Current Michigan head coach and former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh grew up around the program he loves and idolized another U-M signal caller in Rick Leach. Thursday evening the two former QB's participated in another sport in order to raise money for cancer research.

In its seventh year, the Michigan Softball Academy raised more than $151,000 through an auction and other festivities including a home run derby between Harbaugh and Leach.

"Everyone seems to be having a great time," Harbaugh said. "This is one of the premier events that Coach Hutch puts on. I’m happy to be a part of it."

Coach Hutch is of course Carol Hutchins, the legendary head coach of the Michigan softball team and pioneer of the softball academy. Harbaugh recognizes greatness in Hutch and believes she embodies what being a part of Michigan athletics is all about.

"Hutch is amazing," Harbaugh said. "Any organization runs on enthusiasm — it’s like the gas in the tank and nobody has more enthusiasm than Hutch does in everything she does. It’s infectious and it rubs off on everybody.

"How else do you say it? She’s done it at the highest level for about the longest time. It’s an attitude of gratitude that she’s at our school doing what she does."

Harbaugh said all of the right things about the event and about Hutch, but the ever present competitor was underneath the smiles and the pink No. 4 jersey.

"I’ve never done a home run derby before so I don’t really know what to expect," Harbaugh said with a laugh. "No, no [I haven't been practicing]. I’ve been making some recruiting calls. I’m excited to be here. It’s going to be fun. I’m striving for respectability. I always have a bat in my office. Tom Cruise in ‘A Few Good Men’ style — I think better with a bat. That’s been about the extent of it for the last 25 to 30 years."

Leach has a far more extensive baseball background than does Harbaugh. He spent 10 years in the majors playing for the Tigers, Blue Jays, Rangers, and Giants. Coming in he had to be the favorite and Harbaugh was well aware of his competitor's ability.

"I’ve watched him play," Harbaugh said with a grin. "When I was in college, we were out in Anaheim for some reason and I called up Rick and he got myself, Andy Moeller, and John Ghindia, had to be one other guy, got us tickets to the game. We ended up giving Rick a ride over to the ball game. He was playing for the Blue Jays. That was a big thrill. I know Rick’s a heck of a baseball player."

If you were to ask Harbaugh he'd probably say he fell short of respectability after failing to hit one out. Leach only went yard once but it was enough to get the W.

It's probably safe to say that Harbaugh wishes he had hit a few homers but at the end of the day, it was about raising money for a great cause and putting on a show. In that respect, Harbaugh and Leach were both winners.