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Thursday, June 4, 2015

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS

was hit in the shoulder. Anoth-

er two-on, two-outs situation for 
Michigan’s offense, and this time it 
was Blanco’s turn.

But yet again, the Gators got out 

alive when Blanco grounded out to 
the short stop. Overall, the Wolver-
ines could not handle Haeger in the 
circle Wednesday night. She was 
named the tournament’s Most Out-
standing Player.

“(Lauren Haeger) was great 

tonight,” Hutchins said. “A very 
deserving champion. She definitely 
took care of business.”

Against 
Betsa, 
the 
Gators 

couldn’t get a single run, as the Big 
Ten Pitcher of the Year handed 
Florida eight strikeouts. However, 
she hit a multitude of batters to load 
the bags and was taken out in the 
bottom of the sixth when Wagner 
returned to the circle.

In the final inning, Ramirez got 

onto first base as Florida’s short 
stop couldn’t handle her slapper in 
time. Michigan’s next batter, junior 
centerfielder 
Sierra 
Lawrence, 

struck out looking, and Romero 
returned to the plate. Romero 
grounded to the shortstop, who 
tossed to second for the next out, 
and sophomore outfielder Kelly 

Christner stepped into the box, 
Michigan’s last chance.

But after three pitches, Christ-

ner grounded out to first, and the 
season was over. The Florida Gators 
were the 2015 National Champions.

“I told my team today, and I 

told my team (Tuesday), ‘Tonight 
doesn’t 
define 
our 
season,’ 
” 

Hutchins said. “We would’ve liked 
to walk out of here with the other 
trophy, but this has been a great 
team. I’m really proud of them.”

CHAMPIONSHIP
From Page 1A

BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan Softball

60

Wins by the 2015 Michigan softball team, 

second-most in school history

122

Home runs by the Wolverines, first in the 

nation and most in school history

100

Wins on the mound for Haylie Wagner, 

third-most in history
2005

Michigan’s lone NCAA Title season after 

team lost to Florida Wednesday

Compher named ‘M’ captain, 
Nieves and Selman alternates

By ZACH SHAW

Summer Managing Sports Editor

The Michigan hockey team 

announced 
Wednesday 
after-

noon that junior forward JT 
Compher will serve as the team’s 
captain for the 2015-16 season.

Senior forwards Justin Sel-

man and Boo Nieves were named 
alternate captains.

“It’s an honor 

to be considered 
by the coaching 
staff and your 
teammates for a 
leadership posi-
tion,” Compher 
said. “To wear a 
letter on a team 
with such tra-
dition, I think 
all three of us 
are excited about the role. We 
work well together, and I think 
we have a really good opportu-
nity to make a difference on this 
team.”

The 
announcement 
comes 

after Compher tallied 24 points 
in his sophomore campaign. 
Though it failed to match the 31 
points he tallied in his freshman 
season — which earned him Big 
Ten Freshman of the Year hon-
ors — the forward developed 
as a leader and motivator, find-
ing success away from the puck 

while alternating between wing 
and center on the team’s top two 
lines.

“He competes more than 

anybody I’ve ever seen,” Sel-
man said. “When he competes 
in practice, it kind of fires you up 
and creates this contagious atti-
tude amongst the team.”

Added Nieves: “He’s fierce, 

he’s relentless, especially at prac-

tice. He gets 
guys 
going, 

he’ll hit you 
in 
practice, 

he 
doesn’t 

care who you 
are, he’ll find 
a way to get 
you going and 
it carries into 
the 
games, 

so it’s really 

good.”

Compher 
succeeds 
former 

linemate Andrew Copp, who 
gave up his senior season of eli-
gibility to join the Winnipeg Jets 
in March.

Selman and Nieves received 

the honor as two of the remain-
ing three seniors on the team. 
Nieves was fifth on the team 
in scoring last season with 28 
points, while Selman notched 
the team’s second-highest +/- 
with 18 and 23 points in 26 games 
after tallying just 13 points his 

first two seasons combined.

Still seeking their first post-

season berth after three seasons, 
the duo know they will need to 
elevate their game even further.

“As guys have left through-

out the years, our class has been 
pretty 
strong,” 
Nieves 
said. 

“Now it’s down to us, and I think 
we have what it takes to lead this 
group and get us back on track.”

Compher, Nieves and Sel-

man headline a core of 19 Wol-
verines set to return next fall. 
Despite the losses of forwards 
Zach Hyman, Dylan Larkin and 
Copp, the team’s top-three scor-
ers, high summer participation 
has the captain confident for his 
team’s upcoming voyage.

“Obviously the goal is to get 

back to the postseason, and it 
starts with the little things,” 
Compher said. “We have all 
the guys in town working out 
right now, and everyone’s really 
focused on making sure that 
each day is good, and the main 
thing for us is the attention to 
detail in the little things that we 
do.

“For 
us, 
the 
difference 

between making the (NCAA) 
Tournament and not is very small, 
so anything that you can do to 
improve yourself and improve the 
team has to be done if we want to 
make it back.”

“He’s fierce, 
he’s relentless, 
especially at 

practice.”

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Junior forward JT Compher was named the Michigan hockey team’s captain after tallying 24 points in his sophomore year

