us to even be in those games.
So proud of the pitching staff. They are the tip
of our spear and we'll go as far as they
take us.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
And definitely want that and need that to continue.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
You mentioned Simon Gregorson, and we know how dominant he
was in high leverage situations at his prior school. He
went two and two thirds, didn't allow a run this
weekend against Old Miss. He's got a deep repertoire being
so experienced.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
On the mound.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
What is the key for him though, to have success
when he's out there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
For Simon, it's been consistency. And when I say consistency
I mean consistent in everything, consistency in his delivery, consistency
he's throwing a two seamer now, the consistency in that
his four seam or his off speed pitches like that,
consistency needs to be there, and we saw that and
(09:07):
I love the adjustments you know that he made from
the stretch of the adjustments that he made with his delivery,
you can see there's a noticeable difference. And what has
come from that is the consistency of his pitches. To
go two and two thirds against a team that could
really hit, never gave up a hit in two and
two thirds in high leverage to your point situation. So
consistency is going to be his key and has to
(09:29):
be his key moving forward.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Scott Rass you mentioned him as well, and you've used
him as a starter, you've used him in long relief.
What is it about him that he can basically do
whatever you need and chew up innings with his stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
He's a dog, you know, this guy is super tough,
and the intent was to throw him Game two. Well,
what happened, Darren is we were about to bring Nick
McKay in the game, so we got him hot. So
we're like, hey, there's a forty five minute delay here,
he's already hot.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Like, instead of trying to get.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Nick because it was a double header, yeah, instead of
get Nick to sit down, cool down, then have to
get him heated back up to play, We're just like,
we're just gonna roll with Nick. So the intent was
to start Scott, but because Nick was hot and we
didn't want to burn that, so we capitalize on that advantage.
And that is the beauty of Scott Rouse. It doesn't
matter like he is. He has got a pitch. When
(10:21):
you tell him to and he'll do whatever he can
to help the team, and his heart has been amazing
with that. And it's just I love the way the
team responds with him on the mound. They just believe
in him and his full attack mode mentality is definitely
a good thing.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Ben Cleaver, we got to mention him.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
He matched a career high with eleven strikeouts over six innings,
only one earned run, allowed two runs on three hits.
What did you see from him that was so effective
against that old miss line up.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
He's just so competitive.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I mean, this is a guy that threw over one
hundred pitches a week before, obviously with the Thursday Friday
Saturday series. He's short today, I saw just a tough,
competitive dog. I mean, this guy is just conte us
to attack the strike zone. I mean, didn't walk a
guy with eleven punch outs against a team that could
really hit. Just attacked, attacked, attacked, and his competitor spirit
(11:10):
is unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Talking about watching a team rally and want to play
behind him. Man, it's that guy. I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Just why again we talked about it last week, but
just want to compliment him on the job that he's done.
Physically and mentally to put himself in our team in apposition.
He definitely stepped up when we needed it, and.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I got told him after the game.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
After the game, I hated that we couldn't get that
one for you because what he did for our team
was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Let's take our final time out.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You're listening to the Nick benje oone show here on
the UK Sports Network. It's our final segment of the
show this week on the Nick Menjione Show. Kentucky at
Louisville tomorrow night. That's an eight o'clock Eastern first pitch
from Jim Patterson Stadium in the Derby City and a coach,
You've got an opponent this weekend in Texas. I know
you're focused on Louisville right now, but it's only the
second time ever that Kentucky's played Texas. You've got to
(11:58):
go back to nineteen ninety three find the only other
time you've played the Longhorns. And I was just curious
with Oklahoma and Texas both on the schedule the rest.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Of the league.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
You kind of know by now the coaches what they
like to do personnel wise and all that is. It
kind of fun to have a couple of new teams
on the schedule this year that you you get to
scout and kind of learn instead of, you know, the
teams you're already familiar with, or is it easier to
play the teams you're familiar with.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You know, when people have asked me, Hey, how's Texas
and Oklahoma and baseball, I'm like, amazing, and they're like,
what do you mean. I go, well, Texas has been
in College World Series more than any other program in
the history of college baseball and crevirong Oklahoma just played
for the national championship in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
And they're like, wow, we had no idea, And.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I go, oh, yeah, no, I did so.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
I just I believe we have the best league and
we brought in two teams that make are even better.
So obviously the head coach from Texas is Jym Saw,
who's been at A and M, so the style of
play and things like that, or you know, we're familiar with.
The jersey obviously is totally different. So the style of
play there. And then I've never competed again, I have
(13:13):
I will say this, I have not competed against Oklahoma
I want to say, since I know this is I'm
like going like way way back now, but it might
be two thousand and eight or nine, like personally for that,
since I've ever played them that I could remember, or no,
maybe I played them, sorry in twenty sixteen at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I'm trying to go back. Maybe we played at Dodger.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Stadium one time.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
This is when I was a Mississippi State.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
So yeah, it's been it's been neat to just add
two quality opponents to our league, and that's what we want.
We want to make the case for our league to
have the most teams in the postseason. And then i mean,
look what happened, you know in basketball this year, how
good the Southeastern Conference was. I think it only makes
you better and sharper and prepares you for the postseason.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
While we're on the topic of the I've been meaning
to ask you. This year, you open and close on
the road in the SEC, but this means that you
get to have back to back home series in the
middle of it, whereas last year you did the opposite
and head back to back road trips. So I'm just curious,
do you like having the back to back home series
or do you like opening and closing at home.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, I would prefer not to have the back to
back and open or closing at home.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
That would be my preference.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I think it always helps to either start or finish
the season at home, but it is nice in the
middle of it to.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Just kind of have a little bit of a.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Sec homestand you know, where you can get comfortable for
a couple of weeks. So I think they're good. But
if I had my pick, I would have it the
other way. But at the same time, it's one of
those things where you get ten weekends and you get
five at home a five in a road, so like
you gotta play well in all of those.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
So I guess it does just a matter of preference.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Let's go back to a couple of your hearers left
as we got a couple of minutes left on the show,
But I wanted to ask you about Devin Burks four hits,
four RBIs on the weekend. Every time he got a
base hit, he was driving in a run and coach,
I think the more impressive thing was they were coming
with maybe two outs in the inning or two strikes
on him. Just kind of take me through what you
saw in his approach in those key at bats.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
What a great competitor, you know, and for us to
get to walk off win with him there, and you know,
I thought we had another one. He crushed that ball
right in Game three, right at the short stop. I mean,
we're a couple feet away from it being different. But
you know, all you can do is hit the ball
hard and you win, you know. And his at bats
(15:38):
have been so good. And then the job that he
did behind and play defensively, you can't say enough, Like
he caught all those games. His body was in that
good at position physically, and then also like to be
able to be that good excuse me, offensively.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
I mean, wow, what a weekend for that guy.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
And there's a reason why he was voted by our
league as all SC's like preseason.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
There's a reason why.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
And his competitive spirit in nature is just resonates throughout
our team, and.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
He impacts the game on both sides. As we always
talk about.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It's like the way he's leading you verbally and nonverbally
with our pitching staff is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I feel like every week you and I could sit
here and talk about Tyler Bell.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
But four more.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Hits this weekend, and you look at your numbers in
SEC play and he's right at the top in batting
average and hits. What is it about his approach that's
allowing him to succeed against some of the toughest pitchers
in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
He obviously he's super talented, but you can't say enough
about his like makeup and his ability to understand there's
always another level. Tyler Bell is not the guy that
is just gonna sit there and be satisfied and walk
in with his chest puffed out.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Like.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
This guy is an unbelievable worker and unbelievable teammate. But
this guy understands It's like, hey man, every day is
a new day and it has its own deals that
go with it.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
And he just works. He trusts his preparation. He yes,
he's super talented.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
He's not afraid to make adjustments, and he's very confident.
He's a very confident player. And it's been neat to watch.
I can tell you this. Everybody's comfortable when he's sitting
there in that batter's box or on the field right
like he just gives you that piece and because you
know how much he cares, you know how competitive he
is and you know how much work he puts in
(17:28):
and Gladys Walcot.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
No doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And also we should mention Patrick Carrera had a big
weekend with four hits and nine at bats. He just
continues to be steady every week. But coach, we're running
out of time on this week's show. Louisville coming up
tomorrow night, so we hope to see some Kentucky fans
make it out to the Derby City.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
That'd be great, you know, late game on the ACC Network.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Bring your warm clothes, cheer on the Cats, appreciate everything, Darren,
Go Cats.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
And that's head coach Nick Minjeon. We'll see all tomorrow
night in the Derby City.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Is Kentucky takes on Louisville at eight o'clock our airtimes
seven forty five. This has been the Nick Manngione Show
here on the UK Sports Network
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