COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: LEXINGTON SUPER REGIONAL

June 9, 2024

Mitch Canham

Dallas Macias

Gavin Turley

Oregon State Beavers

Postgame Press Conference

Kentucky - 3, Oregon State - 2

MITCH CANHAM: Heck of a ball game. No doubt our guys came out and put up a big fight responding from yesterday just like they always do. I can always count on these guys to battle and be there for one another. And to played down to the wire like that at the very end, incredible fight, big heart.

Obviously the tough part is not being able to see some of these guys for quite a long time. I know how much they poured into it since they showed up on campus and how much they love going out there and competing for one another. It's very painful. There's only one goal every year, and if you don't win that very last game, it hurts.

But looking at these guys and how much they care about one another and how much they care about representing this Beaver family, it's big. And I can't say enough about, looking at each of these guys, how much I love them, how I'd do anything for them anywhere anytime, and I trust them with my life.

It's going to be tough not being able to see some of them. But I know what they're going to do. The guys that are moving on and going on to play pro ball have exhausted their eligibility. I know they're going to do great things in life. They're going to be good men.

And those that are still young and have time, I know this is going to fuel them to go achieve something that they've never done before.

They're going to push, especially these two guys next to me, just a prime example of big hearts, selfless, doing the right thing, always building on their process and having fun along the way and fun is the journey.

Whether it stings right now, it really does, I know how they're going to respond to this in a big way, and it's going to change their lives.

Q. Could you just talk about your offense in the last two games? Can you pinpoint why it was so hard getting hits and how you were handcuffed?

DALLAS MACIAS: I mean, obviously, I think, each one of us are up there competing the way that we always do. And I think obviously we struggled to find a little bit of a rhythm.

It sucks because we all want it so bad, and I know each guy wants it really bad and is out there competing as hard as they can.

But it's hard to pinpoint. I think we kind of got potentially a little swing happy and was playing into some of the off-speed instead of being a little more patient. But that's all I've got there. But it's just tough.

GAVIN TURLEY: I think Dallas knows that -- big moment, it felt like every AB for every guy in every situation. So living up to that and being prepared for that mentally, I think we can do a better job at.

But I feel like we went out there and we competed like we always compete. I didn't feel many of us took a pitch off. Their pitching staff was really great, made a lot of really, really good pitches. But I feel like Dallas said, we competed very well.

Q. I saw everybody gathered in the dugout afterwards. I know Mitch was in the middle. What did you take away from what he said? What was the enduring message there for both of you guys?

GAVIN TURLEY: I feel like what Mitch said at the end is why I'm here. It's a family. Not something that you can really explain with words, but it runs deep. It's a special thing to be a part of.

I mean, like I've said a few times now, I understand why people come back and talk so highly about this place. It's because of people like Skip.

DALLAS MACIAS: Yeah, I agree. Same thing as Gav said. Just hurts at the end. You see all the guys around you. And everybody loves each other so much.

And I think that that starts with Skip and kind of the culture he's built around us where everybody really takes the time to know each other. And it just means that much more when you're out there because you're just playing for each other like you're brothers. And it hurts obviously at the end when you can't pull through for each other.

Q. How much, if any, for both of you guys did you feel the crowd was a factor in the last three nights?

GAVIN TURLEY: It's different, but also playing at Goss, I feel we're kind of conditioned to it. We have a similar crowd, I would say. The speakers were blaringly loud all night, it felt like.

But the crowd definitely played a part in the momentum, you could say. But I feel it's nothing new for us.

DALLAS MACIAS: Yeah, I agree. Similarly to what he said, definitely not something that I would say derailed us, but definitely something to learn from when you have a big crowd like that. And an opposing team, instead of fighting fire with fire, taking the low pulse route and being a little bit easier with it and taking it the other way.

Q. The way this ended, obviously short of what you had hoped for, how might this fuel or motivate you? Or what will be your response heading into next year?

GAVIN TURLEY: I feel like last year we came up short at the regional. This year short at the super regional. I feel like going into next year another year under our belts with more experience.

Really I know what I have to do, I know what role I need to fill for next year. I feel like I know myself better as a part of this team and where I have to be at as a part of this team much better going into next year, which will most definitely help in the long run.

DALLAS MACIAS: Yeah, I agree with what Gav's saying. I think it really fuels the fire. Coming up short like that and watching the other team celebrate, it's just something that I think that we'll be able to use to get us even going more next year and it will be good.

I think we've got some younger guys that have more experience, like Gav was saying. And I think they'll be ready to step into that role. And like Gav was saying, him and I with another year under our belt and ready to lead some of the other guys and get ready to win it next year.

Q. You guys had a hard time producing hits yet you produced a lot of traffic. Seemed like you were one swing away. I've got to think that added to your frustration. How are you feeling with that?

GAVIN TURLEY: Yeah, it's very rare, I feel like as a lineup, when we get one hit or two hits. I can't remember the last time it happened. Feels like Dallas, behind me, has three to four hits every night.

So the fact that that's happened, I think, goes to show what a competitive environment this tournament is. But not much to talk on that, to be honest.

DALLAS MACIAS: Yeah, I'd say, like you said, it felt like we were always one hit away and kind of right on the edge of just blowing it open a few times. I think that's where, one thing I'll definitely take away from this is not try to make it happen too much and just letting the game happen.

And I think that that's obviously moments like this, I choose to use it as a learning moment. And that's what Skip always tells us about. You can take it as a failure and a loss and not learning anything from it. But I think that what we're going to do is take this moment and learn from it and be battle tested for next year.

Q. Watching Trav and Micah, those guys, it was very emotional. How would you describe seeing how they processed it as best they could?

GAVIN TURLEY: Seeing those guys, they've been, it feels like, one step ahead. I like to think of it as an older brother where they can kind of guide you in the right way. So them being such huge parts of my career and everyone's career, I assume Dallas, they're always talking to us every day about something. And seeing it be the last pitch for them, last pitch we're going to get to play with them, it was very emotional.

I feel like Lattery, he's almost like a dad to me at this point. But Bazz and Micah and Brady, all these guys, seeing it's going to be the last time I'm playing with them, potentially, it's kind of like, you're on your own now, Gav. It's your time, which it's emotional to me.

I'm sure Dallas could say the same thing. But those guys are a huge part of this team, huge part of my career and a lot of kids' careers on that team.

DALLAS MACIAS: Yeah, exactly what he said. It just hurts because you treat them -- like I have my own older brother, Gavin has his older brother, and it feels the same way. It always hurts seeing your older brother like that, knowing they're potentially not going to be back next year.

And it's just a painful part of it. And it is what it is, but I think that we're going to miss them a lot. And that's part of what, like you were saying earlier, fuels the fire a little bit of wanting to get back there next year and win it for them and be able to get their back.

Q. What did you say to the team in that huddle?

MITCH CANHAM: Something I need to tell people more often, that I love them. I could see it in their eyes how much they care and how much it stings. But really just getting to bring them all in one more time together.

As I called them up, I wanted to make sure they were real close. I yell at them enough about a million other things. I didn't want to yell when I was telling them how much I loved them.

And that I'm just proud of them. Going through and giving those guys hugs, guys don't always like hugs because then you start getting emotional. I know that's what they spend a lot of time doing right after the game was telling each other how much they cared for one another, how proud they were of one another.

I could look at each of those guys that are going to be moving on, I know they're going to be in a great spot. They're going to have a wonderful family and they're going to overcome adversity. And I look to them like I'm excited to go to their wedding some day and see them raise kids and teach others, you know?

That's been the cool part about coaching, why I probably love it more than ever playing, is you don't have any stats. You just focus on those other people and making sure they're in a good space.

I wanted to break the huddle one more time. We say a handful of different things, and that was the appropriate time to bring them up and get a "family on three."

Didn't have a lot to say, but I know when my mom and my dad told me they loved me and they were proud of me, it wasn't all the time or anything like that. Guys can be a bit gruff so we don't always say as much as we should. But I think they know that about them.

Q. I know this probably isn't in the front of your mind at a moment like this, but was there any point where you guys were the last Pac-12 team (indiscernible) to be standing? Anything (indiscernible) that it ended with you today?

MITCH CANHAM: I guess I don't think too much on that one. I focus on Oregon State and our baseball family, our athletic department, our university, our community in the northwest.

Outside of that, I mean, as a Christian, I love everybody and I want to see everyone succeed. I know there's always change. It does stink, and I think for those of us that grew up around that conference, it means a little something. It hurt a lot of people, but at the same time my responsibility is taking care of this baseball family.

I know we're in a good place going forward for what we have planned out in our near future with our schedule and everything else.

But I love the sport. I love collegiate athletics. And I respect those that go out there and coach and put their heart into it because that's what God put us here to do is to transform others in a great way.

So I think of this platform and the way the sport is growing, it's such a beautiful thing, when you get to go out -- a lot of the kids here locally are staying out way past their bedtime. People are going to call in tomorrow sick to work. And it's because people love watching the game.

We have a lot of our family and friends that came out and watched, are watching back home on TV, and you don't take that stuff lightly, the platform that we have, how special it really is to wake up every day.

Everything that you do is going to change people's evening and tomorrow and the whole week. I know it's not just the guys; it's everyone back home that's hurting right now. And I'm sure I'll get a lot of emails letting me now how I need to fix some things on my end. Again, it's just being able to take the punches, being humble.

I always say I don't know if there is anyone who loves this place as much as I do because of what it did for me and my life. And I just owe the rest of my life to give it back to our student-athletes, to the community, to my wife and kids when I'm not home -- and our coaches, Dor and Gip and Wong, you name it -- Z.T. and Gorty, all those guys, Jeremy and Mike, they work their butts off and they love those kids.

I know how much it hurts. They're passionate. I hired them all because they're extremely passionate and love this place and would do anything for it. And how much -- shoot, when I hired Dorman, I called a lot of his former players, and I coached with him before, I called his former players. And they all still stay in touch with him from years back. And they appreciated everything that he had given to them on and off the field.

I know people always have opinions on things, but my opinion on those guys is that they are extremely special. And there's no one else like them in the country. And, again, I love sharing the office with them. They probably are harder on me than anyone.

I would say if we don't get on each other at least once a week then we're not doing our job. But, like, that is the special piece, the Beaver family as opposed to the conference. You still care about all that stuff. I want baseball to continue to grow. I want kids to play sports.

I want them to go out there and compete. When it's game time, be rough. And my dad always said in football, you knock the guy out, you pick him back up and go on to the next play.

Q. Oregon State, rich baseball tradition, multiple national champions. This is the first time Kentucky's made the College World Series. What does it mean to a program to get there, to get to Omaha?

MITCH CANHAM: I believe that's going to be more the questions you're going to ask those guys after me.

Q. But it's a program with the experience in getting there, what does that say?

MITCH CANHAM: It's an amazing accomplishment. Kentucky's got a great team, obviously. The way they've played all year long. They're playing the small game. They're playing the speed. They're pitching the heck out of it. They neutralized a good offense.

We stung some baseballs hard. Trosky hit one down the line, that puts a guy in scoring position there. Weber smashed a ground ball to shortstop. Anyway, that was not what the question was.

But thinking back when we made it to Omaha in '05, and having that feeling, winning out at supers and going to Omaha. That first year we went 0-2 real quick and got sent home. It felt like a burr because you had never experienced it before. But it made you hungrier to go out and do that.

In '06 we started off losing 11-1 to Miami with some rain, then came back with fire and never looked back. It was obviously a lot of confidence and momentum that can be built from that belief.

The relationships you build, every game you get to play with those guys around you, your relationships get stronger and stronger.

I know I go check my phone after this and there's a text thread of a lot of us from '06 and '07 on it and they'll be saying some stuff on there to pick us all up. It's a life-changing thing when you're able to accomplish those big moments and move on. And even how you handle the tough moments, I think, can bring you a lot closer too.

Q. Touched on it briefly there, but the play by the third baseman on the slash down the line, with the game kind of hanging in the balance there, that kind of pressure, just what did you think from your perspective?

MITCH CANHAM: I would have liked if he didn't catch it. Yeah, just to see it from my viewpoint too, made a great read on it. Worked bottom up on it. And then gathered himself and fired a strike across the diamond.

It's a two-outs situation. I'm going to go ahead and review it and maybe slow things down a little bit. Who knows, maybe he slid his foot off. Fight for anyway you can to get on base right there.

But huge for Jabin to come in off the bench. He's a middle infielder playing the corner while TC was out this year. And he's done a phenomenal job. It's not easy to play as a middle infielder tall, and then go to the corner and have to do that stuff too. TC made a really nice play as well on a hot shot at him.

But that's the thing. Sometimes the ball, 1 inch this way or scoots a little faster or whatever. And those are hard throws to make all the way down the line with the backhand. It's a long throw in a big moment.

There were a few of those like that today. Balz ripping one down the line. Some contact over at first where he's pretty stinkin' fast and he's probably going to be ripping for second on a ball down the line like that and the throw's coming home. We thought he should have been awarded second base there. But when obstruction happens, you have to be a little conservative on that.

That puts second and third, winning run's on second right there. A lot of big moments in that game.

Again, I was just proud of how well our guys responded from yesterday to come out and fight. May not have a lot of hits in there. Loved where Brady was at in pregame. And you could see from some of the swings that they wanted it real bad, maybe just a little too much.

But resilience coming in off the bench, putting a bunt down, being ready for those moments. Dawson Santana has been, like, told him he's a bit of a captain for a freshman who hasn't had much playing time. And to come in, run the bases, and be a part of that game -- he's a part of it whether he's in the game or not.

There's a lot of special kids you may not see in the lineup every day that are doing big things to make others better, which is what you want.

Q. What did Nelson tell you about the bizarre go-ahead run? Did he forget there was a man on second? What did he describe to you when you got a chance to talk to him about that?

MITCH CANHAM: I didn't go talk to him about that one. I think we know when the ball gets by you have to go cover home. He just did not -- had a little brain fart or something on that moment. And it was loud enough that you couldn't say, hey, cover home.

But those are like little mistakes like that can be bigger things, but I don't think that was the game. I think it's silly to pinpoint one play on the entirety of it. There's other times when we had runners on third and less than two. Find a way to get them in. Do whatever it takes. Push. Slap it.

I like later on how fearless Macias was. We put on a hit and run on 1-0 count to protect him a bit. The guy was a 1.55 to the plate. Had a feeling he was going to throw an off-speed pitch, gets him in scoring position. And then we've got to slow the game down and find a way to get him in and not chase.

When we didn't chase -- and we walked nine times. When we expand a little too much we get in trouble.

But when there's a runner on third, less than two, we talk about it all the time, be ready now. Don't wait. Don't miss the good one.

A little in between on some pitches here and there. But that's baseball. And we know even going into the season how strong the offense is, top to bottom.

I mean, every day you go look at the lineup, you're like, wow, there's potential to score a lot of runs right now and often.

And for it to come down to the end where we just didn't score runs, yeah, it's a bummer it happens back-to-back days, but at the same time, hits may not have been there but we were still drawing walks and putting pressure. Just couldn't find that one big one. We know how that carries into the next.

Q. It feels like it was just yesterday that the loud hyper kid from Australia was rolling into Corvallis, what are you going to miss most about Travis Bazzana?

NICK MINGIONE: My heart says I'm going to see a lot of him. I know I'm not going to get to spend every day with him. I know he's going to be back and around and want to be around the guys and help out.

His heart for that place and those guys, it's just tremendous. He's going to be great. He's going to go on, do amazing things. Whatever number he gets picked, that's just the draft. He wants to go be a Hall of Famer. He wants to win championships and get better every day.

So I'm excited to hear the stories about where he's going, what he's doing, seeing his family and how proud they are of him as well and how he's changing the entirety of that country, just from how he goes about his business and works hard and is so patient with everything. He's giving people belief that you can come here and do this.

You trust him with everything he does. He sets a great example for others. He's still learning and growing and wanting to be the best. You see him he fouls off a ball or something he gets emotional because he wants it so stinkin' bad. It's what's going to lead him to being successful the entirety of his life.

He's done so many great things for this place, more than just baseball. And I'm excited. We all are excited for what he's going to do and he comes over for dinner and hangs out with my kids and play a board game or LEGOs. He's going to other coaches' kids Little League games and every event he can to get involved on campus. Who doesn't want to be around him? He's infectious. He's fun.

I told him he's like part of the .001 percent. Hard for people to understand him because he's just so unique. I feel like he's -- I'd do anything for him. I'd do anything for all those guys, but Travis has definitely influenced my family in many ways.