2B - February 22, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 2B - February 22, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Taylor's no-hitter lifts 'M' to tournament win An escape from Olympic boredom In five games over three days, Blue shows resiliency with 4-I record By CASANDRA PAGNI Daily Sports Writer No-hitter? No problem. Junior pitcher Jordan Taylor threw a gem for the Wolverines this past weekend, improving to 5-0 and logging her first com- plete game no-hitter of the sea- son in a 7-0 win over Oklahoma State on Friday. With solid pitching, smart defense and an explosive offense, the No. 4 Michigan softball team (6-2) showcased its complete arsenal this past weekend, win- ning four out of five games at the Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La. The three-day tournament culminated with an 8-1 win over Oklahoma State in the champion- ship game on Sunday. "We're all about playing Michigan softball, staying in the moment, making your pitches work," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "We don't get caught up in who we're playing, we worry about playing good softball." In the championship game, Oklahoma State got on the board first in the second inning but the Wolverines didn't panic. They resorted to their strengths - offense and pitching - to cruise to victory. Taylor stayed calm and pitched six strong innings, allowing one earned run while striking out eight. "Jordan's a great pitcher," Hutchins said. "I'm most pleased with the consistency she's shown, not just in her performance but in her pitch-to-pitch approach. Right now, she's pitching well, she's very focused and she's play- ing one-pitch softball, and that's I don't know about most of you out there, but, for me, there's always been something lacking in the Win- ter Olympics. Don't get me wrong, I've still been watching as much as I can in between cram- ming for my last midterms. Any time Shaun White does hiss thing, t can't help but day- t dream about how much better my life would be ANDY if I were him. REID But, whenI compare these to the summer games - especially 2008's drama-filled event in Beijing - I have been really struggling to get into it. Maybe my eye is just too untrained to see the differences and little quirks, but there's only so many times I can watch a person ski down a hill or skate on a sheet of ice before it all starts to look exactly the same. And it's not like I don't "get" it.I grew up in Michigan, and I've been snowboarding since I could strap on a board. Only now, after watch- ing so many people race the same course over and over, do I appreci- ate what my mom did for me back then, sitting ina ski lodge and pre- tending not to be bored to tears as I waved to her from the bottom of the hill. Part of the problem stems from NBC's coverage of the games. The diversity and variety of events cho- sen for broadcast and the amount of airtime for live events haven't been great. I think they did a bet- ter job two years ago, but that's for another column altogether. Long story short, I was about to give up on Vancouver 2010. Then, one day after class last week, I found my personal Winter Games savior. I got home and plopped down on the couch. One of my housemates had absentmindedly turned on NBC or one of its affiliates while he was surfing the Internet. It just happened to be curl- ing, and I've just happened tobe enthralled ever since. I wish I could tell you more about why I find the sport so damn intriguing. It's slow-moving, highly mental and it appears as if the phys- ical qualifications for athletes range from Extreme Couch Potato to Pro Bowling Association member. Not to mention that I could prob- ably watch an entire season of The Wire in the time it takes for them to play one game - or is it a match? Or a set? I don't know. Whatever, you get the point. ButI can't look away. The USA women's 6-5 win over Great Britain - which ended in the 11th after the English screwed up on a very make- able toss (at least, I think that's what happened) - was probably the most exciting thing for me during the Olympics so far. It was incredible. I'm starting to pick up on the rules. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the winner of each round is the one with a stone closest to the middle. Then, the winning team gets one point for each stone they have closer to the middle than the other team's closest stone. Whew. Con- fused? Yeah, me too, a little. But that's part of the fun. That's what I've been looking for. The Summer Games offer a myriad of sports that seem exotic and fun - handball, water polo, fencing. The best part of watching them is learning how they're played as you watch. You get invested, and even if America's not in it anymore, you still care. What's there to figure out about most Winter games? You go down- hill. Maybe do a flip. Maybe, on very rare occasions, shoot a gun. But curling offers that same kind of fun. And, America or no America, I'll be glued to my TV next Saturday for the gold medal game. And by then, I'll at least know what's going on. If they sold curling jerseys, Reid would buy a Calgary WC Cheryl Bernard one. He can be reached at andy.a.reid@gmail.com Junior Jordan Taylor threw a no-hitter against Oklahoma State on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. her key to success." Saturday was a quiet day for the Wolverines' bats. Though Michigan beat No. 19 Louisiana State 2-0, the Wolverines fell 2-1 to unranked Virginia. Hutchins stressed the fact that the Wolver- ines must be firing on all cylin- ders to perform at their best. 'If pitchers do their part, the hitters have their part to do," Hutchins said. "Yesterday's game against Virginia, it's quite obvi- ous that our hitting didn't do their part. Our defense didn't play as well as it could, and our hitting did not do its part. But when we all do our part, you'll see good things occur, such as W's. W's are good." On Sunday, the Wolverines got a much-needed spark from their offense. Michigan scored in every inning from the third on and scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore left fielder Bree Evans highlighted the Wolver- ines' scoring attack as she walked once, scored and drove home two on an RBI single. Her clutch play from the leadoff position helped seal the Wolverines' win. "I just felt a lot more relaxed this weekend," Evans said. "I tried to not to have anything affect me. It helped that I didn't let my last setback affect my next at bat. All I'm trying to accom- plish is getting on base, because if I get on base then I know my team can make something hap- pen and get the first run across." In addition to boosting their confidence with early season tournaments, playing five games in three days is a good endurance test for the Wolverines. "It's a grind," Hutchins said. "By game five, we looked tired. When we get into the confer- ence season, we'll only have to play two games in a weekend, so it will seem like a piece of cake. But each pitch in every game we play is so intense. You evolve as the season goes on, but these five game weekends, they're tough." With two early-season tour- naments out of the way, includ- ing a win at the Tiger Classic, Michigan heads to into the rest of its season with an agenda: to surpass last season's Women's College World Series appearance with an NCAA National Champi- onship. "I think that fans should be excited because our team is on a mission," Evans said. "We want to win it this year and we know that we're capable of winning it. We're going to do anything we can to win the national champi- onship this year." ue dominates in early-season CWPA action By JAMES BLUM seven-score lead was too large to Daily Sports Writer overcome. Robertson accounted for 10 of the Wolverines' 27 open- The Michigan water polo team ing-day goals. stood strong this weekend at the "That was Leah being Leah." Princeton Invitational behind the Anderson said. "Leah is as good California-bred talent of senior as any player in the nation. When captain Leah Robertson. The she is on, she is very fun and two-day East Coast invitational exciting to watch." was a break from Michigan's The Wolverines followed tough non-conference schedule, up their impressive opening- which included wins over several day showing by crushing two West Coast powers, including unranked opponents on the two seventh-ranked schools, San second day of the tournament. Jose State and San Diego State, Michigan defeated then-unbeat- and No. 3 Hawaii. en Harvard, 13-3, and Wagner, Robertson and junior Lauren 12-5. Orth carried the fifth-ranked Sunday's showing was built on Wolverines (9-3) past their two strong defense, led by freshman toughest opponents of the invi- goalie Alex Adamson. Adamson tational. The Wolverines handed has won her first two collegiate No. 20 Princeton (3-1) its first games, putting up an impressive loss of the season 13-10, with four 17 saves and allowing just eight goals each from Robertson and goals over two games. With red- Orth. The Wolverines followed shirt senior Brittany May side- that up with a 14-11 win over rival lined because of injury, Adamson No. 12 Hartwick. was called on to head the Michi- "We have a team goal that gan defense and was brilliant in we're never going to get beaten in net. the East," Orth said. "We wanted to work on our Orth's impressive perfor- offensive explosion." Anderson mance, including a career-high said. "Sunday, we wanted to put six steals against Princeton, has more emphasis on our defensive helped keep that goal alive early end. The one thing that could in the season, but as Michigan derail us is if we do not fine-tune coach Matt Anderson knows, a our defensive effort when we season can turn around quickly. play (Princeton and Hartwick) "As of Feb. 21 we are feeling again. We know we can score on good," Anderson said. "But as them now, we have to frustrate in any sport, the next game can them more on the defensive end." make you feel not so good." The tournament sweep marked The Wolverines also looked a strong start to the Wolverines' good against Hartwick (12-3). CWPA conference play as they Although the Hawks looked look to three-peat as CWPA East- strong early, they were unable to ern Conference Champions and hold up against a strong Michi- prove they are contenders in the gan offense. NCAA Tournament. In the second stanza, with "We were tied at No. 1 with the game tied at two, Robert- Hartwick (in conference stand- son attacked. The team captain ings) coming in, and we proved exploded for five goals in the we were capable of beating them." period and finished the game Robertson said. "We think we are with a career-high six scores., No.1 in our conference but it's not The Hawks made it- close late final so we have a lot of work to against the Michigan bench, do. It shows the rest of the water outscoring the Wolverines 5-1 in polo world we are a powerhouse the final period, but Michigan's and a team to be reckoned with." Junior Botterman leads Wolverines to climactic late upset of fifth-ranked Utes " By STEPHEN NESBITT Daily Sports Writer Michigan coach Bev Plocki watched her final gymnast dash across the floor and land with ease in the corner of the mat. Plocki looked down, smiled and gave a confident fist-pump. Plocki had just seen junior Kylee Botterman end the evening with a season-high 9.950 score on her floor routine, effectively complet- ing the Michigan women's gym- nastics team's surprise victory over No. 5 Utah at Crisler Arena. The 16th-ranked Wolverines battled back from earlier mishaps on the uneven bars and the bal- ance beam to top the Utes in the final rotation, winning by a score of 195.725-195.100. It was an evening that ended in climactic fashion with a floor per- formance that had the crowd on its feet. "I was just thrilled," Plocki said. "We feel like we're a very good floor team ... and we hit the routines so we got good scores. I knew that when Kylee hit that last tumbling pass we had secured the win." As Michigan (3-0 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) headed to its final event - the floor routine - it was trailing by three tenths of a point, and it took three near-perfect runs to over- come the deficit. The final athletes, senior Sarah Curtis, freshman Natalie Beilstein and Botterman, posted scores of 9.900, 9.875 and 9.950 respectively. Although the balance beam has been the biggest weakness this sea- son, the major scares against Utah (5-2) were on the uneven bars, where two Wolverines and a Ute all fell. "Our struggles have been on beam," Plocki said. "So to come off of an event where we had an uncharacteristic fall, and go straight to beam, the pressure was definitely on." The team took the challenge and posted good scores on the beam, with senior captain Kelsey Knut- son taking her fourth beam title of the year by tying a season-high score of 9.875. But it was the strong start on vault and a better finish on the floor that propelled Michigan to the upset. "We needed to put together four good events to come away with a win," Plocki said. "This wasn't Utah's best night, but we also counted a fall on the bars. It was very big for us to start off strong on vaulting, and that kind of set the tone for the meet." Botterman and Curtis were sta- bilizers throughout the evening, offering very consistent perfor- mances to take the top two spots in the all-around. Both athletes took one event title each and tied for first place on the uneven bars. Ultimately, Bottermanedgedout her teammate by just one tenth of a point with a 39.475 performance. "(Sarah) and Kylee both, I put them in the same category," Plocki said. "They have been perform- ing well all season, and they both had great nights tonight in the all- around." With her dual meet-clinching floor routine, Botterman matched her career high on that event, tak- ing her fifth all-around title in seven meets this year. "I'm always excited to perform floor," Botterman said. "I don't usually get nervous, and I defi- nitely wasn't nervous. It's always fun when I know I'm going to hit my routine, I have that confidence, and I can help my team to a win." Regardless of any early slip-ups, when it came down to crunch time, the team pulled it together. Before the first performer took her place on the floor routine, the team gathered on the mat. After a few words from coaches, the ath- letes huddled alone and prepared for the final rotation. Botterman added some insight into the last-minute huddle. "We always .say, 'For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. Let's Go Blue,"' she said. As a team, the Wolverines need- ed all they could get from every member of the pack to pull off an upset, and they got it. Michigan finishes third at Big Ten Championships By FELIX CARREON Daily Sports Writer WEST LAFAYETTE - It was a day of pivotal rematches for the No. 16 Michigan women's swimming and diving team on the final day of competition at the Big Ten Champi- onships. Both fifth-year senior Emily Brunemann and senior Margaret Kelly looked to avenge second-place finishes in the 1,650- and 100-yard freestyle at the Boilermaker Aquat- ic Center, respectively. Brunemann started the 66-length race strong, leading the field of competition through the first 200 yards. Competing side- by-side, Brunemann went stroke for stroke with Minnesota's Ashley Steenvorden. But much like their previous meeting, Steenvorden took over the race. At 500 yards, she gained a slight edge she didn't relinquish. The final 100 yards proved to be a race for second, one Brunemann would eventually lose as the fifth- year senior touched the wall third, nearly four seconds behind Steen- vorden. "Not defending my tile was really hard," an emotional Brunemann said. "That's my event and that's my favorite event. But that's something that I chose, I chose not to taper for (Big Tens) and I chose to taper for NCAAs. But it doesn't make it any easier." The performance was a micro- cosm of the meet as a whole; the Wolverines placed third (462.5) behind No. 10 Minnesota (572.5) and Big Ten champion No. 14 Indi- ana (758). "We knew that on the psych sheet, coming in that first or sec- ond were really not realistic for us," Michigan coach Jim Richardson said. "We knew we'd be in a tight fight with Purdue and Ohio State and maybe Wisconsin. I'm really proud of this team, they really stepped up." Just days earlier, the Wolverines had an opportunity to overtake Indiana, the defending Big Ten champions. The team was trailing 276-252.5 heading into the finals of the 100- yard butterfly. Kelly posted the fastest preliminary time and was considered by many to be the favor- ite in the event. The Ann Arbor native posted a fast pace to begin the race but then faded in the wan- ing moments to finish in a close sec- ond by six hundredths of a second. Indiana's Donna Smailis touched the wall first in the event giving the Hoosiers an edge over Michigan that they never relinquished. A vic- tory by Kelly would have given the team a slight 306.5-304 advantage over the Big Ten favorites. It wouldn't be the last time that Kelly would square off against Smailis with an individual Big Ten title on the line. The 100-yard freestyle provided more of the same drama. In an event that she's doesn't typically swim, Michigan's all-everything swim- mer held her own. Standing in fifth place after the first 50 yards, the senior quickly made up ground, but would have to settle for third place. But all was not lost for the Wol- verines, if anything they may have found an heir to Kelly's throne as Michigan superstar swimmer. In her first Big Ten meet, fresh- man Mattie Kukors put on one heck of a show. In her first final of the meet, Kukors touched the wall fifth, but she didn't stopthere. The new- comer also registered fourth-place honors in the 400-yard individual medley and earned a victory in the consolation B final of the 200-yard backstroke. Knowing that Richardson still has depth, despite the third-place finish, puts the team at ease with the season winding down. "This team is amazing this year," Brunemann said. "In the five years that I've been here, this is the clos- est and best team I've been on. And that's why. I think so many people are so emotional."