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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