Sports
8 — Tuesday, April 14, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Michigan heads into 
two midweek games

By BEN FIDELMAN

Daily Sports Writer

The Michigan baseball team 

will head into a pair of midweek 
games against in-state rivals on 
Tuesday and Wednesday, looking 
to stay perfect 
in such games 
this season.

Tuesday, 

the Wolverines 
head to Detroit 
to 
take 
on 

Michigan State 
at 
Comerica 

Park, and they 
return 
home 

Wednesday 
to 

face 
Eastern 

Michigan.

Michigan (6-6 Big Ten, 21-14 

overall) has caught fire lately, 
winning nine of its last 11 games. 
The Wolverines are looking to 
use these midweek matchups to 
work some injured players back to 
full strength in preparation for a 
postseason run.

Two of those players, junior 

pitchers Evan Hill and Keith 
Lehmann, were big contributors 
to last year’s weekend pitching 
rotation.

Hill is returning from a knee 

injury, and though he has thrown 
just 5.1 innings this season, he 
seems to be in mid-season form, 
allowing only one earned run to 
cross the plate. His last outing 
lasted two innings, so the team 
is looking for the junior to extend 
himself to the middle innings 
against the Spartans (4-5 Big Ten, 
18-15 overall) on Tuesday.

Hill’s 
only 
outing 
against 

Michigan State came during 
his freshman campaign, when 
he threw eight strong innings, 
allowing one run in a 5-1 victory.

Currently, Michigan State is 

playing some of its best baseball, 
having won six of its last eight 
games. The Spartans currently sit 
in eighth place in the conference 
standings — two spots behind 
Michigan.

The right-handed Lehmann 

hasn’t 
pitched 
since 
facing 

Kansas on March 15, missing 
time due to a forearm strain. He 
and Hill were two mainstays in 
the Michigan starting pitching 
rotation in 2014, and they will 
have a chance to contribute in 
big ways as the team looks to 
improve on its 3.67 earned-run 
average — just seventh-best in 
the conference.

Lehmann 
will 
lead 
the 

Wolverines against the Eagles 
(4-8 MAC, 13-22 overall) as the 
two teams face off for the second 
time in the last eight days. Last 
Tuesday, the Wolverines poured 
18 runs on Eastern Michigan, the 
second-most the team has scored 
in a game this season.

Michigan has only one more 

week this season featuring two 
midweek games, but coach Erik 
Bakich doesn’t mind the weekday 
games much.

“Ideally we would just play 

one (midweek game), that way 
we could have another day of 
practice,” 
Bakich 
said. 
“(It’s 

especially 
big) 
during 
the 

academic year when our guys are 
juggling school. But to be honest, 
whether we’re playing four or 
five games per week is of little 
impact.”

Usually the opponents for 

these games come from mid-
major conferences, like the MAC 
or Horizon League, but this week 
the Wolverines face a fellow Big 
Ten member in Michigan State. 
Since the two teams weren’t 
scheduled to play in conference 
games for consecutive seasons, 
they scheduled a neutral-site 
matchup to give fans a taste of the 
rivalry.

Bakich 
stresses 
that 
his 

team’s goals are all about getting 
better during these midweek 
games, no matter the opponent. 
Improving its conference-best 
.299 team batting average could 
prove difficult for Michigan 
no matter the opponent, but 
keeping the positive momentum 
rolling through another few 
midweek games will be key for 
this squad in its march for the 
Big Ten crown.

Keeping up no easy task 
for Wolverines, Big Ten

By TED JANES

Daily Sports Writer

There are many reasons high 

school softball players wouldn’t 
want to come play in the Big Ten.

Historically, the Pac-12 is and 

always has been the conference 
to beat. Twenty-four of the 33 
Women’s College World Series 
titles belong to teams from the 
Pac-12, and six more belong 
to other teams west of the 
Mississippi River.

Recently, Southern schools 

have made a strong surge. Since 
2007, eight teams from the SEC 
have competed in the national 
championship, and last year’s 
battle 
was 
a 
Southeastern 

showdown between Alabama 
and Florida. This year, with LSU, 
Oregon and Florida holding the 
top three spots, many would 
favor the Pac-12 or SEC to come 
out on top again.

For nearly the entire Big Ten 

conference, playing at home isn’t a 
legitimate option until mid- to late 
March. Big Ten teams on average 
competed in 28.47 games before 
their first home contest. While 
traveling out of the cold weather 
to start the season is enticing, the 
strenuous weekly trips across the 
country become exhaustive.

When looking at the top teams 

from the SEC, travel is not a 
problem. No. 1 LSU played 20 of 
its first 25 games this season at 
home, and No. 3 Florida never 
left the Sunshine State for its first 
27 games.

Finally, the top 25 rankings for 

college softball currently contain 
nine teams from the SEC and 
six from the Pac-12, but just two 
from the Big Ten.

Yet somehow, among all the 

difficulties and issues Big Ten 
softball teams face, those two 
teams, No. 4 Michigan and No. 
19 Minnesota, manage to keep up 
with the rest of the country.

For the Big Ten to stay 

relevant, it’s important for these 
teams to face highly ranked 
opponents early in the season 
before the conference schedule 
starts. Through the preseason, 
the Wolverines matched up with 
five different top-25 teams. In 
conference play, they face only 
one.

“People will sometimes forget 

about the Big Ten teams because 
we are so far away,” said junior 
infielder Sierra Romero, who was 
raised in southern California. 
“During preseason, we go and 
play in places like California to 
go out and get wins against big 
teams.”

Despite the high level of 

competition out west, Romero 
left home to join Michigan in the 
Big Ten. Along 
with Romero, 
three 
other 

consistent 
starters 
come 
from 

California. In 
fact, out of the 
10 Wolverines 
that 
have 

appeared in at 
least 20 games, only one comes 
from the state of Michigan, 
and just three come from the 
Midwest. Michigan’s core talent 
is largely based around players 
from other parts of the country.

Junior 
outfielder 
Sierra 

Lawrence and sophomore right-
handed pitcher Megan Betsa 
both came to Michigan from 
Georgia. Growing up in SEC 

country, Betsa was still drawn up 
north to Michigan. However, she 
acknowledged the strength of 
Southern teams as a whole.

“They all have very strong 

lineups one through nine,” Betsa 
said. “For pitching there aren’t 
any holes, and the number nine 
batter is just as strong as the two 
and three batters.”

Even though the Big Ten 

doesn’t have the same depth as 
high-caliber teams, Michigan 
coach 
Carol 
Hutchins 
has 

succeeded in building a program 
that stays in line with the rest of 
the country. Her coaching style 
and habits are factors all her 
players mention when discussing 
why 
they 
chose 
to 
attend 

Michigan over other powerhouse 
schools around the country.

“Personally, 
I 
felt 
that 

(Hutchins) 
genuinely 
cares 

about all her players,” said junior 
outfielder Kelsey Susalla. “She 
cares not just about our athletic 

ability, 
but 

about 
our 

character and 
academics 
as 

well.”

Added 

sophomore 
infielder Abby 
Ramirez: 
“What I think 
was the most 

attractive thing here was the 
tradition. The team and the 
coaching staff was a big part of 
decision. She wants what’s best 
for you as a person.”

Growing up in East Lansing, 

playing basketball and softball 
for Michigan State and working 
as an assistant coach at Indiana 
meant the Big Ten has always 
been home for Hutchins.

“You know, I’ve been in the 

Big Ten my whole life,” Hutchins 
said. “I think what I love most 
about the conference, at least 
from the softball view of it, is the 
amount of respect we have team 
for team, coach for coach, and 
even the new coaches that come 
in. We have huge amounts of 
respect for the game and for the 
institutions in the conference.

“We all really believe in playing 

with integrity, we all support 
each other in our conference 
endeavors, we support each other 
to win outside the conference, 
and we stick together.”

The Big Ten doesn’t have a 

reputation for softball prestige, 
and it doesn’t have a history of 
winning championships. But the 
one title it does have belongs to 
Michigan, and year after year, 
Michigan continues to fight for it, 
despite the impossible odds they 
face in the frigid Midwest.

Kyle Connor: ‘A player to watch’

By JASON RUBINSTEIN

Daily Sports Editor

The Michigan hockey team 

may have taken a spear to the 
heart when its captain, Andrew 
Copp, decided to forgo his senior 
season and join the Winnipeg 
Jets.

But there is a silver lining. 

Copp’s absence in the lineup will 
provide opportunities for others 
to fill his production — he tallied 
31 points this past season.

Look no further than blue-

chip recruit Kyle Connor. The 
Shelby 
Township, 
Michigan 

native has torn up the United 
States Hockey League the past 
three years — registering 195 
points in three seasons with the 
Youngstown Phantoms — and 
that has Michigan coach Red 
Berenson excited.

“Kyle Connor, he’ll be a player 

to watch,” Berenson said. “Right 
now, he’ll be the main recruit to 
watch.”

More 
notably, 
Berenson 

wouldn’t 
rule 
out 
Connor 

having 
a 
similar 
freshman 

season to that of Dylan Larkin, 
who was just named a second-
team All American and the 
Big Ten Freshman of the Year. 
He notched 47 points in his 
sensational freshman campaign.

“Maybe he could,” Berenson 

said of Connor’s chances of 
emulating Larkin. “He’s that 
type of player.”

That could be premature. But 

if Connor’s USHL stats are any 
indication, he has the tools to 
become an impact player for the 
Wolverines.

Connor just put an exclamation 

point on his final season with the 
Phantoms, scoring his 33rd and 
34th goals in his final game. His 
80 points are already a personal 
record and lead the USHL this 
year. More impressively, his 195 
points in three seasons are the 
sixth-most in USHL history, and 
he still has playoff games to raise 
his total.

Clearly, the USHL is becoming 

too easy for Connor and he needs 
more of a challenge. He’ll be 
joining a Michigan team that 
has failed to make the NCAA 
Tournament for three straight 

seasons after qualifying for the 
post season 22 straight years 
before.

But that doesn’t faze Connor.
“I think that is something 

I’m definitely coming in to do, 
trying to get them back in the 
right direction,” Connor said. “I 
think I can step in right away and 
go out there and try to compete 
and help us get back to the 
tournament.”

Back 
in 

November, 
Phantoms 
coach Anthony 
Noreen 
gushed about 
his star. He 
told the Daily 
that 
Connor 

has an “NHL 
release on his shot,” possesses 
“an elite skill level” and is a 
“student of the game.”

Though it’s bittersweet for 

Noreen to lose Connor, he knows 
Connor will be in good hands 
with the legendary Berenson.

And Connor is also excited 

to play for Berenson, who will 
be in his 32nd season behind 
Michigan’s bench when Connor 
first takes the ice in a winged 
helmet.

“Red Berenson, his pedigree 

and resume speaks for itself,” 
Connor said. “He is such a great 

guy, and it’s going to be fun 
playing for him next year. I’m 
really looking forward to it.”

Connor grew up a Michigan 

fan, 
and 
he 
has 
watched 

Wolverine hockey games for 
most of his life. And when he 
joins the squad this fall, he’ll 
know a face or two.

Connor grew up playing travel 

hockey for Belle Tire alongside 

freshman 
forward Dylan 
Larkin 
and 

freshman 
defenseman 
Zach 
Werenski. 
The trio won 
a 
national 

championship 
together, and 

Connor sees no reason why they 
can’t do the same thing in Ann 
Arbor.

Larkin still hasn’t announced 

his return to the program for next 
season, as he could potentially 
leave to join the Detroit Red 
Wings organization.

“I’m still just trying to figure 

it out,” Larkin told the Daily on 
Monday. “It’s straight down the 
middle. Every day it changes and 
things come into play. I don’t 
really know yet.”

Connor and Larkin played 

on the same line for Belle Tire. 

The two had success there, and 
Connor would love to rejoin his 
old linemate while in a Michigan 
sweater.

“We 
clicked 
right 
away, 

and we’ve been good friends,” 
Connor said. “We played roller 
hockey way back in the day. It 
would be pretty fun playing with 
him.”

Added 
Larkin: 
“He’s 
a 

dynamic player who finds a way 
to score at every level he has 
played at. I’m hoping he can come 
in and have an impact. Speaking 
as a freshman, you never want 
the pressure on you, but I think 
he will handle that well. He’s a 
mature kid. We’re excited to have 
him. I have talked to him a little 
bit, and it would be fun to play 
with him.”

Even 
if 
Larkin 
isn’t 
at 

Michigan next season, Connor 
will still be excited to don the 
block ‘M.’ An expected first-
round pick in this year’s NHL 
Draft, Connor said no NHL 
team could convince him to join 
its organization. The same can 
be said for Saginaw Spirit, who 
own his Ontario Hockey League 
rights.

“That’s where I want to play,” 

Connor said of Michigan. “I 
want to play at Michigan, and 
I’ve wanted to play there for a 
long time.”

COURTESY OF THE YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS

Michigan commit Kyle Connor has totaled 195 points in three seasons in the USHL and will join Michigan in the fall.

“Right now, he’ll 

be the main 

recruit to watch.”

BY THE NUMBERS
Softball in the Big Ten

28.47

Average games away from home 
before the first home game for Big 

Ten teams
9

SEC teams in this week’s coaches’ top 

25 poll
2

Big Ten teams in this week’s poll 

(Michigan and Minnesota)

6

Players on Michigan’s roster from the 

state of California

“I’ve been in 

the Big Ten my 

whole life.”

SOFTBALL

FILE PHOTO/Daily

Keith Lehmann will be back on the hill this week for the first time since March 15.

Michigan vs. 
Michigan St.

Matchup: 
Michigan 
21-14; Michigan 
State 18-15

When: Tuesday 
6:35 P.M.

Where: 
Comerica Park

