10 -Tuesday, Aprill1, 2008

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily'.com

10 -Tuesday, April 1, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

DEFENSE
From Page 9
injuries - forcing sophomore walk-
on Eric Elmblad to play his first col-
legiate games - nor Kevin Quick's
dismissal from the team have slowed
the unit.
The blueliners have simply been in
the background of Kevin Porter and
Chad Kolarik's prolific offense and
Sauer's drastic turnaround this year.
But before the weekend's first
game, Michigan coach Red Berenson
singled them out, tellingthem it "was
their chance to shine." And the Pur-
ple Eagles and Golden Knights were
blinded.
"It's hard to get things going, get
chances on them," Niagara forward
MattCaruanasaid."They'reallquick,
they're all strong, they're all fast. We

tried our best to get pucks on the net,
but you need to give credit to them.
"Every time we crossed the line, I
felt like they were stepping right up
at us and not giving us any grade-A
opportunities."
The defensive effort wasn't limited
to just the defensemen, either. For-
wards were coming back strong and
backchecking well, something the
Wolverines have struggled with at
points this season.
"Our backcheck was huge (Friday),
and if our forwards are coming back,
they can step up and create turnovers
for us," Kolarik said.
And once Michigan clinched its
first Frozen Four appearance in five
years, Clarkson forward Nick Dodge
simply acknowledged the Wolver-
ines'talent.
"They're the best defense that
we've faced this year."

SOFTBALL
From Page 9
against the Hoosiers Saturday
with a drive over the 190-foot
sign in deep right field. Com-
bined with Taylor's shutout
performance, that would have
been enough offense to take the
game.
But Michigan turned the
remainder of the contest into a
home run derby.
Senior Samantha Findlay,
who has a team-high 11 hom-
ers, blasted a solo shot, as did
Nemitz, and sophomore Roya
St. Clair went deep for two RBI
as the Wolverines cruised to the
eight-runvictory.
Michigan won by the same
margin in the early game of

Sunday's doubleheader against
Purdue.
But in that game, small ball
was the key.
Sophomore Angela Findlay's
three-run double in the fourth
inning was the only extra-base
hit, and Michigan drew six
walks off Purdue pitchers Suzie
Rzegocki and Ashley DiDo-
menico.
By driving in five runs with
singles or walks, Michigan
proved its offense can be potent
even when its batters aren't
swinging for the fences.
"I was really impressed,"
Hutchins said. "A lot of times,
I like to see us just get some
base hits and not try to go yard
because we have the ability to
hit well, regardless of how we
do it."

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Michigan freshman Kylee Betterman competes o the vadult daring the Big Ten
Championships last Saturday. Michigan won its 16th conference title.
Big Tens double
the fun for family

Botterman clan
roots for Michigan's
Kylee and Illinois's
Marijka at meet
By NICOLE AUERBACH
Daily Sports Writer
Sitting on the steps between
the Michigan and Illinois parent
sections at the Big Ten Champi-
onships, Hank
Botterman NOTEBOOK
cheered for both
teams.
Wearing a homemade T-shirt
that was half-maize and half-
orange, his heart was divided
as he rooted for his daughters:
Michigan freshman Kylee and
Illinois junior Marijka.
Kylee was quick to take credit
for the creative design of the
shirt, which said "MICHNOIS."
"I made the shirt for my dad,"
Kylee said. "I'm glad he's wearing

itv
The two daughters took pic-
tures with their father on the
mats after the meet's awards pre-
sentations. There were no hard
feelings between the girls, just
laughs.
But Hank wasn't used to seeing
his daughters on opposite sides.
"It's just really exciting to have
two kids who competed with each
other all these years and all of
the sudden there's one meet and
they compete against eahh other,"
Hank said.
The family had plenty to enjoy
Saturday, watching the Wolver-
ines win the championship and
the Fighting Illini finish runner-
up.
And his daughters' perfor-
mances weren't too bad, either.
Kylee tied for first on the floor
exercise with a 9.900 score. Mari-
jka competed in the all-around
for Illinois and posted a 39.025
The Bottermans live in New
Lenox, Ill., and both of Kylee's
older sisters attended Illinois
and competed in gymnastics
there. But Kylee broke with
tradition and chose Michigan.
Her father's only complaint
is that he can't see her as
much. It's about a four-hour
drive from their home to Ann
Arbor, but the Bottermans
have willingly madethe trip to
watch Kylee compete this sea-
son. Of course, they've made it
to Marijka's meets, too.
But it has beenchallenging
to attend both of their daugh-
ters' meets because they gen-
erally take place on the same
night each weekend.
"We try to go to the home
meets," Hank said. "We went
to about six meets apiece. It's
just such a blessing that we
can see both throughout the
year."
Support from family mem-
bers has been outstanding
this season for the Wolver-
ines. The contingent of maize-
wearing parents and siblings
is clearly visible at every meet.
They're the first group to
start Michigan chants and the
loudest supporters. Many par-
ents also travel to away meets
to provide support. -
Even at a meet where two
daughters were rivals for
three hours, family played a
crucial role.
"Our family supports us
both," Kylee said. "So it felt
like old times when we used
to compete together. It was
awesome."
BASKETBALL
From Page 9
year," Borseth said. "She was
one of those kids that always
came to the gym and worked
hard. I'm glad to see that she
got her chance to play at the
end of the year and did as well
as she did."
Jones's late-season success
makes her a frontrunner to
take a starting job next year
from one of the team's two
departing seniors. Minnfield,
Krista Phillips and Carly
Benson will likely stay in the
starting lineup. Jones, fresh-
man Veronica Hicks, junior

Stephany Skrba and one of
the incoming freshman will
compete for the remaining
two spots.

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