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APRIL 2021 25 "Definitely not the ideal way of getting the first RBI of the season," Michaels said with a chuckle in a postgame interview. "Hey, it got the job done, we got a run out of it — espe- cially with two strikes, I'll take it. Any way for us to get a run." Michaels went relatively unfazed by the event and the Cavaliers defeated Connecticut 2-1 at Disharoon Park that night. Some of that comfort comes with his hockey roots. A highly regarded junior hockey goalie, the De- Forest, Wis., native was no stranger to laying it all out on the line for the sake of his team. "I'm used to getting pucks to the head," Michaels added. "If I'm stopping the puck and not giving up goals, I'm happy with it. As a catcher or a goalie, I'm used to getting beat up a little bit." Michaels has been the model of durability behind the plate during his three seasons in Charlottesville. He stepped on Grounds as a junior college transfer in 2019 and immediately made an impact by starting 39 games at catcher. At the plate he was statistically the tough- est batter in the Atlantic Coast Conference to strike out, averaging 11.3 at-bats for every strikeout. Before his 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Michaels had started 16 of the 18 games behind the dish and was a major contributor on the sev- enth-highest scoring offense in the country. At the 2020 Hoos Choice Awards, Michaels was named the Billy Word Memorial Award winner — given to the team's most valuable player — even though a few of his teammates put forth better statistical performances and others garnered national recognition. "It was probably the biggest honor I've ever received in my lifetime," said Michaels, who in addition to being a constant behind the plate batted .316 with one homer and 16 RBI. The success he is enjoying at Virginia has not come easy. In a locker room littered with high school All-Americans and Major League Baseball Draft picks, Michaels went rela- tively unheralded during his prep career. An injury during his junior season contributed to his anonymity in the recruiting ranks. The love of the game started with his fa- ther, Jeff, and the Chicago Cubs. The two have been avid fans and Michaels can re- call the team's games always being on the television growing up. His relationship with baseball and his dad strengthened because of the game and eventually morphed into Jeff throwing wiffle balls and tennis balls in front of the garage to Logan at a young age. Fast-forward to his high school years and the duo could be found at the field down the street getting batting practice in almost every night after school. "I'd say that the biggest influence [on my career] was my dad," Michaels said. "He was my coach, and I think that helped me really enjoy the game and just enjoy my time at the field because he was my coach. He knew what was best for me and helped guide me in a way." Michaels was tabbed as the Billy Word Memorial Award winner — given to the team's most valuable player — following the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, after starting 16 games behind the plate and batting .316 with one homer and 16 RBI. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA ATHLETICS BY SCOTT FITZGERALD T he grind of a baseball season hits every player hard, but no one feels it more than a catcher. Catchers seemingly always find themselves in harm's way and that couldn't be more evident in Logan Michaels' first at-bat of the 2021 season. With no score and the bases chock-full of Wahoos, Michaels found himself in an advantageous position to drive in the first Virginia run of the year. After waiting nearly a year for the chance to return to game action, the third pitch that he saw wedged between the brim of his batting helmet and the earflap. After a brief survey of what just happened, Michaels noticed his helmet had cracked with the impact of the pitch, but he was still upright and made his way down to first base unscathed. CATCHING ON CATCHING ON Hard Work And Perseverance Have Helped Logan Michaels Realize His Dream