Girls Sweet Sixteen, Softball plays 2 today

saturday AT cardinal couple....

-Hammond, Rockcastle Co. advance to semis.

-Louisville softball today

-McCarty gets third in weight toss.

-The Sweet Sixteen of Sideline reporter marches on.

-Watson reviews Cards vs. Notre Dame

-Springer invades the BIG APPLE.

Wow...a busy day here at CARDINAL COUPLE...let's get right to it!

-Sara Hammond (pic above) had 15 points and 13 boards as Rockcastle County claimed a berth in the Kentucky Girls' High School Basketbal Tournament. Rockin' Rockcastle sent Clay County home with a 47-30 decision. Angie Lawrence added 13 for Rockcastle (34-1)...who gets Calloway County in the semifinals this morning.

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-Calloway County (32-1) overcame a Sheldon Clark 28-26 halftime lead to earn an entry to the Final four...winning 62-51. Averee Fields stays on fire with 22 points for the Mountaineer signee.

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-Louisville Manual (32-4) started the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run to pull away from Bowling Green and make the semifinals. They beat B.G. 48-36. Another balanced team effort for the Crimsons. They get Marion County in the semis for their efforts.

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-Marion County (27-6) kept Louisville Butler from hanging around for Saturday hoops with a 41-26 drubbing of the Bearettes. University of Louisville targets Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (12 points and nine boards) and Makayla Epps (10 points) led the way for the Lebanon, KY hoopsters.

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Manual, Marion County, Rockcastle County and Calloway County. This is going to be an exciting day of hoops. Almost 8000 watched the quarterfinals yesterday in Western Kentucky University's E.A. Diddle Arena. Probably could have doubled that if they'd moved it to the KFC YUM Center. Are ya listening KHSAA?

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Cardinal Softball in action at the Ulmer today...Louisville Softball Classic. Three games scheduled....starting with (12-6) Louisville vs. (22-0) Michigan. The Cards play again at 4 p.m. against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University. Keep bringing those big bats...Bemis, Wolny and Esteban. All three are hovering around the .400 mark at the plate. Admission is free..get out and enjoy the sunshine and take in the action on the UofL campus. We'll have reports for you, as always, here at CARDINAL COUPLE.

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D'Ana McCarty grabbed third in the weight toss at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Texas A&M's Gillam Indoor Stadium. McCarty's toss of 22.28m was just behind the winning throw of 22.69m of Indiana State's Felicia Johnson and Southern Illinois' Jeneva McCall's toss of 22.46.

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Khadija Abdullah and McCarty compete in the finals of the shot put today for the Cards. The University of Louisville...we have girls who can throw things a long way...

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Allison Williams obliterated Jeanine Edwards in the Sideline reporters round of sixteen yesterday...sponsored by the fine folks at CARDINAL COUPLE. Edwards garnered only two votes in the whitewash. Probably Billy Gillespie and Ron Franklin. Today's match-up pits Alex Flanagan (left) versus Bonnie Bernstein (right). Flanagan was a part of the four letter network until she sashayed over to the NFL Network. Bernstein still prowls the sidelines for CBS. We think this one is too close to call...Paul and Sonja going with Flanny and David Watson choosing "double B's". You can vote in the comments section here or at cardinalcouple@insightbb.com. Remember, 'neither of the two' is NOT a valid vote...

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DAVID WATSON with a few selected comments on Louisville's win over Notre Dame last night in the men's semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament:

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I don't know how they do it, these current birds in Pitino's nest. Seemingly out-played, out-shot, out-rebounded and out-coached. Pitino pulls another rabbit out of the hat and conjures up a win over these #4 in the nation Irish. Siva on the bench, everyone but assistant coach Steve Masiello with 3 or 4 fouls. And, all three bozo announcers ready to suit up and play for Notre Dame. Can we just give Preston Knowles the 'inspirational player of the year' title now?

(Cardinals mug it up with former President Bill Clinton after defeating the Irish)

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I love this team. Not because they're winning right now or because they're unselfish. They remind me of the little boy in the back yard, trying vainly to make the first basket of his life. Shot after shot falls short, doesn't quite get there and then one finally drops. The smile on his face, the un-describable joy pumping through the youngster. You never forget that first basket you make. I'll never forget this 2010-11 UofL basketball team. Bring on the Huskies!!

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(David Watson is out in the backyard right now...trying to drain threes like Kyle Kuric. So far, he's 0 for morning...)

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.Steve Springer and the family got to see a classic last night in Madison Square Garden . The Biggest Fan of the BIG EAST and his wife & kids are guests of Volvo for the tournament. They left Louiville yesterday and everything is "on the house" for the Springer's. New York during BIG EAST basketball tournament time is a exciting place to be and you can follow the Springer's trip over at http://www.uoflcardgame.com/. Attempts to get Paul in the luggage or introduce him as a long lost Uncle failed. Have a big time in the BIG APPLE, Steve and hit the Carnegie Deli and try a 'Woody Allen'. You won't be able to finish half of it..but you'll love every minute of trying.

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