Q&A with DeForest's Logan Michaels
Original photo credit: Reg Steuck
DeForest won the Badger North Conference last year and had hopes of reaching the state tournament as the No. 1 seed in their sectional, but were ultimately knocked out of the playoffs in the sectional semifinals. They have practically their entire team back this year, including starting catcher Logan Michaels. The senior batted .333 with 5 doubles last year. Read on for a Q&A with the reliable backstop.
Spencer Flaten, lead writer for Wisconsin Baseball Central: What is your outlook on the spring season this year? What are your individual and team goals?
Logan Michaels: The outlook that we have as a team this year is of course winning conference. But the thing we are shooting for and know we can do it is make it to state. Our whole starting lineup is coming back from last year. We know we have a chance to do something special.
SF: The Norskies made it to sectionals last year as the #1 seed in the bracket, but ultimately came up short. What went wrong?
LM: What went wrong was we couldn't string together hits when we needed them. La Crosse Central was throwing their ace and he was throwing pretty good. We had our chances to win the ball game but couldn't come through when we needed it.
SF: What did you take away from playing in sectionals?
LM: What we got out of sectionals is we have to work much harder than we worked last year if we want to make it to state. We know we have the talent. We just have to play as a team and when we need the big hits in big situations, we need to come through.
SF: If you guys make it to Appleton this year, what would it mean to you to play on the first DeForest baseball team to ever make it to the state tournament?
LM: If we were to make it to state for the first time ever it would be special. Our group of seniors has been playing together ever since we were 5 and we have always talked about maybe having a chance to make it to state. Just to know we were the first team from Deforest to make it to state would be pretty awesome and something I'd remember the rest of my life.
SF: What are your plans after you graduate from DeForest?
LM: My plans after graduating are to go to Madison College for 2 years and then transfer after those 2 years.
SF: What is your favorite baseball memory?
LM: My favorite baseball memory would be last summer playing for the GRB Rays and going down to Atlanta, Georgia. We were in a tournament with 435 teams and we ended up making it to the final 14 teams. It was a pretty big accomplishment for us.
SF: Who is your favorite baseball player/team?
LM: My favorite baseball team is the Chicago Cubs and my favorite player is Kris Bryant
