Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gajewski, Cowgirls Preview Women’s College World Series
May 28, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski and select players met with media prior to practice Monday at Cowgirl Stadium to discuss the Cowgirls' upcoming appearance in the Women's College World Series. A look at some of what they had to say:
Head Coach Kenny Gajewski
Opening Statement:
"I'm thrilled with the opportunity that we've got here and I'm really proud of our kids. Just the program and the alumni and everybody that is constantly cheering for us. I think it finally hit me this morning. I was doing an interview with the Big 12 and they asked me what it felt like to be a team that was going. That's when it kind of hit me. We're excited. We are not afraid. I can tell you that. We will play the way we play. We learned a lot – I learned a lot this weekend as a head coach. I felt like on the second game, I coached and we played like a team that had something to lose for the first time. We recognized that and made the adjustment on the third day, and we played like the team that has nothing to lose and that's the same approach we're going to take (this week). We took yesterday off, so we're going to workout here today hard. They already got a lift in and we'll make it a normal week. We're just going to try to be the hammers that we've been all year and we're going to continue down the sea of consequence and not worry about what could happen, but just make things happen and deal with things as they come along. I think that's why this team has taken on the identity that they have and been able to come back and all those fancy words. This is a really good team and we're going to go play against really good teams. That's why they're all left and it should be a blast."
On his tweet from April 3 at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex:
"We purposefully drove our team in there on one of our trips. We circled around there and I can remember had perplexed looks like 'Why are we in here? Why are we driving into this place?' I just stood up and told them that 'If you don't dream about this stuff, if you don't truly believe that you can do this, it will not happen.' That's a direct line from Coach (Mike) Holder. I put that tweet out and I got a lot of grief about that tweet at that time. A lot of grief, but it doesn't matter. That was risky in some way because you never know how things are going to work out, but I have been telling all of you that have been around here a bunch – this team is capable of this. It's going to take everything that we've got. We can't not play well and get in to this tournament, but we've yet to play good softball. We're doing that now. Complete games, I mean. We're playing well, but we're playing more complete games now, which is what you've got to do. It's cool that it comes back and this team has bought in. They got bought in last summer when they were here. Most schools across the country are at home, taking the summer off and getting their workouts in. These kids in my years here have never left. It's kind of become the culture – 'The Cowgirl Way.' They stay here, train with Coach Wes (Ulm) and workout on their own hitting-wise and throwing-wise because we don't have the luxury of what basketball has to have the summer stuff, or what football has. They have to do their own thing, and they do that. That's when this type of stuff starts. That's when these types of teams start coming together."
On his connections to Florida and facing the Gators in the WCWS:
"It's crazy. I'm curious if (Florida head coach) Tim (Walton) will call me. Last time we played, he didn't call me, so I anticipate the same thing. I talked to him over the weekend and he was gracious enough to talk to me about a lot of stuff. He called me or texted me after our first win, and he called me after the second game that we had lost, and he hadn't seen the score yet that we lost. He said 'I was hoping that you guys had won. I was hoping I would get to talk to you.' When we won, I called him first. I just wanted to tell him thanks. We've texted, so he's been great. I'm not sure if we'll talk. I've talked to Eric Thomas and we've got a bunch of our buddies who are coming back. That'll be cool to see that. I can't wait to see who all wears what – who's wearing the Gator stuff, who's wearing the OSU stuff – I'm sure they'll be wearing both with shirts and hats from both schools. It's just that I've already had the chance to play Tim, so that it's not the first time. I texted his wife. I texted her, and she texted me back and I told Sam (Walton) that I honestly can't wait to shake hands. That's going to be awesome. That's one of the things that I'm looking forward to as a head coach. I'm looking forward to the press conference with (Alabama) Coach (Patrick) Murphy, (Oklahoma) Coach (Patty) Gasso and Tim. I talked to Patty actually last night, and she was gracious enough to talk to be about some things. She said 'This is going to be weird, but I'm old enough to be all your moms.' I just laughed and said 'I might just walk in and say 'Hey, Mom.'" I'm excited about going through all of this. All of those guys have been to this place so many times, and this is my first time as a head coach. Those kind of things are kind of neat and things you don't forget. The most important thing is that I'm going to enjoy this. I'm going to enjoy it with my friends, with my family and with my team. My two little kids are thrilled and can't wait to see Tim's kids and run around like they've always done. It'll be cool."
On having a large crowd of orange in Oklahoma City this week:
"It should be crazy. When we got that final out, after I kind of got through my stuff, the first thought I had was 'How am I going to take care of everyone?' It's impossible. I just need our fans to do what they've done and show up, and be loud, and be rowdy, and tailgate and back up their trucks if they'll let them to the wall. I don't know if they'll let them, but if they do, I'm all in. I'll vote for it. If they can't, let's get them there early, be loud and it's going to be cool. I think it's going to be awesome, but you just don't have any idea – I can't wait until we walk in. That's one of the coolest things there. When the other game ends, and you walk in, the crowd goes crazy. I can't wait for our kids to experience that. That's a cool thing. You can't replicate it anywhere. It's just a different thing. The fans are just on edge, they're excited, they're crazy and they love it. I expect we'll have record crowds. They'll probably try to jam as many people in there as they can with us playing first and obviously the top seed in OU playing the next game. There's also a lot of Florida fans who come out of the woodworks for this thing. I was always amazed when I was there about how many people were wearing Gators stuff. And they're fans of the Gator, and of the culture that Tim has, and then you have OU, who you all know about, and then you've got us back again. Man, we've got some good people and they'll be out there."
Senior Madi Sue Montgomery
On achieving her childhood dream of getting to the WCWS:
"I'm feeling excited. I'm ready to go and we're ready to show everyone out there what we can do. No one has really believed in us, so we're just ready to prove them wrong."
On beating Florida State in Super Regionals:
"It was cool to have our fans there. They travel well and always have our backs. It was great to get that last moment and share it with them. It was really cool."
On what it will be like to play on college softball's biggest stage:
"I'm excited. I've never been in that atmosphere. I've only ever watched it on TV because I'm from Texas, so I'm excited to actually get there and kind of get the feel. I'm really excited to look at all the fans, and especially all of the Cowgirl fans out there."
On Taylor Lynch:
"She's a fighter. She won't show you that, but on her face she's going to have a smile no matter what. I'm so proud of her and glad I get to share this moment with her. There's no one else I'd rather share this moment with. No matter what, she's going to have my back and I'm going to have hers so it's really cool to be able to share that moment with her. It's really cool to have someone you know that well and to get to watch them success. We finally get to end it where we want to end it, so we're excited."
Senior Taylor Lynch
On making the decision to play through a torn ACL this season:
"In October, when I was going through making my decision to either take a redshirt or play on a torn ACL, I thought about it and it took me a little bit, but I always kind of knew. As soon as the doctor gave me the news, I was like 'So can I play?' My parents weren't sure, but I knew this team was special and I knew we had gotten the right kids in this program with Samantha Show, Gabby (Sprang) and Sydney (Springfield), as well as the kids we've had all along. I knew what we were capable of on the field and I knew I at least owed it to these girls to try to play. I knew we were capable of going to the World Series and I wanted to be a part of that."
On what it's like to actually be in the World Series:
"It's crazy. I think when we made that final out (against Florida State), I think I was probably the last one out of the dugout because I was sitting back and watching Sue (Madi Sue Montgomery) throw the ball to first and taking it all in. I made the call in October that this is where we were going to be, and to sit here and see it, it's a dream come true. It's something that I've dreamed about since I started this game when I was five. My mom sent me a picture today of me in front of the field and says 'Hey, Mom. I want to play here someday.' That was cool because it's something that you look forward to and everybody who plays softball wants to be on this stage and we're here. We made it. It's awesome."
On what this season would've been like had she opted to have surgery:
"It would've been different, I think. I'm so happy that I played. Everything was worth it. Everything I had to do to get strong enough to be on the field with them was worth it. It's such a good feeling to be a part of it and to be in the game and to not just be on the sideline watching."
Freshman Chyenne Factor
On making it to the World Series:
"I'm really excited. I don't really know what to expect until we get there, but it's going to be really fun."
On facing Florida:
"It's going to be a good matchup. We can beat anyone so I'm excited to play them."
On being the only lower seeded team to advance to the WCWS:
"That gives us a lot of momentum. Florida State's really good, so is Florida, and so are we."
On working her way into the starting lineup:
"I was just listening to the older girls and took it the way I could and ended up getting in the lineup and playing some, so it's been good."
Head Coach Kenny Gajewski
Opening Statement:
"I'm thrilled with the opportunity that we've got here and I'm really proud of our kids. Just the program and the alumni and everybody that is constantly cheering for us. I think it finally hit me this morning. I was doing an interview with the Big 12 and they asked me what it felt like to be a team that was going. That's when it kind of hit me. We're excited. We are not afraid. I can tell you that. We will play the way we play. We learned a lot – I learned a lot this weekend as a head coach. I felt like on the second game, I coached and we played like a team that had something to lose for the first time. We recognized that and made the adjustment on the third day, and we played like the team that has nothing to lose and that's the same approach we're going to take (this week). We took yesterday off, so we're going to workout here today hard. They already got a lift in and we'll make it a normal week. We're just going to try to be the hammers that we've been all year and we're going to continue down the sea of consequence and not worry about what could happen, but just make things happen and deal with things as they come along. I think that's why this team has taken on the identity that they have and been able to come back and all those fancy words. This is a really good team and we're going to go play against really good teams. That's why they're all left and it should be a blast."
On his tweet from April 3 at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex:
"We purposefully drove our team in there on one of our trips. We circled around there and I can remember had perplexed looks like 'Why are we in here? Why are we driving into this place?' I just stood up and told them that 'If you don't dream about this stuff, if you don't truly believe that you can do this, it will not happen.' That's a direct line from Coach (Mike) Holder. I put that tweet out and I got a lot of grief about that tweet at that time. A lot of grief, but it doesn't matter. That was risky in some way because you never know how things are going to work out, but I have been telling all of you that have been around here a bunch – this team is capable of this. It's going to take everything that we've got. We can't not play well and get in to this tournament, but we've yet to play good softball. We're doing that now. Complete games, I mean. We're playing well, but we're playing more complete games now, which is what you've got to do. It's cool that it comes back and this team has bought in. They got bought in last summer when they were here. Most schools across the country are at home, taking the summer off and getting their workouts in. These kids in my years here have never left. It's kind of become the culture – 'The Cowgirl Way.' They stay here, train with Coach Wes (Ulm) and workout on their own hitting-wise and throwing-wise because we don't have the luxury of what basketball has to have the summer stuff, or what football has. They have to do their own thing, and they do that. That's when this type of stuff starts. That's when these types of teams start coming together."
On his connections to Florida and facing the Gators in the WCWS:
"It's crazy. I'm curious if (Florida head coach) Tim (Walton) will call me. Last time we played, he didn't call me, so I anticipate the same thing. I talked to him over the weekend and he was gracious enough to talk to me about a lot of stuff. He called me or texted me after our first win, and he called me after the second game that we had lost, and he hadn't seen the score yet that we lost. He said 'I was hoping that you guys had won. I was hoping I would get to talk to you.' When we won, I called him first. I just wanted to tell him thanks. We've texted, so he's been great. I'm not sure if we'll talk. I've talked to Eric Thomas and we've got a bunch of our buddies who are coming back. That'll be cool to see that. I can't wait to see who all wears what – who's wearing the Gator stuff, who's wearing the OSU stuff – I'm sure they'll be wearing both with shirts and hats from both schools. It's just that I've already had the chance to play Tim, so that it's not the first time. I texted his wife. I texted her, and she texted me back and I told Sam (Walton) that I honestly can't wait to shake hands. That's going to be awesome. That's one of the things that I'm looking forward to as a head coach. I'm looking forward to the press conference with (Alabama) Coach (Patrick) Murphy, (Oklahoma) Coach (Patty) Gasso and Tim. I talked to Patty actually last night, and she was gracious enough to talk to be about some things. She said 'This is going to be weird, but I'm old enough to be all your moms.' I just laughed and said 'I might just walk in and say 'Hey, Mom.'" I'm excited about going through all of this. All of those guys have been to this place so many times, and this is my first time as a head coach. Those kind of things are kind of neat and things you don't forget. The most important thing is that I'm going to enjoy this. I'm going to enjoy it with my friends, with my family and with my team. My two little kids are thrilled and can't wait to see Tim's kids and run around like they've always done. It'll be cool."
On having a large crowd of orange in Oklahoma City this week:
"It should be crazy. When we got that final out, after I kind of got through my stuff, the first thought I had was 'How am I going to take care of everyone?' It's impossible. I just need our fans to do what they've done and show up, and be loud, and be rowdy, and tailgate and back up their trucks if they'll let them to the wall. I don't know if they'll let them, but if they do, I'm all in. I'll vote for it. If they can't, let's get them there early, be loud and it's going to be cool. I think it's going to be awesome, but you just don't have any idea – I can't wait until we walk in. That's one of the coolest things there. When the other game ends, and you walk in, the crowd goes crazy. I can't wait for our kids to experience that. That's a cool thing. You can't replicate it anywhere. It's just a different thing. The fans are just on edge, they're excited, they're crazy and they love it. I expect we'll have record crowds. They'll probably try to jam as many people in there as they can with us playing first and obviously the top seed in OU playing the next game. There's also a lot of Florida fans who come out of the woodworks for this thing. I was always amazed when I was there about how many people were wearing Gators stuff. And they're fans of the Gator, and of the culture that Tim has, and then you have OU, who you all know about, and then you've got us back again. Man, we've got some good people and they'll be out there."
Senior Madi Sue Montgomery
On achieving her childhood dream of getting to the WCWS:
"I'm feeling excited. I'm ready to go and we're ready to show everyone out there what we can do. No one has really believed in us, so we're just ready to prove them wrong."
On beating Florida State in Super Regionals:
"It was cool to have our fans there. They travel well and always have our backs. It was great to get that last moment and share it with them. It was really cool."
On what it will be like to play on college softball's biggest stage:
"I'm excited. I've never been in that atmosphere. I've only ever watched it on TV because I'm from Texas, so I'm excited to actually get there and kind of get the feel. I'm really excited to look at all the fans, and especially all of the Cowgirl fans out there."
On Taylor Lynch:
"She's a fighter. She won't show you that, but on her face she's going to have a smile no matter what. I'm so proud of her and glad I get to share this moment with her. There's no one else I'd rather share this moment with. No matter what, she's going to have my back and I'm going to have hers so it's really cool to be able to share that moment with her. It's really cool to have someone you know that well and to get to watch them success. We finally get to end it where we want to end it, so we're excited."
Senior Taylor Lynch
On making the decision to play through a torn ACL this season:
"In October, when I was going through making my decision to either take a redshirt or play on a torn ACL, I thought about it and it took me a little bit, but I always kind of knew. As soon as the doctor gave me the news, I was like 'So can I play?' My parents weren't sure, but I knew this team was special and I knew we had gotten the right kids in this program with Samantha Show, Gabby (Sprang) and Sydney (Springfield), as well as the kids we've had all along. I knew what we were capable of on the field and I knew I at least owed it to these girls to try to play. I knew we were capable of going to the World Series and I wanted to be a part of that."
On what it's like to actually be in the World Series:
"It's crazy. I think when we made that final out (against Florida State), I think I was probably the last one out of the dugout because I was sitting back and watching Sue (Madi Sue Montgomery) throw the ball to first and taking it all in. I made the call in October that this is where we were going to be, and to sit here and see it, it's a dream come true. It's something that I've dreamed about since I started this game when I was five. My mom sent me a picture today of me in front of the field and says 'Hey, Mom. I want to play here someday.' That was cool because it's something that you look forward to and everybody who plays softball wants to be on this stage and we're here. We made it. It's awesome."
On what this season would've been like had she opted to have surgery:
"It would've been different, I think. I'm so happy that I played. Everything was worth it. Everything I had to do to get strong enough to be on the field with them was worth it. It's such a good feeling to be a part of it and to be in the game and to not just be on the sideline watching."
Freshman Chyenne Factor
On making it to the World Series:
"I'm really excited. I don't really know what to expect until we get there, but it's going to be really fun."
On facing Florida:
"It's going to be a good matchup. We can beat anyone so I'm excited to play them."
On being the only lower seeded team to advance to the WCWS:
"That gives us a lot of momentum. Florida State's really good, so is Florida, and so are we."
On working her way into the starting lineup:
"I was just listening to the older girls and took it the way I could and ended up getting in the lineup and playing some, so it's been good."
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