Just one day after the Michigan softball team found out it would not be competing in the NCAA Tournament, the team lost a vital piece of experience and leadership from the 2023 season.

On Tuesday, senior third baseman Audrey LeClair entered the transfer portal via an Instagram announcement. After claiming an extra year of eligibility following the effects of COVID-19, LeClair has decided to open her search for her final year, possibly outside of the Wolverines’ program.

LeClair started her first two years primarily as a pinch runner, only appearing in 11 and 31 games, respectively. But after her breakout junior year, she received an All-Big Ten Second Team selection as an outfielder. Her senior campaign was spent exclusively at third base until moving to right field following a late season injury from graduate center fielder Lexie Blair.

Both her junior and senior seasons, LeClair played and started nearly every game for Michigan. During her breakout 2022 season, she batted .323 and boasted a fielding percentage of .976. Her senior campaign in 2023 was plagued with inconsistencies, though, ending the season with a batting average of .262, tied for the most errors with seven and a fielding percentage of .938.

While her statistics may have decreased from her junior to senior season, LeClair brought an irreplaceable personality and leadership for the Wolverines. 

In her senior year, during the announcement of the batting order before every game, she would lead a signature handshake with every player on the roster as their name was being announced. And the pregame rituals were just the surface of LeClair’s leadership. She also led the majority of the infield huddles before and during the games, providing a spark and burst of energy for the Wolverines when they needed it most.

Possibly choosing to spend her extra year of eligibility elsewhere, while she could spend her final year at Michigan, LeClair leaves a hole that someone will need to step up and fill. On a Michigan team that already lacks experience, LeClair’s impact was not only instrumental to the infield, but her moral and vocal authority led the Wolverines.

LeClair is the first Michigan player to enter the portal after an abysmal year in which the Wolverines suffered from many inconsistencies on both offense and defense. And while LeClair struggled for the majority of the season at the plate until finally finding consistency late, her impact was much more than just her on-field presence. And after an inconsistent year for Michigan, her absence will be glaring as the Wolverines already search for answers.

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For the first time since 1994, the Michigan softball team will not be competing in the NCAA Tournament.

During the selection show on Sunday in which the regional schedule was released, the Wolverines did not hear their name called among the 64 teams selected — therefore, their season is over.

Michigan’s season ended with a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Against Penn State, the Nittany Lions scored a walk-off run on a Wolverine error. The final game encapsulated all of Michigan’s problems and strengths throughout the year.

Led by sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski in the circle but plagued by mediocre hitting and inconsistent fielding, the Wolverines suffered their final blow in a disappointing season with an early tournament exit.

Michigan finished with an overall record of 26-25 — just one win above .500 at .510 — the lowest winning percentage of any Wolverines team in program history. Michigan also amassed a measly 10-13 Big Ten record in the regular season, officially recording its second-lowest conference win percentage. 

Under former Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins, the Wolverines never held a Big Ten or overall record below .500. The results of this year’s campaign almost cost the program both of those streaks.

Now under longtime associate head coach and current Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl, the Wolverines entered the 2023 season looking to rebuild and refuel. After the retirement of Hutchins, Tholl took over the reins of a program including a young coaching staff and a team which featured nine new players on a 20-person roster. While the season was meant to be a rebuilding year, the expectations for Michigan softball — especially in recent history — were not met.

Looking forward, the Wolverines will need a lot of help from their recruiting class and the transfer portal. Although many players are new to the program, six players graduate and there is the possibility of losing more to the transfer portal.

With one of the worst seasons in program history now in the rearview mirror, Tholl and the entire Michigan softball team will attempt to use what they learned in the first season of a new era to come back stronger in future years. And while the Wolverines will not be headlined at the tournament this year, as they have been for the last 29 years, Tholl and a young Michigan roster will look to grow for the years to come.

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Bonnie Tholl was 13-years-old the last time the Michigan softball team had a losing conference record.

Five years before the Wolverines’ first-year head coach arrived at Michigan as a player herself and two years before Carol Hutchins took over the reins, the Wolverines achieved a 9-15 record in Big Ten play. Now, following 40 years of consistent excellence, this year’s Michigan team will finish with a dismal 10-14 Big Ten record.

The Wolverines are projected to miss the NCAA tournament all together — which would be the first time since 1994 — leaving them with a final season record of 26-25. Although Team 46 didn’t tarnish Michigan’s streak of never posting a losing season, it achieved the statistically worst record in program history.

But don’t call for Tholl’s head just yet. You can blame her and think she could have done more with the talent she had, but ultimately, Tholl was always the right choice to carry on the legacy of Michigan softball.

Tholl’s biggest asset is her experience with the program. As an alum, then assistant coach and associate head coach of the Wolverines for 29 years, Tholl knows what success looks like at Michigan. But the fact that she spent her career with the Wolverines up to this season as an assistant is the very reason why she doesn’t have prior experience as a head coach.

As much as Tholl should have used her Michigan knowledge to avoid a rebuild year, she has never been a head coach. Compounded with the fact that nearly half of her roster was new to the program this year, some amount of rebuilding was inevitable.

The Wolverines had the talent to compete on paper, but they still couldn’t. Even some of the best players in the country — along with their first-year head coach — needed time to develop.

“I think this team is so freaking talented, and as soon as they realize it, they’re gonna take off,” graduate first baseman Melina Livingston said after Michigan’s loss to Penn State Wednesday. “I think one of our downfalls this year is that kids were just so inexperienced and didn’t understand that they are so good and that they deserve to be here.”

The young players might not understand their potential, but their coaches should. And in some cases, Tholl and her staff successfully guided players through a breakout season. Freshman second baseman Indiana Langford, for example, ended the season with the second highest batting average on the team after cementing herself in the starting lineup halfway through conference play — earning a Big Ten Second Team selection.

Michigan also maintained its strong pitching identity with the emergence of sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski. After losing both of last year’s starting pitchers — most devastatingly former All-American right-hander Alex Storako to Oklahoma — Tholl placed her trust in Derkowski to continue the dominance. Derkowski delivered, but the Wolverines’ bats failed to match her efforts.

For the majority of the lineup, Tholl and company couldn’t elicit the desired performance, perhaps due to the rebuild within the coaching staff itself. To fill her own vacant spot, Tholl hired Michigan softball alum Amanda Chidester as a hitting coach. The Wolverines clearly haven’t profited off of the hire yet as their poor hitting was the very thing holding them back all season. But Chidester is a first year coach. She, just like the players she works with, will improve.

Tholl’s dedication to her players and their success is apparent despite the lack of immediate results. Before every game, she is right there on the field leading her team through its warmups. Many times, I watched her run extra one-on-one drills with freshman shortstop Avery Fantucci, correcting form and boosting confidence. Who better than Tholl — one of Michigan’s best former players — to recognize and develop a promising talent. All she needs is time to reap the benefits.

In the meantime, as bad as the season looked to spectators, Tholl felt the weight of every misstep and took accountability along the way. After a third consecutive series sweep to end the Big Ten regular season, she acknowledged her role in the disappointing showings.

“We just need a few more tools in our toolbox to be able to play how we want to play both physically and mentally,” Tholl said May 7 after getting swept by Minnesota. “It’s my job and the staff’s job to help get them there and to prepare them and we fell short in this area this weekend.”

In the context of the Wolverines’ illustrious softball history, this season was an extreme low point — as close to a failure as you can get while managing to maintain a winning record. Tholl, better than most, understands Michigan softball success and that this season was far from it. Go ahead and call her out for her mistakes. I bet she is already all too aware of them. 

But don’t question her hire. Bonnie Tholl is the right person to lead the Michigan softball program.

Let her prove it.

The post Rekha Leonard: Despite Michigan’s worst season ever, Bonnie Tholl is the right head coach appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

CHAMPAIGN — In a game of inches against Penn State, every play was crucial for the Michigan softball team. While the loss was headlined by pitching prowess and offensive inconsistencies, the ultimate determinant was fielding. 

The Wolverines opened the game with a strong defensive presence, beginning in the outfield with sophomore left fielder Ellie Sieler. In the first inning with one out, the ball flew toward left center and Sieler — who hasn’t made an error all season long — moved out of her position, kneeling down to make the catch. And that was only the start of highlight plays for Michigan. 

With sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski controlling the game from the circle, the Wolverines continued to fight defensively. After scoring in the top of the second inning, Michigan held an unsteady lead of one run nonetheless. And its defense, understanding the weight of the moment, was primed to rise to the occasion. 

In the bottom of the second inning, the ball lined toward sophomore shortstop Ella McVey and slipped out of her glove, placing the Nittany Lions’ runner on base. But recovering from the fielding error in the very next play, McVey stretched her arm for the ball blasting at full speed above her. And using her awareness in the moment, she threw the ball to first base for a double play, allowing the Wolverines to quickly close out the inning. 

“That’s a positive play that could’ve turned the other way for Penn State … and really got us out of innings,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “That’s the type of play we need consistently.” 

And for the most part, the Wolverines found that consistency. With each passing inning, the game transformed into a close contest. As both pitchers continued to duel from the circle, the opposing offense took advantage of the little moments — hit by pitches and walks — transforming them into scoring opportunities. 

As Michigan retook the lead, 2-1, in the fifth inning, though, the Wolverines’ defense, recognizing the gravity of the situation, refused to let the momentum slip away due to those minor lapses. 

And at the bottom of the fifth inning, Michigan reached the apex of its defense with both its outfielders and infielders embracing the task at hand. Opening the bottom of the inning, Penn State centerfielder Lilia Crouthamel stepped into the batter’s box and hit the ball into left field. Dashing toward the ball, Sieler stretched out her right hand to make the leaping catch. 

The next batter lined the ball toward third base and junior Ryleigh Carricaburu dove in for a groundout, continuing the fielding dominance. The Nittany Lions, trying to build any momentum with two outs in the inning, placed the ball into foul territory near the Wolverines’ bullpen. And this time, rushing to the ball was graduate first baseman Melina Livingston. With one essential play after another, Michigan’s defense extinguished any rhythm Penn State attempted to build, giving their offense ample time to keep its bats flowing to match the Nittany Lions. 

But the defense that was at the forefront of limiting Penn State’s offense to tied, 2-2, game heading into the seventh inning became the reason for the end of its tournament run. 

In the seventh inning, a walk placed Crouthamel on first and no outs. Nittany Lions second baseman Melody Coombs then slotted the ball toward third base. Carricaburu — who, just like the rest of the Wolverines’ defense, displayed potent fielding plays — threw the ball intended for second base. Instead, her lethargic throw flew into the outfield. And Crouthamel, once standing on first base at the start of the play, ran home — ending Michigan’s hopes for the remainder of the Big Ten Tournament. 

“The game comes down to one last play,” Tholl said. “That’s what stuck in our minds, but it comes down to a lot of small little parts and opportunities to score.” 

Although the Wolverines’ defense controlled those small moments throughout the game, under the spotlight in a pressure-filled situation, it ultimately faltered. And instead of the multiple astounding catches and throws in the game, that one throw defined the outcome of the game and Michigan’s tournament chances. 

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CHAMPAIGN — All it took was one errant throw to deliver the Michigan softball team its knockout.

The opening round of the Big Ten Tournament was a game of narrow margins — headlined by a pitching duel between Wolverines sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski and Penn State right-hander Bailey Parshall. But after the two teams traded soft blows, just one error delivered the final punch to Michigan (26-25 overall, 10-14 Big Ten) in the 3-2 loss to the Nittany Lions (31-15, 12-11).

From the beginning, the Wolverines struggled to get its offense rolling against Parshall. In the top of the first inning, freshman second baseman Indiana Langford reached on an infield single, but was not advanced, allowing Parshall to put up her first scoreless frame.

And establishing a similar level of dominance, Derkowski — who was named All-Big Ten second team earlier Wednesday — opened her day with two strikeouts on full counts en route to a 1-2-3 inning.

“For the first few innings she really shut them down,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “And that’s really been the mark of what she’s done and I just can’t say enough about just what she has done.”

Riding Derkowski’s initial shutdown, the Wolverines delivered the first punch in the second inning as graduate center fielder Ellie Mataya’s infield single gave them the leadoff runner. Following the hit with a bunt, error and sacrifice fielder’s choice, Michigan brought Mataya home without recording a hit. And with a 1-0 lead, the Wolverines turned to Derkowski to dodge a counterpunch.

But continuing to work its way back, Penn State finally tied the game in the fourth inning by exposing Derkowski’s weakness — home runs. Shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison’s solo shot was just the second hit given up by Derkowski to that point, but enough of a counterpunch to bring the game back to even.

And while the Nittany Lions looked to take the lead by extending the inning with two base runners, Derkowski laid down her third strikeout of the game to escape the inning.

Michigan had the opportunity to take another jab and regain the lead quickly. As Penn State turned to their number-two pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter — who holds a strong 2.13 ERA of her own — the Wolverines loaded the bases with two outs. Mataya delivered the blow with a blooper single to shallow center field, regaining the lead 2-1.

But as the stellar pitching continued, Michigan was held to just one run — unable to deliver a defining punch. 

“In those moments, we just need to be tougher with bases,” Tholl said, “As opposed to just getting one hit, which is great, (we would rather be) continuing to pass the bat. Let’s get one big hit when it’s most meaningful.”

And that inability to pass the bat opened the door for the Nittany Lions to strike on Derkowski’s second lapse of the game. In the sixth inning, Penn State capitalized after putting runners on second and third base with no outs, utilizing a sac-fly to bring home the game-tying run. However, that was all the Nittany Lions could muster as Derkowski turned to her changeup to deliver two strikeouts and end the inning — but not before receiving another soft counterpunch.

And with the game tied at 2-2 entering the seventh, only one more soft blow was destined to be a game defining moment.

But unfortunately for Michigan, Lingenfelter remained sharp — striking out five batters across the final two innings — leaving way for the Nittany Lions to deliver the final blow to Derkowski. That final blow, however, instead came from the Wolverines’ own hand. 

With the leadoff runner on, second baseman Melody Coombs sent a bunt down the third base line. Rushing to the ball in time, third baseman Ryleigh Carricaburu was primed to throw the runner out at second and negate the bunt. Instead she launched the ball into the outfield, allowing the runner to score in walk-off fashion — delivering the final blow to the Wolverines.

After trading soft blows it took only one self-inflicted knockout punch to put away Michigan — and knock it out of the Big Ten Tournament.

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Despite a mediocre year, the Michigan softball team earned multiple All-Big Ten honors. The Big Ten announced Wednesday, hours before the conference tournament, the award winners with four Wolverines making headlines.

Graduate center fielder Lexie Blair represented Michigan on the All-Big Ten First Team, becoming the fifth Wolverine in program history to earn the honor four times. She posted a team-leading .353 batting average with 27 RBI and 14 doubles. Earlier this season, she broke Michigan’s all-time doubles record, already cementing herself in the history books. Blair also earned All-Defensive Team honors for her stalwart performance, leading the Wolverines’ impressive outfield this season. These honors serve as a final tribute to an outstanding athlete who will go down in Michigan history.

After finding herself in the starting lineup midseason, freshman second baseman Indiana Langford has excelled in her role, receiving All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors. She boasts a .304 batting average, trailing right behind Blair, along with six RBI and 19 runs scored. Using her speed and versatility, Langford also has eight stolen bases and a .392 on base percentage, becoming an essential spark plug for the Wolverines’ offense. While Langford wasn’t a highly recruited player entering the season, playing to her strengths, she has deservingly placed herself with these accolades. 

Likewise, sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski continued Michigan’s history of dominance from the circle — landing on the All-Big Ten Second Team. Her breakout campaign saw her rank among the conference’s best with a 2.11 ERA and 217 strikeouts over 195.2 innings pitched. The highlight of her season was back-to-back no-hitters against Purdue which earned conference Pitcher of the Week honors and national Pitcher of the Week honors. Filling the void left by former right-hander Alex Storako, Derkowski emerged as the Wolverines’ ace and never looked back — developing into a dominant pitcher in her second season.

Blair, Langford and Derkowski are Michigan’s only players to receive Big Ten honors, a drop off from the five first and second team selections a year ago and eight total picks amongst every accolade.

And with a surprise absence from the All-Big Ten teams, junior catcher Keke Tholl was an All-Big Ten sportsmanship honoree after her breakout season behind the plate.

After receiving multiple All-Big Ten selections, the Wolverines’ will attempt to look past their awards and focus on the Big Ten Tournament in Champaign, in which their season heavily depends on. Because Michigan will need more than personal accolades to make the NCAA Division I softball tournament.

The post Lexie Blair headlines Michigan softball’s All-Big Ten honors appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

After losing its final regular season series against Minnesota last weekend, the Michigan softball team placed 10th in the Big Ten. Traveling to Champaign, the Wolverines begin their tournament Wednesday by facing off with Penn State. The Daily’s softball beat (Rekha Leonard, Tasmia Jamil, Jonathan Wuchter and Zach Edwards) now predicts the outcome of the Big Ten Tournament.

How far does Michigan go?

Leonard: Quarterfinals

It’s no secret that Michigan can’t compete with the top teams in the Big Ten this year. Penn State poses an interesting challenge for the Wolverines, though, as both teams boast a consistent ace pitcher but underwhelming bats to match. Michigan’s dismal last three series were against the very best teams in the conference. On the other hand, the Nittany Lions dropped a game and allowed six runs to Purdue last weekend — a team that failed to even make the tournament. The Wolverines can win if their bats find at least as much success against Penn State as Purdue did.

If Michigan makes it to the quarterfinals, it will face Indiana — a team it has already proven incapable of beating. So how far the Wolverines can go in the tournament only depends on whether or not they can beat Penn State. I think they can, but that’ll be their only win of the tournament.

Jamil: First-Round Exit 

Michigan suffered two series sweeps to Indiana and Minnesota, respectively, over the past two weekends. Each series outcome was headlined by the Wolverines’ inability to keep pace with the opposing offense, and I don’t think that inconsistency will change in the tournament. While Michigan has the opportunity to limit Penn State’s offense with sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski in the circle, the Nittany Lions have an ace of their own. 

Penn State left-hander Bailey Parshall has a 1.46 ERA — second-lowest in the conference. And with graduate center fielder Lexie Blair’s injury status still up in the air, it will be challenging for the Wolverines’ offense to combat her surging arms. I expect it to be a tight matchup but I have a difficult time seeing Michigan’s bats be the necessary difference-maker to get past the first round.

Wuchter: First-Round Exit

For Michigan and Penn State, the scouting report is simple. Both teams boast an excellent ace: Derkowski and Parshall, respectively. And both teams’ bats are among the worst in the conference. But the stat sheet won’t tell you the outcome of this one — because as Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl often says, softball is a game of momentum. The Nittany Lions aren’t necessarily red-hot, but they bring in some confidence from winning their final four Big Ten series. On the other hand, Michigan is an ice-cold 1-8 in its last nine conference games. The Wolverines entered a slump at the worst possible time, and expect that to roll over into a loss on Wednesday.

Edwards: Quarterfinals

If any team has no momentum going into the tournament — it’s Michigan. After losing seven straight Big Ten games, the Wolverines are definitely in a slump. That said, Michigan’s first-round game against Penn State is a matchup of similar strengths and weaknesses. The Nittany Lions have a strong pitcher in Parshall, but are evenly matched with the Wolverines’ Derkowski — both boasting an ERA hovering around two. On the other side of the ball, both teams have inconsistent offenses resulting in both teams winning in low scoring affairs.

The first-round game will be a battle of aces with mediocrity at the plate for ultimately what will be another low scoring game. With Tholl’s optimism and preparation, Michigan will pose a strong matchup against the Nittany Lions, but against Indiana in the quarterfinal — a team Michigan has failed to prove it can compete with — the Wolverines will see their demise.

Who wins the Big Ten Tournament?

Leonard: Minnesota

Minnesota is the most well-rounded team in the Big Ten. Right-hander Autumn Pease will likely win pitcher of the year, and the Golden Gophers have three batters with over 10 home runs on the season. They can win with their pitcher or their power — a deadly combination. Not to mention, they’re riding an 11-game win streak into the tournament. 

Assuming all higher seeds win, Minnesota would play Indiana in the semifinal. If anyone can calm the Hoosiers’ bats, it’s Pease. And the Gophers’ batters are perfectly positioned to take full advantage of Indiana’s subpar pitching. A win against Indiana would likely bring on a tough matchup against Northwestern. Once again though, Minnesota appears to be the more talented team in almost every category. Its only downfall may come from its error-prone defense. But so far this season, the Gophers’ immense strengths have been enough to cover up that deficiency.

Jamil: Minnesota 

The Gophers are currently the hottest team in the Big Ten, riding an 11-game win streak. The key to their success has been Big Ten’s best pitcher in Pease, who boasts a 1.31 ERA. Minnesota’s offense can also hold its own ground with power behind its bats, only trailing Indiana in total home runs in the season. The combination of stability from the circle and at the plate makes the Gophers the most balanced team in the conference. 

While Northwestern has been consistent throughout the season, its left-hander Danielle Williams — who plays the majority of the game for the Wildcats — has a 2.45 ERA. And Minnesota has the offensive capability to combat Williams’ arm. On the other hand, the Hoosiers, who have the potential to outduel the Gophers’ offense, don’t have the pitching consistency to prevent their bats. Therefore, regardless of the final matchup, I expect Minnesota to have the upper hand on either side of the game and add another Big Ten Championship to its school history. 

Wuchter: Northwestern

Let’s not overthink this one. Northwestern has been the best team in the conference for two seasons now. A semifinal exit last season was surely a disappointment — one that the Wildcats rebounded from with a College World Series appearance. So while goals remain lofty for Northwestern, expect the Wildcats to be highly motivated when playing for their first conference tournament title since 2008.

Northwestern doesn’t have anyone playing at the level of Minnesota’s Pease in the circle or Indiana infielder Taryn Kern. And even as a whole, the Wildcats do not boast any of the top offensive, defensive, or pitching units. But this team is just incredibly balanced, and that has produced results. Its only three losses in conference play are a one-run loss to Iowa, a 15-0 loss to an emotionally-driven Michigan team on a ceremonial day and a recent loss to Rutgers. Northwestern is just too dominant to not win this tournament.

Edwards: Northwestern

The regular season champions, Northwestern, look to be a formidable opponent for any team in the Big Ten Tournament. While the Wildcats are not on a win streak of 11 games like Minnesota, they have proven to be the most consistent team in the Big Ten. Aside from its 15-run loss to Michigan, Northwestern has competed tightly in every game it has played, other than games where it dominated its opponent.

The Wildcats’ consistent pitching proves a multi-day threat for opponents. And alongside a starting lineup that has a collective batting average above .300, Northwestern deserves its top seed entering the tournament. The Wildcats have the easiest path to the championship — beating all possible opponents on their side of the bracket in the regular season besides Maryland — but will face a challenge in either Indiana or the Golden Gophers, their likely championship opponent. But using stellar batting and multi-threat pitching, Northwestern will claim its first Big Ten Tournament Title since 2008.

Bold predictions?

Leonard: Nebraska beats Northwestern in the semifinal

Jamil: Rutgers beats Ohio State in the first round 

Wuchter: Indiana picks up a run-rule win over Minnesota in semifinals

Edwards: Illinois rallies over Wisconsin and Nebraska to the semifinal 

Tournament MVP?

Leonard: Taylor Krapf

Jamil: Autumn Pease

Wuchter: Jordyn Rudd

Edwards: Angela Zedak

The post The Daily’s softball beat predicts the Big Ten Tournament appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

Heading into the Big Ten Tournament, the external expectations for the Michigan softball team are on the floor.

The Wolverines’ 10-13 Big Ten record marks their first losing conference season in 40 years. And sputtering a 1-8 record over their last nine conference matches, Michigan sits at what many consider rock bottom amid their disappointing season. 

But while much negativity may surround the team, there is some reason for optimism ahead of its final opportunity.

Strength of schedule

While Michigan is certainly not a top team in the Big Ten, it’s hard to argue that the Wolverines are the 10th-best team in the conference, despite their 10th-place record. Compared to the teams seeded immediately above them — and particularly their opening-round opponent, Penn State — Michigan has faced the gauntlet of the conference.

Of the top four teams in the conference — Northwestern, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska — the Wolverines have played all four. The Nittany Lions, however, have played only Northwestern and Minnesota. Michigan is 3-9 against those teams, while Penn State is 1-5.

The Nittany Lions’ 11-11 conference record stems from the scheduling of Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois and Purdue to close out the season. Winning all four series, Penn State was able to bolster its record against some of the weakest teams in the conference — a stark contrast to the end of Michigan’s season.

Although the Wolverines were clearly a cut below the Big Ten’s elite teams, they were competitive in all but one of the eight end-of-season losses. Outside of the run-rule loss to Indiana, each loss was by a margin of three runs or less.

The win over Northwestern

Over those past nine conference games, Michigan’s only win over then-No. 21 Northwestern was an emphatic one. It wasn’t the inflection point the Wolverines hoped it’d be, but standing alone it’s still an impressive feat.

The Wildcats only lost three Big Ten games throughout the entire regular season. The first was a one-run loss to Iowa and the last was an upset from Rutgers. But the most striking is Michigan’s 15-run onslaught.

Northwestern swept both Minnesota and Nebraska, giving the Wolverines an accomplishment that the other top-seeded tournament teams don’t share. The Wolverines feat of beating the Wildcats is not shared by the other top seeds in the tournament.

While Michigan has disappointed expectations all season, that’s been due to how high expectations were set. The Wolverines reached their lofty ceiling in the win over the Wildcats — a ceiling that other Big Ten teams haven’t proved they’re capable of reaching.

“At this level, everybody has talent,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said April 22. “It’s just a matter of your mental talent. Like if you can really bring your mental game every day. That often determines the outcome of games.”

The Wolverines seldom have the discipline to play at their best, but if they can, they are dangerous.

Single elimination format

In the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan doesn’t need to win any series, just standalone games.

The Wolverines, and their offense in particular, have been plagued by inconsistency throughout the season. That is especially evident as Michigan’s offense sits at the bottom of the Big Ten stat sheet.

“It doesn’t matter on paper who has the better batting average, better ERA, better slugging numbers,” Tholl said April 22. “That’s why you play the game because if you just went by the rankings, we would never have a game.”

While inconsistencies have rendered the Wolverines unable to sweep any team in a three-game series, this week they only need to best each foe once. And it’s hard to beat a team four times, which Indiana and Minnesota would need to do if Michigan is able to get past Penn State.

In a one game series, there is enough randomness for the Wolverines to beat anyone. And if Michigan’s stars — like junior catcher Keke Tholl or sophomore right-hander Lauren Derkowski — catch fire, that may be all it takes to spark runs and win a game. 

Because in a single elimination tournament, anything can happen. And with a few swings of the bat, May can have as much madness as March.

The post Notebook: Michigan’s glimmers of hope ahead of Big Ten Tournament appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

Melina Livingston is the ultimate team player. 

The graduate first baseman is a captain of the Michigan softball team this year and continues to lead by example through in-game pep talks and encouragement. Throughout her time at Regina High School, Penn State and now as a graduate transfer in her second year with the Wolverines, Livingston has always provided leadership and consistency.

After being moved all around the field throughout her career, bringing stability for a team without having a stable position is Livingston’s specialty. Since finding a home this year as Michigan’s first baseman, her purpose continues to be contributing in any and every way her team needs.  

“I was the coach’s kid position,” Livingston told The Michigan Daily. “I didn’t care what I played as long as I was on the field.”

Her selflessness and leadership made waves everywhere she went. Whether it was leading her team by example in high school or becoming a more vocal leader at Michigan, Livingston has made others her priority throughout her entire career. But much of the culture and camaraderie she learned came from her time at Regina High School.

***

Regina High School is an all-girls catholic school in Warren, Michigan. For softball, recruiting and player development happens mostly during travel season with different club teams. And for Livingston, who spent most of her time developing as a player for travel teams, high school softball was a place for her to build confidence in herself as a leader.

However, not only did Livingston excel at softball, but she was also on the swim team all four years of high school — following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a collegiate swimmer at Oakland. Dedicating her time since she was eight years old to swimming, it was her goal to make the Olympics.

Due to limiting factors outside of her control, though, Livingston decided to stick with softball.

“I really put all my time and effort into (swimming) but when you don’t grow past 5-foot-2, it makes it a little bit more difficult,” Livingston said. “ … But it taught me a lot of mental toughness, because you’re staring at a black line for two or three hours a day. So that definitely helps me in softball to be more mentally resilient.”

During her time under the mentoring of long-time softball coach Diane Laffey, who won seven state championships and 15 Catholic League titles in her 52 years coaching, Livingston learned right away that success wasn’t just about how well you played.

In her first year at Regina, she was placed on JV for the first month. And that definitely came as a surprise.

“It was a bummer,” Livingston said. “I could have heard that and sworn off the whole high school situation and really just focused on travel ball, but I knew a lot of the girls that were on the varsity team. I’d grown up with them through travel ball and through the Catholic middle school system and so I wanted to get up there.”

Using the mental resilience and patience she learned from swimming, her positive outlook on the situation gave Livingston the motivation to play even better and achieve her goal of competing at the varsity level. And when she reached varsity, she had an immediate impact on the team.

“She was definitely a Division I athlete from the time she started playing at Regina,” Laffey told The Daily. “She worked very hard, definitely a team leader, but she always had her teammates in mind when she did anything.”

Throughout Livingston’s freshman year, when Regina won the state championship, she observed everything she could in efforts to make herself the best leader and player for Regina’s program.

Not only was her work ethic noticed by those around her, but it was also contagious. 

“She also inspired, for a number of people on her team, that same type of behavior worth work ethic to make yourself the best overall player so that they could help her team succeed,” Carolyn Lekki, Regina assistant coach, told The Daily. “It wasn’t just about her.”

In her sophomore year at Regina, Livingston was recruited and committed to play for LaSalle, a small school in Pennsylvania. But after a coaching turnover resulted in the lack of a complete coaching staff, Livingston reopened her recruitment after her junior year.

Livingston deems herself a “late bloomer.” As she bloomed into a leader towards the end of her high school career, larger schools like Penn State began to take notice. And in the summer before her senior year, she received an offer and committed to play softball for the Nittany Lions.

While travel softball is often where the majority of recruiting and player development occurs, Livingston learned many valuable lessons in her time at Regina.

“It’s an undervalued opportunity that a lot of kids will just mindlessly go through,” Livingston said about high school softball. “And luckily I had coaches like Lekki and Laffey to help me through that and really pushed me to do that. … They taught me how I can help the team be successful, mentality wise, how I can build a culture and how I can help lead a team. I will be forever thankful for them.”

***

At Penn State, Livingston again found herself fighting for a spot in the lineup. However, come time for her freshman season to begin, she started at shortstop and didn’t miss a single game. She was moved to the outfield in her second year, but the season was cut short due to the pandemic. And her junior year, her final season with the Nittany Lions, she played outfield and third base before suffering an injury.

Livingston boasted a batting average of .290 in her three years with Penn State, which led the team in her final year. However, due to her injury, Livingston did not play as often in her senior season and had to take a different approach.

“I had to really take a step back,” Livingston said. “My whole life I was more of leading by example, doing my thing and then being as positive as I can doing it to hope everyone can follow me. But I had to instead lead from behind a little bit and lead through being more vocal, which was really challenging my senior year, but I think I’m a lot better for it.”

In her time with the Nittany Lions, through the challenges, Livingston made her name known. She certainly grabbed the attention of then-Michigan associate head coach Bonnie Tholl, now the head coach of the Wolverines.

“We played against her at Penn State,” Tholl told The Daily. “It’s just somebody that you notice, you never want the best in-state kids to get away. So you do take notice. And she was one of those top performers at the college level at that point.”

Growing up in Michigan, Livingston was always a fan of Michigan athletics and especially the softball team. Her father attended the university and her uncle was a bullpen catcher for the Michigan baseball team. With many ties to Ann Arbor, Livingston never failed to consider the Wolverines as her destination after graduating from Penn State in three years.

“I was a Michigan softball player like two or three times for Halloween,” Livingston said. “That was my goal. … My freshman year at Regina in 2015 when we won the state championship was parallel to the Michigan 2015 Women’s College World Series run. So that was a whole big thing in my head and thinking, ‘Isn’t that really cool?’ ”

After graduating from Penn State, Tholl quickly reached out to Livingston. In fact, Tholl contacted her on the first day Livingston put her name down to mark her eligibility. And from that point on, Livingston’s dream of playing softball for Michigan came true.

***

Just like at Regina and Penn State, Livingston found herself vying for a starting job with the Wolverines. In her first season, she played third base, second base and designated player before solidifying herself as the starting second baseman after multiple strong performances early on. 

“She’s a player that you have to watch every single day to really appreciate her value,” Tholl said. “It took us the first 15-plus games to recognize that this is somebody who needs to be in the lineup more often. At the start of our Big Ten season, we recognized that she needed to be an everyday player for us whether it was in a designated player role or whether it was at second base.”

And Livingston embraced the playing opportunity in her first year with Michigan, recording a .284 batting average including nine multi-hit and seven multi-RBI games. This season, Livingston has taken on first base for the first time in her career, sticking by her role of “the coach’s kid.”

But when Livingston’s time with the Wolverines comes to a close, she will be remembered for much more than just her on-page statistics. Rather, she will be remembered for the same team-first mentality that has characterized her leadership throughout her entire softball career.

“She’s an absolute giver,” Tholl said. “She gives way more than she takes. When we talk about what you can get from your Michigan experiences is what you give to it, Melina is the epitome of that because she wants what’s best for other people.”

With her experience in high school and throughout college — learning to be the best team player she can be — leading the way, Livingston’s impact on the Wolverines will help carry the program into the future.

Because whether she’s fighting for her spot in the lineup or starting every game, Livingston will always be a team player.

The post The epitome of a team player: Melina Livingston’s path to success through selflessness appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

In the second game of the weekend series against Minnesota, the Michigan softball team tallied 11 hits and 10 runs. And in the other two games combined, the Wolverines recorded seven hits and zero runs — encapsulating their offensive floor and ceiling. 

Entering the weekend, Michigan won two back-to-back dominant run-rule wins against weaker non-conference opponents. That dominance, though, quickly disappeared in the series opener against the Golden Gophers on Friday. After suffering an early deficit, the Wolverines slotted a single in the third and fifth inning — each at the start of the inning with no outs — but couldn’t amass any further offense. 

With Minnesota’s ace, right-hander Autumn Pease, in the circle, Michigan’s season-long offensive woes were on full display. The Wolverines’ bats fell silent as they struggled to utilize their small ball tactics to move runners along the base, let alone bring them home, leading to a shutout. 

“We need to shore up (offensive) area,” Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl said. “We need to competitively mature in the batter’s box and that’s been our achilles heel all season long.” 

On Saturday, the Wolverines’ offense attempted to combat their achilles heel. After scoring in the first inning, they were on the verge of letting the game slip away to the Gophers’ flourishing bats. But Michigan continued its productive at-bats, scoring on a single from senior designated player Lexi Voss in the third inning before breaking the game wide open in the fourth. 

With one out, a throwing error by Minnesota allowed sophomore shortstop Ella McVey to use her speed to reach second base. While a single advanced McVey to third base, another fielding error handed the Wolverines the opportunity to load the bases. And with the Gophers’ pitcher rattled, a walk tallied Michigan’s first run of the inning. 

“Errors are part of the game,” Tholl said. “When an opportunity opens for you, you have to make good on those opportunities … and we made good on some of their miscues.” 

Converting on the early lapses from Minnesota’s defense and pitcher ignited the Wolverines’ offense. Back-to-back RBI singles combined with Voss’s RBI double made it a game of inches, 9-7.  Michigan’s bats began to swing the momentum away from the Gophers and their pitchers only continued to falter. 

A wild pitch to the next batter from Minnesota, followed by an error from its catcher, brought two runners home. Later in the inning, McVey, who began the spree of runners, stepped onto the plate, slotting an RBI single. The Wolverines, in a matter of an inning, put themselves on top, 10-9. 

The scoring production in the fourth inning — almost reminiscent of their third inning against No. 18 Northwestern — displayed the heights of the Wolverines’ offense. Although it has been stagnant for most of the season, once it finds its rhythm at the plate, Michigan can capitalize on opportunities to match the offensive power of its opponents. 

“We just kept on making things happen, putting some pressure on their defense, (and) passing the bat,” Tholl said. “If we can do this in one inning, we can do this in multiple innings and it didn’t happen … we need to continue to hold on to that momentum and continue on.” 

The Wolverines recorded six hits and eight runs in the fourth inning, but the one inning that displayed the potential of their offense also showcased a key weakness — the heavy reliance on miscues from opposing defenses. 

The fielding error at the start of the fourth inning served as a spark, initiating the offensive flow. And the lapses on defense throughout the inning gave Michigan multiple chances to maximize its at-bats. An offensive strategy dependent on the actions of its opponents has worked in favor of Michigan at times, generating dominant innings, but it hasn’t been a sustainable solution. And its feasibility was under the spotlight through the weekend. 

After the fourth inning on Saturday, the Wolverines struggled to tally a hit. With a steady defense from the Gophers and no errors to take advantage of, Michigan went scoreless for the rest of the game. And that lack of run production bled into the Wolverines’ offense in the series finale. 

Utilizing an error in center field in the first inning, Michigan placed a runner on base. And feeding off of that energy, it tallied a hit every inning until the fifth inning. The Wolverines’ offense, though, soon returned to its Friday form, showing its inability to build momentum for itself without the aid of small spurts of energy from its opposition and leading to another scoreless game. 

At its height, Michigan can have a dominant inning like Saturday’s fourth inning, smothering the opposing defense. In the Wolverines’ nadir, though, their offense has repeatedly demonstrated its inability to maintain that consistency and create opportunities for itself. Instead, it waits for its opponents to gift them mistakes to convert on. 

Against Minnesota, Michigan did more waiting than taking action — something that can prove costly heading into the Big Ten Tournament. 

The post Michigan’s season-long offensive inconsistency encapsulated in series sweep to Minnesota appeared first on The Michigan Daily.