June 13, 2024 • 24 mins
Former UK pitcher and current UK Sports Network analyst Darren "Dub" Williams is here to preview Kentucky's journey at the College World Series!
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(00:10):
Hands together nothing in two to McDowellHummel's pitch, Colt strike three ball game
over. The weight is finally over. Row out the big blue carpet and
Omaha, the University of Kentucky Wildcatsare headed to the College World Series.
(00:31):
Daron Johnny Hamell really comes through theWildcats at a big moment right there.
What an exciting thing, and thedog pile is on the infield and nobody
could be happier than these Kentucky Wildcatbaseball players. Kentucky defeats Oregon State three
to two. They flood the fieldfrom that third base dugout and dogpile to
the right side of the mound.Nothing but smiles and cheers and even some
(00:56):
happy tears from these Wildcats. Theyhave finally done it. Over one hundred
years in the making. The KentuckyWildcats are headed to Omaha. They will
stand among the immortals and play fora national championship. That is how it
(01:17):
sounded across the UK Sports Network withDarren Hedrick on the call boy. What
a moment at Kentucky Proud Park thispast Sunday as Kentucky clinched their ticket to
the College World Series in Omaha andwe are just days away as we welcome
you inside the UK Sports Network TodayPodcast. I'm your host Andrew Kappus,
(01:38):
and on this episode, we willtake an exclusive look ahead at Kentucky's matchup
with NC State, as well asthe College World Series as a whole.
It is finally here. The Catsare on the ground in Omaha in getting
ready as they are one of eightfinal teams that are now in Nebraska and
(01:59):
competing for a national championship. DarrenWilliams, who is a former Kentucky pitcher
current member of the UK Sports Networkbroadcast team for baseball, He will stop
by with his unique perspective of settingthe foundation for this team to head to
the College World Series. Of course, Darren one of the aces last year
(02:19):
of a Kentucky team that got toa Super Regional for then just the third
time in program history, and hehad a front row seat along with Darren
this year for a number of games, joining him as the analyst on our
broadcast. As always, the UKSports Network Today Podcast is presented by the
Big Blue Brew. It's the officialnewsletter of UK Athletics. You can sign
(02:39):
up today at Ukathletics dot com.Slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely free
and it hits inboxes every weekday morning. Once again, that's Ukathletics dot Com
slash Big Blue Brew. Kentucky willget to soak in opening day of the
College World Series. They will notplay in the very first day, that'll
(03:00):
be the upper portion of the bracket. But then they will take the field
this Saturday at two pm against NCState, the lone non SEC team in
their portion of the bracket, asthey are joined by Florida and Texas A
and M as well. And hereto talk about it and that super regional,
that exciting sweep of a very talentedOregon State Beavers team, and obviously
(03:22):
a look ahead at Omaha. Here'sDarren Williams. Darren Williams, former University
of Kentucky pitcher and now color analyston the UK Sports Network, is kind
of up to join us as wepreview Omaha DUB. I know it's been
a few a busy few days,busy few weeks for you, But how
rewarding is this that we're now hereand just days away from the Cats playing
(03:45):
in Omaha. Man, the journeyfor me personally is just what you call
it rewarding, Like seeing the guysgrow up in front of my eyes and
to see where what they're doing rightnow is really special because you know,
all the fans know Nolan McCarthy andDevin Burks and Mason Moore and Jackson Novy
(04:08):
and Travis Smith, Ryan Walshman amillion peacher like they know all those guys
for what they're doing right now.Man, But I've seen those guys when
they were really young, and tosee that our journey man is so rewarding.
I couldn't be more proud, soso crazy happy for every single one
of them involved. Before we getinto this year's team and take a quick
look back at the Soupers, Idid want to get into the fact that
(04:30):
you kind of helped set the stage. You were part of the quote unquote
rebuild from getting it to where itwas around the COVID year to getting it
to where it is now. Firstever trip to the College World Series in
Omaha. I know you'd rather beplaying this weekend out there in Omaha with
your guys, but it's got tobe such a great feeling to know that
you were there laying the groundwork,helping do to build this foundation that now
(04:55):
is this monster that is UK baseball. Yeah, I don't know if the
old elbow would still love me forplaying. She gets a little sore when
I play catch with some of myhigh school players every once in a while.
Man. But like you said,land the foundation, it's been talked
about so often. I know coachMinch brings it up all the time.
But that twenty twenty two year thefirst real time where they brought the transfer
(05:19):
portal into the world of college athletics, and we brought in eight or nine
transfers like we did. That's atthe stage we thought we had a really,
really good team. We truly believedit, and then boom, Week
five, or I think is weeksix, col stuff goes down Friday Night
started a week seven, I godown Saturday starter And you know, six
(05:41):
seven weeks there in the middle ofthe season where we just could not get
a series win, couldn't get anytraction, couldn't figure it out, and
as Coachmne mentioned all the time,Devin Burk's getting in started into the lineup,
Nick Camerotti getting pulled into the dugout. We figured out our pitching situation.
I think Ryan Hagen out Mason Hazelwooddid some piggyback and Austin Strickland picked
it up big time for US.Sean Harney got inserted into the starter role.
(06:04):
Like things. We found our rhythmthere in the last month of twenty
twenty two and it really set thestage for the launching pad for twenty twenty
three. Obviously we did what wedid, hosted the first regional like KPP
dog piled made, made an incrediblerun that people I know, I won't
ever forget, people around here won'tforget for a long time, and just
(06:27):
ran into an absolute juggernaut that itwas LSU in twenty twenty three, first
two overall picks, big league pitcher, plenty of first round like a lot
of really good baseball, like atthe box, tough to win in two
out of three there in that situation, it was such a tough draw.
But you bring up that regional thatyou played in last year, and that's,
uh, that's kind of where wefirst saw what the potential of a
(06:49):
packed KPP could be because that waselectric. Yeah, and I know you
never want to play on Monday nightin a winner take, although I guess
if you have to take it,you would, But that's what it ended.
Up being for the Cats last year. What a different story this year.
The Cats have yet to lose atthe time of recording in postseason play,
ran the table through the winners bracketin the regional this year, and
(07:12):
then went to Super Regionals. Abit of a unique opponent this year with
Oregon State, but still the samekind of star power. You did avoid
a Paul Skeens, although those guys, as we're seeing now what he's doing
in the big leagues, he's kindof a unicorn. You're not going to
see those guys every year. Butyou did get Travis Bizana, and I
thought the Cats did a really nicejob. And he had that double in
the ninth inning that made it alittle interesting in the well. I guess
(07:35):
it was a single, but mighthave been a double in that ninth inning
in Game two, but really kepthim in check all weekend. Gotta give
credit to my man, Dan Roselle, pitching coach. He does not yet
enough credit. Every single person inthe media needs to start getting some interviews
with my man because I never seenhim on any media outlets. So what
an amazing pitching coach. He hadthe staff ready, he had an amazing
(07:57):
plan three hits across Super Regional.That may be a record that is never
broken. That record may stand forever. Three hits in two games from a
top sixteen opponent that was top tenmost of the year is the best pitching
performance of the season in the biggestweekend so far. If we pitch like
(08:18):
that, we will win a nationalchampionship. That is a fact. But
I credit Dani Roselle. I know, I experienced two seasons with him.
He's a big reason why why Icommitted to Kentucky. Not just I didn't
commit just because, you know,dream school, hometown kid like. I
committed a lot of the reasons becauseDan Roselle is the pitching coach here and
he's such a sharp mind, andhe understands how to get you guys ready
(08:41):
to pitch at a very high levelin the very big games of the season.
And you saw that. I meanCam O'Brien, Robert Hogan, Johnny
Hummel, Jackson Novey. Those aren'tyour top starters on the team. Those
are bullpen pieces. And Dan Rosellehad those guys eddy to come out of
the pen and dominate a top offensein the country and maybe the number one
(09:05):
overall play. That guy could fallto two to Cincinnati and he maybe a
Cincinnati read one of these days.He ain't going much past two, I'll
tell you that much that I waslooking up at his numbers on Saturday and
I was like, dear God,like for those that don't know, like
twenty eight bombs, like forty walksops over one point five, Like that
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guy has an amazing season, andwe held him in check until obviously the
last swing of his season in theninth inning. So Dan Roselt did a
great job of preparing the guys toattack him and attack that lineup, and
they looked really good this past weekendand so far through the whole pubseason.
Like you were saying, yeah,I'm glad you brought up coach Rozelle because
(09:48):
that's super regional. You only havetwo chances, which is good for the
Cats to really showcase it. Butthe pitching just seemed like all the right
buttons were pushed up to And Iknow he didn't have the game that he
probably wanted to have, but MasonMoore pitching in Game two instead of Game
three, I thought that was agreat button to push and finally gave up
a run Bason. It had beenwhat twenty and I think by the time
(10:09):
it happened twenty three in some oddinnings. That's what Yeah, that's what
I said on VbN at tonight.I was like, you know, that
kid is due to give up arun at the most season. What he's
done over the past two years isridiculous, you know, And obviously he
didn't give him any hits, butyou know, kind of got squeezed in
the fourth inning or whatever, youget the pop up in the dark that
(10:31):
Grant Smith misplays, whatever, youknow, he's still he was dominant.
He really was. And if acouple of things are different, maybe he
doesn't give up any runs again.But in a big time ballpark at TDM
Mayor Trade in Omaha, for thosethat have never watched College World Series games,
that is the biggest ballpark that anyteam in the country's played it.
(10:52):
And if the wind in you know, Nebraska is blowing straight in, there
is nobody that's getting a ball ofthat. Like, they will crush baseballs
to center and the gaps and thatball will not get out of that ballpark.
So if Trey and Mason start outgames and palm the zone early and
often with all their pitches. Ilove our chances to go to and zero
(11:13):
and put us in a good positionto get into the finals. You bring
up a great point. We're goingto revisit that here in just a moment
about how the ballpark I think playsto Kentucky better than any of the other
seven teams in the field right nowfor the College World Series, but before
we move on from the Super Regionals. It just encapsulated how this team plays,
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how the team took the lead,doesn't it Because Nolan McCarthy at second
and I loved Nick miggio In's comments. He said he was physically telling him
no, but mentally just kind ofjust was going to let him go.
And you can see from that highhome angle it seemed like Nolan thought he
was going to score the minute heleft second base. And I was going
(11:56):
crazy during that play up in thebooth, was standing with Dick Gabriel and
Tom Leech. I was behind DarrenHendrick and Coach Madison calling it. So
I visited them for an inning thereand that that play just it will live
in Kentucky legend forever. Like youdon't see that in baseball, You don't
(12:16):
so that play is crazy, butI think the story of Nolan McCarthy is
so much bigger. Like that kidtwo years ago jogs at third base and
is like, just don't don't makea big mistake. And the second that
Paul got passed, Nolan McCarthy wentfor it and played, you know,
all the way, all out totry to get a run, the biggest
(12:37):
run maybe in Kentucky baseball history.And he didn't stop, he didn't hesitate
at all and just went full out. And if that doesn't encapsulate what his
journey has been through his college career, I don't know what does, because
that's just the growth. Like Nolan'splaying to win right now. You saw
its big time catching Hoover, yousaw the at bats he's put together in
(12:58):
the postseason so far. That's exactlywho I want in center field and in
our lineup going forward. He isthe man right now. And I think
it showed great maturity that well ahe put his body on the line.
I mean, I looked like heheard his hand sliding in because it was
just the Pete Rose slide, whichhe called a shot by the way,
that he was going to have aPete riv slide but then he also tweaked
(13:20):
a muscle in his leg. AndI think it's a lot really mature to
say, we have a one runlead, there could be a fly ball
to the outfield that I might notbe able to go get. We need
someone to be able to go getit. So even though I want to
be out there, I need tolet someone know that, hey, I
might not be the best option,just at least for these next couple of
innings. It was a I mean, it's selfless. It's the smartest thing
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he could have done. Ty Krittenbergerhas played six years of college baseball and
our outfield has been insane this year, so he hasn't had as many opportunities
as he wanted to. But itwas absolutely the smart move by Nolan because
a ball in the gap that obviouslyit didn't happen, but if a ball
gets in the gap and that balldrops, we lose and the season's over.
(14:03):
Like selfless, he put our teamin a position to win. And
as a great leader now on theteam that Nolan McCarthy is just let Tig
go do this thing. Get letTiger play great defense, and you know,
we'll see what happens. And itpaid off, so I was really
happy that one he took himself outso he doesn't get hurt anymore. But
you know, two that we wonthe ball game and that that move of
(14:26):
him staying in and playing hurt didn'thurt us. Let's talk omaha. I
mean, it's just it's easy toomaha. Come on, let's talk omaha.
College World Series starting starting this weekend. Kentucky drawing the afternoon slate on
Friday against NC State to open thingsup. A unique looking bracket. Tennessee
the only SEC school in the upperpart of it, Kentucky one of three
(14:48):
SEC schools in the lower part,but they do get to open it up
with the only non SEC school intheir portion of it. And you just
mentioned a few minutes ago. Ithink this ballpark plays perfect to can Tucky's
strengths, no doubt about it.And Texas A and M is insane at
hitting bombs. Braden Montgomery obviously hurthis ankle, best player, top five
(15:09):
draft pick. He broke his anklein the super regionals, so he's out
of the lineup for them. Wedon't see Texas A and M's ace,
which is really big, So Ilike our draw right here. Now,
obviously you got to win Game one. N C State's really good. They've
been a top twenty five team allyear. They've got postseason experience, they've
got a solid ace, and they'vegot two dogs in the bullpen. But
(15:33):
in C State plays in a reallysmall ballpark all year long, and they've
hit a lot of home runs,and people are gonna see on TV and
at the stadium like, dang,this guy's hit like twenty home runs.
Like if that guy is playing everygame in tdum or trade, he ain't
hitting twenty home runs. It Itjust ain't happening. The ballpark plays huge
into our favorite I think we've beensaying this now for a few years with
(15:54):
coach Minngiona and how he's designed ouroffense. It's like, if we got
to win a big time game inOmaha against the top arm and the wins
blown straight in and we ain't goingto hit a home run. We can
bump, we can steal, wecan slash, hit and run, you
know, fake bun. We canfind a way to manufacture a few runs.
And we've got the lineup and theolder guys the maturity to do it
(16:17):
in big time situation. So thiscoaching staff has coached this team and gotten
this team to a place where theycan win big time games in this ballpark,
and you see it every year.There's always jitters. No matter how
experience the team is, whether it'sall seniors, all freshmen, all COVID
extra year guys, it doesn't matter. Unless you have a team like LSU,
(16:37):
where you know your guy is goingto be the number one pick and
your guy in the outfield is goingto be the number two pick, and
then your other starter is going tobe a first round pick. You kind
of need something to alleviate that pressure. And I think, man, I
just dream of a scenario in whichKentucky's able to manufacture a run or two
early on in that game, andall of a sudden, NC State has
a lot of pressure on them goingup against a Kentucky pitching stat that we
(17:00):
just talked about. Yeah, Ithink the first three innings are going to
be key. You know that.I could say that about a February game
against Murray State, though you knowthat's that's just baseball. But if Trey
Pooser is doing what Trey Pooser hasdone for the last month in a big
ballpark, keeping the ball in theyard, limiting you know, one or
two hits an Inny. He's notwalking people, he's not hitting people,
(17:22):
He's striking out a ton of guys. He has a chance this weekend to
make a national name of himself andreally jump up on some draft boards.
I think because he's thrown really,really well, and I think he has
a lot of potential in the minorleagues for sure to maybe one day get
to the big leagues. But Ithink, obviously, like you just said,
the offense is going to be keyearly. If we get a lead
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with Ryan, Walt Schmidt and Peteand Lopez and Berks and Daily at the
top of that order in the firstI just I love our chances because I
know Trey's gonna be ready to roll. I know Robert Hogan's gonna be ready
to roll, came O'Brien, JohnnyHummel. We've got our guys Ryan Hagen
out well, like Evan Byers,like Jacksonovy. We've got our guys fully
rested. And if we get alead late, I love our chances because
(18:07):
you're gonna go out all out towin Game one and stay out of the
loser's bracket. The perfect segue formy last question. I was going to
ask you you look at the waythe schedule is drawn out in both brackets,
it doesn't really matter whether you're inthe upper part of the lower part.
Winning game one is just so crucial, just because from a obviously you
go straight to the losers brackets.It's kind of obvious on the surface,
(18:30):
but if you dig even further,they're less rest between games. Even if
you win game number two to stayalive, if you win Saturday, you
are in such a driver's seat toget to that final. Yeah, I
mean you've got to go all outto win the first two. You know,
if you if you win the firsttwo, then you get two chances
at playing a game for a nationaltitle. With deep into teams pitching staffs.
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I love our chances with our offense. It's been insane all year long.
But like you said, you're gonnasee if we win game one,
win game two, we can bounceRobert Hogan and Came O'Brien back for multiple
innings and an outing. I mean, you went on Saturday, and you
have to play Thursday or Wednesday,or Thursday, Trey Pooser could come back
(19:15):
and throw an inning or two ifyou had to have it. So I
love our chances if we stay inthe winners bracket. With that being said,
NC State's top ten team, they'rethey're gonna be going with their ace
on Saturday, because every single teamis there to win. And eight teams
in Omah and there's eight really reallygood baseball teams that there ain't no Cinderella
this year. Like it's all topdogs. It's all top dogs. Even
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Florida, the one unranked team init. They were in a national championship
game last year. Jack Kilian isgonna be a top ten pick. We've
obviously played them every year and they'realways good. Kevin O'Sullivan's coach there forever,
and you got them to a bunchof trips to Omaha. So it's
tough, but we go all out. I think you you win Saturday and
(20:00):
you ad just from there and wekeep it rolling and keep me in Omaha
for two weeks. Boys, newkids on the block in Omaha, very
first ever trip to the College WorldSeries. We are pumped up for it.
Darren. I know you're going tohave a ball out there. I
don't have to tell you to havea good time, but we're going to
say it anyway on behalf of thenetwork. You've earned it from your playing
career and obviously being an analyst.This season it's going to be a blast.
(20:22):
I promise you. We are goingto have a really really, really
really really good time. I've beenlooking forward to this obviously. It's a
dream come true. I think ifyou're even a baseball fan at all,
like you want to go out andexperience Omaha. But it's so much better
that I got to go see allmy boys play. You know that I
played with, and uh coach Minchand Coach Roselle and Coach Amo and Coach
Koozie and all all everybody in theprogram. Like I think Kentucky is going
(20:47):
to be a real easy team forjust the casual fans and the fans of
maybe you know, the ACC teamson the other side of the bracket to
root for and really you know,gain some national attraction to So it's a
big weekend. Hopefully we can putthe brand on the national stage and give
everybody a good show. Darren,thank you again for your time, have
(21:08):
a safe trip to Omaha, andhopefully in a couple weeks we're talking about
a title. Come on, let'sdo it. Somewhat funny how the bracket
shook up for both Kentucky and theirart trival Tennessee. As we mentioned earlier
in the show, Kentucky joined bythree se make that two SEC teams for
three Southeastern Conference organizations in Bracket two, and in the upper portion Bracket one,
(21:33):
just one SEC team and that isTennessee. So the Balls are joined
by Florida State, North Carolina andVirginia and of course the Cats as we
mentioned Texas A and M Florida andthe very first opponent, the NC State
Wolfpack, the loan representative in theirportion. Out of the ACC, Kentucky
will just be spectators on Friday,the very first game of the College World
Series this year, the twenty twentyfour edition, will be at two pm
(21:56):
Eastern Time on Friday. That'll beNorth Carolina and Virginia in an all ACC
battle, and then the nightcap atseven o'clock Eastern time, it is Tennessee
and Florida State. But then Kentuckywill take the national stage in a nationally
televised game. It'll be at twopm Eastern Time on Saturday, Kentucky and
NC State, who just beat Georgiain the third game, a thriller against
(22:21):
Georgia to get to Omaha thirty eightand twenty one overall. That game at
National TV two pm. That meansour UK Sports Network coverage with Darren will
start at one forty five, Sogo ahead and mute that television coverage and
turn Darren all the way up ifyou're not lucky to join us in Omaha,
and that'll be game number one forKentucky. If they were to win,
(22:41):
they would play on Monday night.If they were to lose, they
would play Monday afternoon. So it'ssimilar to the regional where it is a
double elimination format for Kentucky and theiropponents. So, as we talked about
with Darren and his interview, hugehuge advantages as you might imagine, with
winning your first game, get thatlittle extra rest also helps you line up
(23:02):
your pitching a little bit later onas well. So the way the bracket
lined up, it's a very niceincentive. Certainly pays dues to win that
first game in Kentucky will have theirchallenges cut out for them against NC State,
but hoping to get win number fortysix on Saturday, and they would
play the winner of Texas A andM and Florida. The Aggie Skators are
(23:23):
the nightcap on Saturday night, Soonce again that's a two pm Eastern time
first pitch on Saturday one forty fiveEastern across the UK Sports Network with Darren
Hedrick. That does it for uson this special Omaha preview episode, We'll
be back to check in on whatis hopefully a long stay for Kentucky through
(23:45):
Omaha in the College World Series asthey chase their very first national championship in
their first trip to the College WorldSeries. Big thanks to dub mister Darren
Williams for joining us and taking timeout of his very busy schedule on the
way to a travel ball term andthen of course to Omaha as well to
join his cats and watch them upclose and personal. Huge thanks as always
(24:07):
to Curtis and Michelle at the networkand for Darren for that excellent final out
from the Super Regional clinching game againstOregon State. Best of luck to the
Cats. We cannot wait to watchon Saturday afternoon. So for everyone here
at the network, I'm er kappussaying so long and see you next time
on UK Sports Network Today and ofcourse go cats.
Hands together nothing in two to McDowellHummel's pitch, Colt strike three ball game
over. The weight is finally over. Row out the big blue carpet and
Omaha, the University of Kentucky Wildcatsare headed to the College World Series.
(00:31):
Daron Johnny Hamell really comes through theWildcats at a big moment right there.
What an exciting thing, and thedog pile is on the infield and nobody
could be happier than these Kentucky Wildcatbaseball players. Kentucky defeats Oregon State three
to two. They flood the fieldfrom that third base dugout and dogpile to
the right side of the mound.Nothing but smiles and cheers and even some
(00:56):
happy tears from these Wildcats. Theyhave finally done it. Over one hundred
years in the making. The KentuckyWildcats are headed to Omaha. They will
stand among the immortals and play fora national championship. That is how it
(01:17):
sounded across the UK Sports Network withDarren Hedrick on the call boy. What
a moment at Kentucky Proud Park thispast Sunday as Kentucky clinched their ticket to
the College World Series in Omaha andwe are just days away as we welcome
you inside the UK Sports Network TodayPodcast. I'm your host Andrew Kappus,
(01:38):
and on this episode, we willtake an exclusive look ahead at Kentucky's matchup
with NC State, as well asthe College World Series as a whole.
It is finally here. The Catsare on the ground in Omaha in getting
ready as they are one of eightfinal teams that are now in Nebraska and
(01:59):
competing for a national championship. DarrenWilliams, who is a former Kentucky pitcher
current member of the UK Sports Networkbroadcast team for baseball, He will stop
by with his unique perspective of settingthe foundation for this team to head to
the College World Series. Of course, Darren one of the aces last year
(02:19):
of a Kentucky team that got toa Super Regional for then just the third
time in program history, and hehad a front row seat along with Darren
this year for a number of games, joining him as the analyst on our
broadcast. As always, the UKSports Network Today Podcast is presented by the
Big Blue Brew. It's the officialnewsletter of UK Athletics. You can sign
(02:39):
up today at Ukathletics dot com.Slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely free
and it hits inboxes every weekday morning. Once again, that's Ukathletics dot Com
slash Big Blue Brew. Kentucky willget to soak in opening day of the
College World Series. They will notplay in the very first day, that'll
(03:00):
be the upper portion of the bracket. But then they will take the field
this Saturday at two pm against NCState, the lone non SEC team in
their portion of the bracket, asthey are joined by Florida and Texas A
and M as well. And hereto talk about it and that super regional,
that exciting sweep of a very talentedOregon State Beavers team, and obviously
(03:22):
a look ahead at Omaha. Here'sDarren Williams. Darren Williams, former University
of Kentucky pitcher and now color analyston the UK Sports Network, is kind
of up to join us as wepreview Omaha DUB. I know it's been
a few a busy few days,busy few weeks for you, But how
rewarding is this that we're now hereand just days away from the Cats playing
(03:45):
in Omaha. Man, the journeyfor me personally is just what you call
it rewarding, Like seeing the guysgrow up in front of my eyes and
to see where what they're doing rightnow is really special because you know,
all the fans know Nolan McCarthy andDevin Burks and Mason Moore and Jackson Novy
(04:08):
and Travis Smith, Ryan Walshman amillion peacher like they know all those guys
for what they're doing right now.Man, But I've seen those guys when
they were really young, and tosee that our journey man is so rewarding.
I couldn't be more proud, soso crazy happy for every single one
of them involved. Before we getinto this year's team and take a quick
look back at the Soupers, Idid want to get into the fact that
(04:30):
you kind of helped set the stage. You were part of the quote unquote
rebuild from getting it to where itwas around the COVID year to getting it
to where it is now. Firstever trip to the College World Series in
Omaha. I know you'd rather beplaying this weekend out there in Omaha with
your guys, but it's got tobe such a great feeling to know that
you were there laying the groundwork,helping do to build this foundation that now
(04:55):
is this monster that is UK baseball. Yeah, I don't know if the
old elbow would still love me forplaying. She gets a little sore when
I play catch with some of myhigh school players every once in a while.
Man. But like you said,land the foundation, it's been talked
about so often. I know coachMinch brings it up all the time.
But that twenty twenty two year thefirst real time where they brought the transfer
(05:19):
portal into the world of college athletics, and we brought in eight or nine
transfers like we did. That's atthe stage we thought we had a really,
really good team. We truly believedit, and then boom, Week
five, or I think is weeksix, col stuff goes down Friday Night
started a week seven, I godown Saturday starter And you know, six
(05:41):
seven weeks there in the middle ofthe season where we just could not get
a series win, couldn't get anytraction, couldn't figure it out, and
as Coachmne mentioned all the time,Devin Burk's getting in started into the lineup,
Nick Camerotti getting pulled into the dugout. We figured out our pitching situation.
I think Ryan Hagen out Mason Hazelwooddid some piggyback and Austin Strickland picked
it up big time for US.Sean Harney got inserted into the starter role.
(06:04):
Like things. We found our rhythmthere in the last month of twenty
twenty two and it really set thestage for the launching pad for twenty twenty
three. Obviously we did what wedid, hosted the first regional like KPP
dog piled made, made an incrediblerun that people I know, I won't
ever forget, people around here won'tforget for a long time, and just
(06:27):
ran into an absolute juggernaut that itwas LSU in twenty twenty three, first
two overall picks, big league pitcher, plenty of first round like a lot
of really good baseball, like atthe box, tough to win in two
out of three there in that situation, it was such a tough draw.
But you bring up that regional thatyou played in last year, and that's,
uh, that's kind of where wefirst saw what the potential of a
(06:49):
packed KPP could be because that waselectric. Yeah, and I know you
never want to play on Monday nightin a winner take, although I guess
if you have to take it,you would, But that's what it ended.
Up being for the Cats last year. What a different story this year.
The Cats have yet to lose atthe time of recording in postseason play,
ran the table through the winners bracketin the regional this year, and
(07:12):
then went to Super Regionals. Abit of a unique opponent this year with
Oregon State, but still the samekind of star power. You did avoid
a Paul Skeens, although those guys, as we're seeing now what he's doing
in the big leagues, he's kindof a unicorn. You're not going to
see those guys every year. Butyou did get Travis Bizana, and I
thought the Cats did a really nicejob. And he had that double in
the ninth inning that made it alittle interesting in the well. I guess
(07:35):
it was a single, but mighthave been a double in that ninth inning
in Game two, but really kepthim in check all weekend. Gotta give
credit to my man, Dan Roselle, pitching coach. He does not yet
enough credit. Every single person inthe media needs to start getting some interviews
with my man because I never seenhim on any media outlets. So what
an amazing pitching coach. He hadthe staff ready, he had an amazing
(07:57):
plan three hits across Super Regional.That may be a record that is never
broken. That record may stand forever. Three hits in two games from a
top sixteen opponent that was top tenmost of the year is the best pitching
performance of the season in the biggestweekend so far. If we pitch like
(08:18):
that, we will win a nationalchampionship. That is a fact. But
I credit Dani Roselle. I know, I experienced two seasons with him.
He's a big reason why why Icommitted to Kentucky. Not just I didn't
commit just because, you know,dream school, hometown kid like. I
committed a lot of the reasons becauseDan Roselle is the pitching coach here and
he's such a sharp mind, andhe understands how to get you guys ready
(08:41):
to pitch at a very high levelin the very big games of the season.
And you saw that. I meanCam O'Brien, Robert Hogan, Johnny
Hummel, Jackson Novey. Those aren'tyour top starters on the team. Those
are bullpen pieces. And Dan Rosellehad those guys eddy to come out of
the pen and dominate a top offensein the country and maybe the number one
(09:05):
overall play. That guy could fallto two to Cincinnati and he maybe a
Cincinnati read one of these days.He ain't going much past two, I'll
tell you that much that I waslooking up at his numbers on Saturday and
I was like, dear God,like for those that don't know, like
twenty eight bombs, like forty walksops over one point five, Like that
(09:26):
guy has an amazing season, andwe held him in check until obviously the
last swing of his season in theninth inning. So Dan Roselt did a
great job of preparing the guys toattack him and attack that lineup, and
they looked really good this past weekendand so far through the whole pubseason.
Like you were saying, yeah,I'm glad you brought up coach Rozelle because
(09:48):
that's super regional. You only havetwo chances, which is good for the
Cats to really showcase it. Butthe pitching just seemed like all the right
buttons were pushed up to And Iknow he didn't have the game that he
probably wanted to have, but MasonMoore pitching in Game two instead of Game
three, I thought that was agreat button to push and finally gave up
a run Bason. It had beenwhat twenty and I think by the time
(10:09):
it happened twenty three in some oddinnings. That's what Yeah, that's what
I said on VbN at tonight.I was like, you know, that
kid is due to give up arun at the most season. What he's
done over the past two years isridiculous, you know, And obviously he
didn't give him any hits, butyou know, kind of got squeezed in
the fourth inning or whatever, youget the pop up in the dark that
(10:31):
Grant Smith misplays, whatever, youknow, he's still he was dominant.
He really was. And if acouple of things are different, maybe he
doesn't give up any runs again.But in a big time ballpark at TDM
Mayor Trade in Omaha, for thosethat have never watched College World Series games,
that is the biggest ballpark that anyteam in the country's played it.
(10:52):
And if the wind in you know, Nebraska is blowing straight in, there
is nobody that's getting a ball ofthat. Like, they will crush baseballs
to center and the gaps and thatball will not get out of that ballpark.
So if Trey and Mason start outgames and palm the zone early and
often with all their pitches. Ilove our chances to go to and zero
(11:13):
and put us in a good positionto get into the finals. You bring
up a great point. We're goingto revisit that here in just a moment
about how the ballpark I think playsto Kentucky better than any of the other
seven teams in the field right nowfor the College World Series, but before
we move on from the Super Regionals. It just encapsulated how this team plays,
(11:33):
how the team took the lead,doesn't it Because Nolan McCarthy at second
and I loved Nick miggio In's comments. He said he was physically telling him
no, but mentally just kind ofjust was going to let him go.
And you can see from that highhome angle it seemed like Nolan thought he
was going to score the minute heleft second base. And I was going
(11:56):
crazy during that play up in thebooth, was standing with Dick Gabriel and
Tom Leech. I was behind DarrenHendrick and Coach Madison calling it. So
I visited them for an inning thereand that that play just it will live
in Kentucky legend forever. Like youdon't see that in baseball, You don't
(12:16):
so that play is crazy, butI think the story of Nolan McCarthy is
so much bigger. Like that kidtwo years ago jogs at third base and
is like, just don't don't makea big mistake. And the second that
Paul got passed, Nolan McCarthy wentfor it and played, you know,
all the way, all out totry to get a run, the biggest
(12:37):
run maybe in Kentucky baseball history.And he didn't stop, he didn't hesitate
at all and just went full out. And if that doesn't encapsulate what his
journey has been through his college career, I don't know what does, because
that's just the growth. Like Nolan'splaying to win right now. You saw
its big time catching Hoover, yousaw the at bats he's put together in
(12:58):
the postseason so far. That's exactlywho I want in center field and in
our lineup going forward. He isthe man right now. And I think
it showed great maturity that well ahe put his body on the line.
I mean, I looked like heheard his hand sliding in because it was
just the Pete Rose slide, whichhe called a shot by the way,
that he was going to have aPete riv slide but then he also tweaked
(13:20):
a muscle in his leg. AndI think it's a lot really mature to
say, we have a one runlead, there could be a fly ball
to the outfield that I might notbe able to go get. We need
someone to be able to go getit. So even though I want to
be out there, I need tolet someone know that, hey, I
might not be the best option,just at least for these next couple of
innings. It was a I mean, it's selfless. It's the smartest thing
(13:41):
he could have done. Ty Krittenbergerhas played six years of college baseball and
our outfield has been insane this year, so he hasn't had as many opportunities
as he wanted to. But itwas absolutely the smart move by Nolan because
a ball in the gap that obviouslyit didn't happen, but if a ball
gets in the gap and that balldrops, we lose and the season's over.
(14:03):
Like selfless, he put our teamin a position to win. And
as a great leader now on theteam that Nolan McCarthy is just let Tig
go do this thing. Get letTiger play great defense, and you know,
we'll see what happens. And itpaid off, so I was really
happy that one he took himself outso he doesn't get hurt anymore. But
you know, two that we wonthe ball game and that that move of
(14:26):
him staying in and playing hurt didn'thurt us. Let's talk omaha. I
mean, it's just it's easy toomaha. Come on, let's talk omaha.
College World Series starting starting this weekend. Kentucky drawing the afternoon slate on
Friday against NC State to open thingsup. A unique looking bracket. Tennessee
the only SEC school in the upperpart of it, Kentucky one of three
(14:48):
SEC schools in the lower part,but they do get to open it up
with the only non SEC school intheir portion of it. And you just
mentioned a few minutes ago. Ithink this ballpark plays perfect to can Tucky's
strengths, no doubt about it.And Texas A and M is insane at
hitting bombs. Braden Montgomery obviously hurthis ankle, best player, top five
(15:09):
draft pick. He broke his anklein the super regionals, so he's out
of the lineup for them. Wedon't see Texas A and M's ace,
which is really big, So Ilike our draw right here. Now,
obviously you got to win Game one. N C State's really good. They've
been a top twenty five team allyear. They've got postseason experience, they've
got a solid ace, and they'vegot two dogs in the bullpen. But
(15:33):
in C State plays in a reallysmall ballpark all year long, and they've
hit a lot of home runs,and people are gonna see on TV and
at the stadium like, dang,this guy's hit like twenty home runs.
Like if that guy is playing everygame in tdum or trade, he ain't
hitting twenty home runs. It Itjust ain't happening. The ballpark plays huge
into our favorite I think we've beensaying this now for a few years with
(15:54):
coach Minngiona and how he's designed ouroffense. It's like, if we got
to win a big time game inOmaha against the top arm and the wins
blown straight in and we ain't goingto hit a home run. We can
bump, we can steal, wecan slash, hit and run, you
know, fake bun. We canfind a way to manufacture a few runs.
And we've got the lineup and theolder guys the maturity to do it
(16:17):
in big time situation. So thiscoaching staff has coached this team and gotten
this team to a place where theycan win big time games in this ballpark,
and you see it every year.There's always jitters. No matter how
experience the team is, whether it'sall seniors, all freshmen, all COVID
extra year guys, it doesn't matter. Unless you have a team like LSU,
(16:37):
where you know your guy is goingto be the number one pick and
your guy in the outfield is goingto be the number two pick, and
then your other starter is going tobe a first round pick. You kind
of need something to alleviate that pressure. And I think, man, I
just dream of a scenario in whichKentucky's able to manufacture a run or two
early on in that game, andall of a sudden, NC State has
a lot of pressure on them goingup against a Kentucky pitching stat that we
(17:00):
just talked about. Yeah, Ithink the first three innings are going to
be key. You know that.I could say that about a February game
against Murray State, though you knowthat's that's just baseball. But if Trey
Pooser is doing what Trey Pooser hasdone for the last month in a big
ballpark, keeping the ball in theyard, limiting you know, one or
two hits an Inny. He's notwalking people, he's not hitting people,
(17:22):
He's striking out a ton of guys. He has a chance this weekend to
make a national name of himself andreally jump up on some draft boards.
I think because he's thrown really,really well, and I think he has
a lot of potential in the minorleagues for sure to maybe one day get
to the big leagues. But Ithink, obviously, like you just said,
the offense is going to be keyearly. If we get a lead
(17:44):
with Ryan, Walt Schmidt and Peteand Lopez and Berks and Daily at the
top of that order in the firstI just I love our chances because I
know Trey's gonna be ready to roll. I know Robert Hogan's gonna be ready
to roll, came O'Brien, JohnnyHummel. We've got our guys Ryan Hagen
out well, like Evan Byers,like Jacksonovy. We've got our guys fully
rested. And if we get alead late, I love our chances because
(18:07):
you're gonna go out all out towin Game one and stay out of the
loser's bracket. The perfect segue formy last question. I was going to
ask you you look at the waythe schedule is drawn out in both brackets,
it doesn't really matter whether you're inthe upper part of the lower part.
Winning game one is just so crucial, just because from a obviously you
go straight to the losers brackets.It's kind of obvious on the surface,
(18:30):
but if you dig even further,they're less rest between games. Even if
you win game number two to stayalive, if you win Saturday, you
are in such a driver's seat toget to that final. Yeah, I
mean you've got to go all outto win the first two. You know,
if you if you win the firsttwo, then you get two chances
at playing a game for a nationaltitle. With deep into teams pitching staffs.
(18:52):
I love our chances with our offense. It's been insane all year long.
But like you said, you're gonnasee if we win game one,
win game two, we can bounceRobert Hogan and Came O'Brien back for multiple
innings and an outing. I mean, you went on Saturday, and you
have to play Thursday or Wednesday,or Thursday, Trey Pooser could come back
(19:15):
and throw an inning or two ifyou had to have it. So I
love our chances if we stay inthe winners bracket. With that being said,
NC State's top ten team, they'rethey're gonna be going with their ace
on Saturday, because every single teamis there to win. And eight teams
in Omah and there's eight really reallygood baseball teams that there ain't no Cinderella
this year. Like it's all topdogs. It's all top dogs. Even
(19:38):
Florida, the one unranked team init. They were in a national championship
game last year. Jack Kilian isgonna be a top ten pick. We've
obviously played them every year and they'realways good. Kevin O'Sullivan's coach there forever,
and you got them to a bunchof trips to Omaha. So it's
tough, but we go all out. I think you you win Saturday and
(20:00):
you ad just from there and wekeep it rolling and keep me in Omaha
for two weeks. Boys, newkids on the block in Omaha, very
first ever trip to the College WorldSeries. We are pumped up for it.
Darren. I know you're going tohave a ball out there. I
don't have to tell you to havea good time, but we're going to
say it anyway on behalf of thenetwork. You've earned it from your playing
career and obviously being an analyst.This season it's going to be a blast.
(20:22):
I promise you. We are goingto have a really really, really
really really good time. I've beenlooking forward to this obviously. It's a
dream come true. I think ifyou're even a baseball fan at all,
like you want to go out andexperience Omaha. But it's so much better
that I got to go see allmy boys play. You know that I
played with, and uh coach Minchand Coach Roselle and Coach Amo and Coach
Koozie and all all everybody in theprogram. Like I think Kentucky is going
(20:47):
to be a real easy team forjust the casual fans and the fans of
maybe you know, the ACC teamson the other side of the bracket to
root for and really you know,gain some national attraction to So it's a
big weekend. Hopefully we can putthe brand on the national stage and give
everybody a good show. Darren,thank you again for your time, have
(21:08):
a safe trip to Omaha, andhopefully in a couple weeks we're talking about
a title. Come on, let'sdo it. Somewhat funny how the bracket
shook up for both Kentucky and theirart trival Tennessee. As we mentioned earlier
in the show, Kentucky joined bythree se make that two SEC teams for
three Southeastern Conference organizations in Bracket two, and in the upper portion Bracket one,
(21:33):
just one SEC team and that isTennessee. So the Balls are joined
by Florida State, North Carolina andVirginia and of course the Cats as we
mentioned Texas A and M Florida andthe very first opponent, the NC State
Wolfpack, the loan representative in theirportion. Out of the ACC, Kentucky
will just be spectators on Friday,the very first game of the College World
Series this year, the twenty twentyfour edition, will be at two pm
(21:56):
Eastern Time on Friday. That'll beNorth Carolina and Virginia in an all ACC
battle, and then the nightcap atseven o'clock Eastern time, it is Tennessee
and Florida State. But then Kentuckywill take the national stage in a nationally
televised game. It'll be at twopm Eastern Time on Saturday, Kentucky and
NC State, who just beat Georgiain the third game, a thriller against
(22:21):
Georgia to get to Omaha thirty eightand twenty one overall. That game at
National TV two pm. That meansour UK Sports Network coverage with Darren will
start at one forty five, Sogo ahead and mute that television coverage and
turn Darren all the way up ifyou're not lucky to join us in Omaha,
and that'll be game number one forKentucky. If they were to win,
(22:41):
they would play on Monday night.If they were to lose, they
would play Monday afternoon. So it'ssimilar to the regional where it is a
double elimination format for Kentucky and theiropponents. So, as we talked about
with Darren and his interview, hugehuge advantages as you might imagine, with
winning your first game, get thatlittle extra rest also helps you line up
(23:02):
your pitching a little bit later onas well. So the way the bracket
lined up, it's a very niceincentive. Certainly pays dues to win that
first game in Kentucky will have theirchallenges cut out for them against NC State,
but hoping to get win number fortysix on Saturday, and they would
play the winner of Texas A andM and Florida. The Aggie Skators are
(23:23):
the nightcap on Saturday night, Soonce again that's a two pm Eastern time
first pitch on Saturday one forty fiveEastern across the UK Sports Network with Darren
Hedrick. That does it for uson this special Omaha preview episode, We'll
be back to check in on whatis hopefully a long stay for Kentucky through
(23:45):
Omaha in the College World Series asthey chase their very first national championship in
their first trip to the College WorldSeries. Big thanks to dub mister Darren
Williams for joining us and taking timeout of his very busy schedule on the
way to a travel ball term andthen of course to Omaha as well to
join his cats and watch them upclose and personal. Huge thanks as always
(24:07):
to Curtis and Michelle at the networkand for Darren for that excellent final out
from the Super Regional clinching game againstOregon State. Best of luck to the
Cats. We cannot wait to watchon Saturday afternoon. So for everyone here
at the network, I'm er kappussaying so long and see you next time
on UK Sports Network Today and ofcourse go cats.
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