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Sports Recap: Practice Makes Perfect

People crowded into downtown, alums drove from all around the Midwest, and the sun shone over the city. A perfect day for a spring game.

By Nick Bodanyi
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Football

Players popped their pads, Harbaugh roamed the stadium grass, and Michigan fans watched from all over as Drevno's Blue team beat Durkin's Maize team in Michigan Stadium. A build-up of several months led to this, and it felt like a small coronation, seeing Harbaugh lead the Maize and Blue through successful plays and failures. The team itself was up and down, but the hope and expectation made this a gratifying moment for the fans who turned out.

It was an especially successful day for Alex Malzone, even though he walked out of spring practice as the runner-up in the quarterback race to junior Shane Morris. Still, he got a small taste of what it's like in the bigger stage of college football, playing in front of a large crowd, and he has played tremendously for a freshman, early-enrollee quarterback.

A lot of defensive players stood out, especially Jabrill and Royce Jenkins-Stone.

Desmond Morgan also snagged a nice interception off of Malzone, and the two continued sparring after the game was over.

Now, the calendar turns to summer, as the players put their next few months into working on the things they've learned from spring. Film room, weight lifting, and general growth will be a steady theme until August rolls around.

Softball

The showdown with Minnesota - the only real competition Michigan has in the Big Ten - has led up to its billing, with the two squads splitting the first two games of the series. It all kicked off with a blowout loss in Minneapolis.

If three errors are any indication, Hutchins' squad played tight and unfocused. That changed by Day 2, but Minnesota made them earn it.

Miscellanious

The women's basketball team made it to the WNIT Final Four this week, but fell on Wednesday to a tough UCLA squad. UCLA would go on to beat West Virginia, 62-60, to capture the WNIT Championships.

Swim and dive somehow made it on Today:

And Richard Funk represented the Wolverines in Canada as players try to qualify for USA or national meets.

Volleyball continued its spring practice schedule.

Michigan baseball games against Indiana have felt like their football games, with a 7-3 win and 13-11 loss in a Saturday double-header. And, for the rubber match, Michigan donned some pinstripes.

Track and field, meanwhile, made it out to California to take on UC-Berkeley and a number of other schools.

Women's gymnastics is still going strong, qualifying for the NCAA Championships:

And golf spent some time in Texas.

Water polo faced Indiana, as well, going into a sudden-death overtime.

The rowing team also enjoyed a victory, taking on a pair of ACC clubs.

Women's tennis did well in Bloomington, as well. It always feels good to beat the Hoosiers, no matter how many times it happens.

That's it for this week. Follow me on Twitter, and good luck to men's and women's lacrosse.