2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 20, 2021

Logan Michaels

Virginia Cavaliers

Postgame Press Conference

Virginia - 6, Tennessee - 0

Q. Can you just talk about what an emotional day it was for you and your feelings after you hit the home run? And I don't know if you know it or not, but somebody chased down the ball and gave it to your dad in the stands?

LOGAN MICHAELS: When I hit that, I instantly, when it went over the fence I started thinking about my dad and it's one of the most special moments we could share together.

And I mean I was sitting in the dugout after it happened. I got pretty emotional. For him to be here for what he went through in the past, just for him to be here and be able to see that, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Just a really special moment.

Q. How many times has your dad been able to watch you play?

LOGAN MICHAELS: So my first year here he came to Notre Dame for two games, I want to say. And then he came down to Pensacola when we played Oklahoma last year before COVID happened. And this year he came for the Louisville series, the Duke series and the Wake Forest series, but I was not playing; I was hurt. And then he came to the Super Regional and now. So I'd say probably like 15 games maybe.

Q. How much do you think about what you've done for the past few weeks and especially how today went for you today, if last year doesn't go the way it did, you don't get the opportunity -- who knows how last year would have gone but you don't get this opportunity to do the things you've been able to do these last couple of weeks?

LOGAN MICHAELS: Yeah, I guess -- I mean, I haven't really thought about that. I'm more of a guy who likes to stay in the moment, not look back at the past, I guess you could say. What happened in the past, obviously it's cool and obviously what we did last year is what we did.

But, I mean, for us to be where we are right now, it's so exciting. This is the most fun I've ever had playing baseball. This group of guys on this team, we fight to the end of it. We compete every day. We just love each other. And to be a part of this team it's really special. I've enjoyed every second of it.

Q. I think you saw the video here, your dad's reaction after the home run. What's it like to see that? I know you were emotional and he certainly was too when you hit that?

LOGAN MICHAELS: There's no words for it. Just for someone to bring him the home run ball and obviously for it to happen on Father's Day at the College World Series, I mean, definitely a special moment for our family and for my dad and I.

Q. Your dad said that your swing is not really built for home runs. You've only had two here now at Virginia. What was your reaction seeing that ball just kind of get over the fence out there?

LOGAN MICHAELS: I mean, I knew I could do it. I've done it many times in practice. And so it's actually funny. Yesterday a few of us were at lunch and a group of guys with a podcast came and sat down with us, were asking us questions.

They asked me if I'm going to hit a home run tomorrow, and I said, I'd like to say yes. And the guy asked me how many home runs I've had all year. And I said none. It's kind of funny; they asked me the question and then it happens.

But, no, I think a lot of us on the team have joked about how I'm saving it for my first one for Omaha this year.

And so, no, I think it's just fun. Just like I said earlier, this team we joke about everything. So for it to happen and help the team get a win, definitely happy for it.

Q. Brian told us earlier that there was a time three years ago where he wasn't even sure if you would come to UVA because of what was going on in your family. How seriously did you consider that option? And did your parents encourage you to go to Charlottesville?

LOGAN MICHAELS: I remember there was one time where I went home -- I got to UVA and I was there for about a month. And I flew home for the weekend at the end of September. And I remember getting home. And that weekend I was home it was the sickest he'd been since he was sick.

And so I remember getting back on my flight to leave home and I remember I cried all the way on my flight from Chicago to Charlottesville just not wanting to go back and go home and be with my family and just help them.

So I got back to school and I remember I talked to our academic counselor and we were talking. I just was, like, I don't know if this is right for me right now. But at the same time I've worked my whole life for this. Like this is what I've wanted my whole life. I've worked for it really hard.

So it was just a really tough decision. Obviously I'm so happy that I stayed here. And I think -- I talk to my family a lot, too. And my dad was always, like, stay there. You'll enjoy it. This is what you've been meant to do your whole life. So obviously I ended up staying here.

But no, I mean I wouldn't say it was very serious, the thought of leaving, but it was definitely a thought.

Q. How big is it when you see Max climb a ladder like that to snag a ball going into right field and what Nic did, and also how you're balancing this excitement of being in Omaha with this poise of big moments like you had today?

LOGAN MICHAELS: This team, everybody's a leader on this team. You can look right and left. Everybody can lead. Everybody steps up in big moments. And I think that's why we're playing so well. Every team here is really, really good and really talented. So it's going to take guys on the team to step up and be leaders.

And so I mean you can just look around, the whole team -- and you look at the Regional, Super Regional, every game there's different guys stepping up. That's a really good characteristic to have with this team, is just everybody's stepped up in a big way at some point in the season.