![Texas Tech's Micah Dallas (34) takes a picture with Amanda Hambrick Carrell during practice before the College World Series game against Michigan, Friday, June 14, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-06-14-Texas-Tech-Baseball-CWS-Practice-06.jpg?resize=1024%2C807)
Texas Tech College World Series Opening Day 2019
![Texas Tech's Micah Dallas (34) takes a picture with Amanda Hambrick Carrell during practice before the College World Series game against Michigan, Friday, June 14, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-06-14-Texas-Tech-Baseball-CWS-Practice-06.jpg?resize=1024%2C807)
Professional Photojournalist
![Texas Tech's Micah Dallas (34) takes a picture with Amanda Hambrick Carrell during practice before the College World Series game against Michigan, Friday, June 14, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-06-14-Texas-Tech-Baseball-CWS-Practice-06.jpg?resize=1024%2C807)
![Strake Jesuit's Matthew Boling crosses the finish line in the 100 meter race during the UIL state track and field meet Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. Boling finished in first with a time of 10.13 seconds, breaking a national record. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-05-11-State-Track-Field-Meet-08.jpg?resize=1024%2C767)
After Texas Tech defeated Michigan State in the Final Four game, it was time for the Red Raiders to move on to the national championship. Whichever team won would return home with a program first national championship. Virginia was that team.
![The Final Four logo on the exterior of the stadium before the national championship game between Texas Tech and Virginia, Monday, April 8, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-04-08-Texas-Tech-Virginia-Basketball-02.jpg?resize=1024%2C703)
After watching Texas Tech win the Elite Eight in Anaheim, I still cannot believe that I have found myself in Minneapolis covering the Final Four. Carlos, Matt and I traveled to the Twin Cities where the Red Raiders met up with Michigan State.
![Basketball fans enter the stadium before the Final Four games Saturday, April 6, 2019, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bradtollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-04-06-Texas-Tech-Michigan-State-Basketball-01.jpg?resize=1024%2C697)