2024 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 1, 2024

Tim Walton

Skylar Wallace

Florida Gators

Postgame Press Conference

Texas 10, Florida 0

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Florida.

We'll start with an opening statement by coach.

TIM WALTON: Obviously Texas played a great game. We didn't play very well today. But good thing being in the winners bracket we have an opportunity ahead of us next game. Just give them credit. Get an opportunity to see what our team is made of and how long they want to continue to play.

Looking forward to seeing the bounce-back.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Skylar.

Q. As captain, what do you say to the team?

SKYLAR WALLACE: Yeah, I think everyone kind of knows the reality of what just happened. That's now how we prepared for this day to go. They know what's on the line.

But after the first inning, we huddled up. I said, Remember back to August, September, when we were looking to our left, right, just thinking, Why? This is why. You have to bring that out, all that work, the hours, all the days off you went in and hit. That's what you put the work in for, is to have the opportunity to be here, compete in the semifinals for a national championship.

Tonight we're going to look in the mirror a little bit. Reflect on our goods, bads. Wipe it off, take a hot shower. We're going to wake up in the morning and get after it.

I think we're going to control the vibes, keep the vibes loose, have fun. We really have nothing to lose at this point. You just have to play softball. You have seven innings, 21 outs. Just get after it and have fun.

Q. What are the benefits that you get this quick turnaround to play an SEC foe?

SKYLAR WALLACE: Playing Alabama in the beginning of the season, they're not the same team now that they were. We're not the same team that we were back then either.

We're familiar with each other. We have a lot of film. We can reflect on that, see our goods, our bads, what can lead to us a good game plan and approach.

But we just really got to control ourselves. They're going to make mistakes. We're going to make mistakes. They're going to get hits. We're going to get hits. I think we just got to keep it super simple and just get gritty and have fun.

This year is the last opportunity potentially. I don't think you look at it like that. You look at it one game at a time. You have to look at it like Gator softball. We get to get up and put the uniform on, so you have to think about that.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Skylar. Questions for Coach Walton.

Q. Talk about the quick hook with Keagan, preparing for tomorrow that could be the elimination game.

TIM WALTON: It is what it is. Again, that many runs that quick, really not fooling anybody.

Typically when she goes good, she goes good. When she goes bad, she goes bad. I don't need the video replay to look, see where the ball was at. I imagine it's sitting somewhere nicely over the play.

Again, it is what it is.

At this point in time in the season, again, getting Ava an opportunity to go out there and compete, she's shown that she can keep us in the ballgame and do other things.

We weren't sharp, for sure.

Q. Is there a shell-shock element to it in a game like this or the attitude is more flush and we're playing again tomorrow?

TIM WALTON: Honestly, I said what I said in my opening. It's not up to me. I can tell you what I'm going to be like tomorrow. I'm going to get up probably around 8:15. Get breakfast, get ready to go, put our scout in play. It's up to the players. I said it to you from the very beginning of the tournament, the players control what you do in post-season. They're the ones that continue to play in big moments. They're the ones that get an opportunity to do it.

My job is to try to help each one of them achieve their confidence and get the reps that they need. That's how I handle post-season always. Always have. I don't overcoach it. We don't overscout it. I'm not going to overthink it either, think they're going to be super excited to get up and get after it. We just got our butts kicked. They're competitors. That's the bad part of about being in the losers bracket. It's that doubt.

It's my job to pump confidence in them. But it's their job to bring their A game. That's what I expect them to do tomorrow.

Q. We already know what the SEC is as a softball conference. Can you touch on what it's going to be like going forward, this tournament, when Oklahoma and Texas are in the league.

TIM WALTON: Yeah, no offense, I'm not really prepared for that. I'm not thinking about that right now. I think it's really just about my softball team and what we can do tomorrow. I think we've talked a lot about it at the beginning of the tournament, just how excited we are.

Right now, I don't think I can give you a really good answer. I'm sorry.

Q. Katie hit one well at the end. How big is it that Skylar and Katie stepped up as seniors?

TIM WALTON: I mean, obviously Skylar hit a good one. They made a good play. Jocelyn hit a good one to right.

Like I said two nights ago, everybody roots for Katie Kistler. She's a good kid. Works her tail off. Circumstances of life. Her family, the support they give her. Her teammates. It is good.

Obviously need some of the younger players to get some good hits, some of the middle playears get some good hits, too. We just really haven't had a fantastic offensive post-season. We haven't been great all the way up and down the lineup. Skylar coming into the tournament was hitting like .900. Everybody else was sitting around like 3. We've got a lot of work to do.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.