Ann Arbor, MI
Weekly Summer Edition
MichiganDaily.com
INDEX
Vol. CXXI, No. 136 | © 2013 The Michigan Daily
michigandaily.com
NEWS ....................................
OPINION ...............................
ARTS ......................................
CLASSIFIEDS.........................
CROSSWORD........................
SPORTS..................................
NEWS
UM-Flint reloaded
The University will offer
Master of Liberal studies
progrm online in Fall 2015.
>> SEE PAGE 3
NEWS
Taste of Ann Arbor
Event featured dishes from
local eateries.
>> SEE PAGE 2
OPINION
Policy Paradox
A reflection on
strengthening skilled
trades in the state
>> SEE PAGE 4
ARTS
‘Surf’
Chance the Rapper and
The Social Experiment
drop new album
>> SEE PAGE 6
SPORTS
Betsa Shines
Star pitcher regains
strength in softball’s defeat
>> SEE PAGE 12
inside
2
4
6
8
8
9
Wolverines Lose to Florida in
National Championship
Former
AD named
CEO of
Toys ‘R’ Us
DELANEY RYAN/Daily
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins and the No. 3 Michigan softball team meet after losing Game 3 of the WCWS Championship to
top-ranked Florida. The Wolverines lost, 4-1, after surrendering three runs in the first inning in the winner-take-all game.
Michigan came shy
of the NCAA title,
falling to defending
champions
By TED JANES
Daily Sports Writer
After falling to No. 1 Florida,
4-1, in Game 3 of the Women’s Col-
lege World Series final, the Michi-
gan softball team came just shy of
a national championship.
A complete performance from
NFCA Player of the Year and
right-handed pitcher Lauren Hae-
ger carried the Gators to an early
lead, and they never looked back.
Haeger dominated on both sides
of the ball, shutting down the
third-ranked Wolverines’ offense
which didn’t register a single hit
until the fifth inning.
The Gators wasted no time on
offense. In the bottom of the first
inning, Haeger flared a 1-1 pitch
to shallow center with runners on
first and second. One run scored,
and Florida was off to the races
with no outs. A pair of batters
later, Florida’s Taylor Schwarz
dropped a double into left field,
making headway for outfielder
Nicole Dewitt and Haeger, who
reached home safely, increasing
their lead to three before the first
inning came to an end.
“They were the best team
tonight,” said Michigan coach
Carol Hutchins. “They’ve been
No. 1 all through the season. They
showed up to come after us, and
that first inning broke our back.
We gave them a lot of free bases,
too many, and you can’t do that to
a team like Florida.”
Florida’s leadoff hitter Kelsey
Stewart came up to bat for the sec-
ond time in just the second inning
and blasted a double to left that
scored outfielder Justine McLean
from second base. The Gators’
fourth run of the day prompted
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins
to take senior left-handed pitcher
Haylie Wagner out of the circle for
sophomore right-hander Megan
Betsa.
Betsa solved the immediate
puzzle and struck out two straight
batters to strand three Gators on
base.
Freshman first baseman Tera
Blanco recorded the Wolverines’
first hit of the night, ripping a full-
count pitch to left field in the top
of the fifth inning. Sophomore
shot stop Abby Ramirez followed
up with a single of her own, and
the top half of the order would
come up.
With two outs and two on for
junior second baseman Sierra
Romero, if there was a time for the
team’s superstar to step up, this
was it. Romero sent the first pitch
to left field and Blanco, from sec-
ond base, was able to score. The
Gators got out of the fifth inning,
but Michigan had finally gotten on
board.
Freshman pinch-hitter Amanda
Vargas stepped to the plate in the
sixth inning and produced, lining
to center for a base hit. Next, Wag-
ner, now the designated player,
See CHAMPIONSHIP, Page 9
BUSINESS
Thursday, June 4, 2015
SOFTBALL
Position is Dave
Brandon’s first
post after resigning
as ‘U’ athletic director
By LAURA SCHINAGLE and
ZACH SHAW
Summer Editor in Chief and
Summer Managing Sports Editor
Former Michigan Athletic
Director Dave Brandon has
been named the new CEO of
Toys “R” Us, according to a
Tuesday press release from
the company.
“I consider it a tremen-
dous privilege to assume this
important leadership role at
Toys ‘R’ Us, one of the most
well-known retail brands in
the world,” Brandon said in a
statement. “I believe our best
days are ahead of us and I’m
eager to get started.”
This is Brandon’s first post
after his resignation from the
University in October 2014.
In the months leading up
to his resignation, Brandon’s
management was criticized
for being irresponsible and
financially misdirected. He
grew the Athletic Depart-
ment’s revenue to one of the
highest in the country and
used a growing surplus to
enhance facilities and sala-
ries, but students and fans
saw his policies to emphasize
donation totals rather than
fan longevity.
The Athletic Department
also came under scrutiny after
The Michigan Daily reported
in January 2014 that former
Michigan kicker Brendan Gib-
bons was “permanently sepa-
See CEO, Page 3
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