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Sports Recap: Winning the Diamond

...mostly.

By Nick Bodanyi
Angie Walton-USA TODAY Sports
Softball

They might not be Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling - who were probably the greatest tandem in pitching history - but Megan Betsa and Haylie Wagner have kept laying waste to opponents in another perfect week for Michigan softball. Combined, the two are now 37-6 with a 1.66 ERA and 307 strikeouts.

One of the team's four wins came against Michigan State, in a 10-0, 5 inning affair. Michigan State went without a hit. Then, Michigan took three from Indiana.

The season is now winding down for softball; following a three-game set with Penn State at the start of May, the Big Ten Tournament then the NCAA Regional kicks off. The Women's College World Series, by the way, starts May 28.

Miscellanious

Baseball's week wasn't quite as prolific, but the men's side are on a three-game streak after facing Purdue.

Tuesday's matchup, though, was more disappointing, as Michigan failed to hold onto a 2-1 lead, or find a way back later in the game.

In other news, women's tennis has won its sixth straight Big Ten title:

This was their second straight perfect conference season, and just the ninth time that a team of Michigan's has won six straight conference championships.

They will be the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Both lacrosse teams lost, unfortunately, but Michigan water polo has now won five straight since last Sunday, including two over Ivy League teams.

Finally, on a sad closing note, A. Alfred Taubman passed away this week. The Michigan alum, whose name adorns much of campus, donated at least $150 million to the University and served as a campaign vice chair for the U of M Victors for Michigan campaign. For a brief and fascinating story behind his success, I pulled this from his Wikipedia page:

Taubman studied architecture at the University of Michigan where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and Lawrence Technological University, but graduated from neither. He wondered where middle-class families moving to the suburbs would shop. "Demographically, I looked at the numbers, and as far as I was concerned we couldn't miss. And we didn't," he said.

Taubman chose upscale areas for lavish shopping centers, offering fountains and prestigious anchor stores like Neiman Marcus. Taubman is famous for his attention to detail such as choosing terrazzo tiles at Short Hills. He said: "The only point that the customer actually touches the shopping center is the floor. They've got traction as they're walking. Very important. Some of our competitors put in carpet. Carpet's the worst thing you can have because it creates friction."

Real estate developer and partner Louis Dubin spoke glowingly about Taubman: "He is the most knowledgeable person I have ever met with the planning and design of real estate ... He's an incredible adviser. There's not a building we build that we don't ask him to look at the plans. He critiques everything - the parking, the closets. He's very meticulous. He has the best eye I've ever seen in my life.

He will be missed.