Baseball Q&A: Ryan Wilson
5/20/2016 10:07:00 AM | Baseball, Competing With Purpose Blog
Ryan Wilson is a sophomore left hander with a 1-0 record, six saves and a 0.59 ERA in 30.2 innings. A mainstay in the Waves' starting rotation last season, Wilson was given the role as closer after rehabbing an injury and has flourished in the position. We speak to him about this season as a whole, his changed role, Coach Rick Hirtensteiner and expectations for the rest of the season.
Q: The final series o fthe regular season is coming up this weekend. How is the team feeling?
A: The team is feeling good.The pitchers have been throwing the ball well, and the hitters have been swinging the bats well. I think that we just need to play our game, like we have been this season, taking each series game by game, and each game pitch by pitch and we will be in pretty good shape.
Q: How has the team meshed this year? Have the guys been pretty close?
A: We have been way closer this year than we have in previous years. We've been doing a lot of stuff off the field, which is having, I believe, a really positive effect to our team on the field with the success that we have been having.
Q: Last year, you were the Sunday starter for the Waves, and this year, you have been the number one guy out of the bullpen to close games out. Which do you like better and are more comfortable with?
A: I can't really say that I like one or the other better, because I really do love both situations. I am comfortable in both, and we have really been working this season on becoming comfortable in spots where we would otherwise be uncomfortable. So I think that whether it is starting and throwing seven innings, or closing the game, it is high priority no matter what and you need to put your focus into each pitch. I think that if I do that, the situation doesn't seem bigger than it actually is.
Q: Coach Rick Hirtensteiner is in his first year as head coach, but has been on staff for the 17 years prior. How, if at all, has his philosophy as a coach changed the team from last year?
A: I don't think that it has changed much. We are playing the same type of baseball that we did last year, but I think the guys are looser, and are playing better as a team for each other. A lot of that has really branched off of him.
Q: What are the expectations that your team has for the last series of the regular season and,hopefully, the upcoming WCC Tournament?
A: We can just expect some good baseball. We don't want to predict any results, but if we play Pepperdine baseball, we will be in good shape for the upcoming series against Pacific, and further on into the WCC Tournament.
