2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 18, 2021

David Esquer

Stanford Cardinal

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for joining us, coach, again today. If you can, please go ahead with an opening statement, then we'll get to questions.

DAVID ESQUER: Okay. We're really grateful and excited to be here. I'm so proud of this team that has gone through so much. As Tim was mentioning, the foundation and core of our program is just kind of the togetherness, the brotherhood that our players have kind of built together.

There's some that have been here for the last three or four years. As Tim mentioned from winning the Pac-12 title during our first year, stumbling out of a regional to winning the home regional the last couple years to getting to a super regional, then kind of figuring out how to win on the road at a really tough environment I think has been huge for these kids, will mark our program for the years to come, set a standard that we'll continue to try to follow, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead to questions.

Q. Can you talk about what has been the most meaningful part of this season being with this team and all the challenges you faced.

DAVID ESQUER: You know, just watching the relationships grow. I think we have a great camaraderie amongst our players. I think my assistant coaches have a great connection with them, can really ask really high standards from them, and they respond.

I think the fact we thought everything we've thrown at this club that they've accepted, embraced, responded. We can coach them hard if we need to, but also we can put our arms around them, walk them through what changes need to be done, adjustments. They've been more than willing to do whatever we've asked.

It's been obviously a different kind of season without fall practice, even a COVID pause right in the middle, which was a little bit of a struggle for us. To come out the other side and watch all the hard work they've put in, the trust they've put into each other and the coaches, watch it manifest itself into a College World Series appearance has been great.

This team really believes, and I'm excited to watch them play, I'm excited to see how they handle World Series games. I have nothing but confidence they're going to play loose and free and give themselves the best chance to win.

Q. How has Zach Grech's role evolved throughout the course of the season? How do you think he could be used, roles he can have in Omaha?

DAVID ESQUER: Well, he's kind of done everything for us, right? If you look at 13 saves, I think he has 5 wins, 18 decisions for us. He actually started a game, come in early. We've kind of used him wherever he's been needed. Again, I think we're looking he's got to be a main factor on the back end of the game. He's been throwing well as of late. We feel like he's going to be one of our main options when the game gets to the eighth, ninth inning.

If we got to a third game, hadn't used him yet, he looks like a good matchup, it may be something where he could start a game as well, see if he can get the game rolling and get it to our middle relievers.

Q. Haven't seen Vincent Martinez of late. How is he doing?

DAVID ESQUER: He's doing fine. Making awesome adjustments. In the meantime you stick in a spark plug like Tommy Troy, gives you a little bit of lightning in a bottle, gives you a spark to your offense. Vince is still an option for us. He's doing fine. We look to use him in some big spots.

Q. When you look at this matchup against NC State, you guys both hit home runs, play defense at a high level, how would you break down this matchup, maybe what it will take to pull this out?

DAVID ESQUER: It will probably come down a sacrifice bunt and a jam shot base hit late in the game with two home run hitting teams. Probably be a pitcher's duel.

We have great respect for them. They have great athletes, some great offensive players. It's probably two of the giant killers, right, when we're able to go to Lubbock and win at Texas Tech, they got to Arkansas and win at Arkansas. A matchup of two teams that weren't expected to win in their respective super regionals but were tough and good enough to get out of it.

It's going to be a great contest. It will be interesting to see how the two offenses adjust to TD Ameritrade Park, whether it's going to play big or small, whether it takes our home run game away or adds to it.

The conditions are probably going to play a big part in it. Starting pitching is going to play a big part in it. The tone will be set by both starting pitchers, who can get a big hit with runners in scoring position.

Q. When the Major League draft in July this year, what are the pros and cons of that pushed-back draft from your vantage point?

DAVID ESQUER: Yeah, at times people have talked about just the distraction, right, that could happen, whether it be elation and excitement or just disappointment for some of the kids who maybe thought they would get drafted higher than they actually were.

I don't know that I -- it's been around forever that way. I guess having it outside of the College World Series does take the distraction part out of the equation. It probably makes us probably even just a little bit more anxious for our high school kids that may get drafted. Extends that a little bit longer.

It's a little on both sides, right? You want to know what your program is going to look like in the future, but it also affects your program in the now.

Not having it as a distraction, I'm sure there are a lot of coaches that are appreciative of that, they can go on and continue to play with their teams and teammates, worry about those professional opportunities later on in the summer.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, we really appreciate you taking this time today, both you and Tim, to join us.