HAPPY OAKS DAY !! -- WHICH CARDINAL PITCHERS WILL SHOW UP -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(PAULIE FILLS IN FOR JARED TODAY...WHO HAS SUFFERED A LAPTOP CRASH. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED) 


SOFTBALL DODGING RAINDROPS TODAY? 

There is a 40% chance of rain today in Raleigh, NC. This matters because the Louisville Softball team is there, hoping to get in their final three game set of the regular season. North Carolina State is the foe. I doubt Ms. Wuf shows up, since I won't be there...but...let's hope the Cards do. 

We know how the ACC and the teams in it like to adjust schedules to try and get contests in around the rain drops. I haven't seen any changes yet in the scheduled 6 p.m. start today for the first game, nor changes for either of the other two planned this weekend. Don't be surprised if there are, though. 

40% thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening are in the forecast for today. Saturday looks only slightly better and Sunday's forecast is a mess for Raleigh. 

We're hoping that, despite the weather, the UofL pitchers are ready for a bit of success. We'd like to see the Danielle Watson that stymied North Carolina last Sunday with one run and five hits. We're hoping we get the effective Taylor Roby who has kept ACC powerhouse squads silent all season in compiling a 13-2 record and who has a ERA well south of the 3.00 per game mark. It's always nice to see senior Megan Hensley do what she's done effectively for four years here and keep opposing batters off the bases. She's 9-3 and has a 2.85 ERA this season. 

I've become less worried about Louisville's batting prowess as the season has rolled along. You can count on Celene Funke to boom a triple at any time. She leads the nation in them. Sidney Melton always finds a way on base. Hensley leads the squad in home runs and Roby is also over the .300 mark from the plate -- like the first three mentioned. 

That's a pretty nice top four to send out against the opposing circle performer. 

But, wait!  There's more !!

It doesn't get any better for the other team's hurler after that opening foursome. Kyra Snyder is flirting with the .300 mark at the plate. Freshman catcher Rebecca Chung is over .300 and second in home runs. Shortstop Caitlin Ferguson leads the squad in doubles, Jordan Wolfe...filling in for injured regular left-fielder Charley Butler...is batting .417 and Maddie Newman (the ninth batter in the lineup) is at .260.

It's enough to make an opposing pitcher shake their head and wonder what they did to deserve this? The Cards have rough-housed two of the best pitchers in the league in UNC's Brittany Pickett and FSU's Meghan King this year. And, when they get on the bags, they'll steal, steal, steal on an opponent. 

Hoping for clear skies, no delays or reschedules, strong arms, active bats and three wins this weekend for the Louisville Softball squad in Raleigh. Quite honestly, it's a good thing they aren't playing here at home. It's Derby Weekend. Get out the umbrella, naturally. 



KENTUCKY OAKS? IS IT ALL ABOUT BELLAFINA? 

There are 13 races scheduled at Churchill Downs today...plenty of opportunities to watch the ponies "turn left" (hopefully not into another horse)...but Mother Nature is definitely not cooperating with fans headed out to the track early. 

Hiya, rain. 

With some excellent Stakes races going in the slop and yielding turf, nevertheless -- the big one is the Kentucky Oaks. And, #4 on your program for the 11th race --  Bellafina. Can anyone "get"to her? 

She is "all that".  Unlike the Derby, where six or more runners are making a claim that they'll best the field of 19 (yes, another scratch)...Bellafina is a superstar filly.

She could probably even survive a Jeff Walz/Beth Burns conditioning drill or run at pace along-side Lacrosse's Tessa Chad and not breath heavily. You think Dana Evans has speed? Check this gal out. 

Bellafina, loosely translated from Italian...means "beautiful and fine". And, this three-year-old certainly fills that description. 

She'll take on 13 challengers in the 1-18th mile Oaks. That we know of. "Scratch" time -- withdrawing horses from races -- is 9 a.m. this morning. In my opinion, there is no way she'll stay at the 2-1 morning line odds. Be thankful if you get "even" money on her. I'll be keeping and eye on those proceedings at Churchill today, as well as tracking what's going on with Louisville Softball. 

I don't know too many that would refuse $4 back from $2 invested. Profit margin!  

As a sideline, feel free to check out my selections for the Oaks card of racing at my other website... www.paulsykes.com ... where I combat insomnia by trying to pick out thoroughbred race winners. I'll also have the Kentucky Derby picks, as long as the coffee holds out...on Saturday.

No guarantees here. Just my handicapping skills out there for you to see. As always, bet sensibly and within your budget. Play 'em anyway you want. I'm just supplying the car, here. Drive it however you feel like.

Soggy Friday to ya! 

paulie
xxxxx

WNBA pre-season started -- UofL transfer news -- Derby recap -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

HINES-ALLEN HAS A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT WITH MYSTICS

The WNBA started their pre-season Sunday and three games took place. With (4) former Cardinals WBB stars in the league (although...do you ever become an ex-Cardinal?) we'll try to keep you up on Angel McCoughtry, Asia Taylor, Shoni Schimmel and Myisha Hines-Allen with periodic updates. 

Two of the four saw the court Sunday, both the Washington Mystics rostered Myisha Hines-Allen and Asia Taylor. Both saw about 16 minutes in the Mystics 90-85 win over the Minnesota Lynx. Hines-Allen had a nice opening debut with 13 points. She went 4-5 from the floor ,5-6 from the charity stripe and grabbed five rebounds. Neither she nor Asia Taylor, the other Louisville alumni on the Mystics started. "A-Tayy" gathered five points in her playing time...all from the free throw line (5-10). A nice start for both as they try to make the Mystics roster.

Atlanta opened their season also but Angel McCoughtry didn't make the court for the Dream in a 78-61 win over the Chicago Sky. Not very surprised by this, after all, she sat out the entire 2017 season, everyone knows what she's capable of and the Dream and Nikki Collen (head coach) have 15 other players to try and whittle down to 10-11 by the start of the season in two weeks. 

Schimmel and the New York Liberty play today at 5 p.m. against the Dallas Wings. 

It's the first time in Louisville's WNBA connection that I can remember four WBB Cards have been in the league. Let's hope all four survive the "cuts" and make the rosters. 


TRANSFER NEWS

Don't worry, Cardinal WBB fans, the transfer news DOES NOT INVOLVE CARDINAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL...but it does involve a significant Field Hockey departure and a couple of women's soccer exits. 

'"We'll miss Minnie at Cardinal Couple"

Minout "Minnie" Mink will be leaving Field Hockey to return to the Netherlands and attend college there. The Cards leading scorer in 2016 and 2017 expressed a desire to return home and attend school. 

Minnie was a scorer (that's what she did and does) and had 26 goals in two seasons for head coach Justine Sowry and the "stick girls". With ACC and regional honors, she'll be a hard one to replace in the Cards' Field Hockey attack pattern, but Sowry has talent galore on the roster and recruited well, so replacements are readily available. 

Maybe a surprise, here. The future looked bright for her on the 2018 roster, but her non-appearance in spring exhibition action for the Cards was an indicator. We wish "Minnie" the best of luck in her college continuance. Jared Anderson has set up an interview with her today...so, hopefully, we'll get a little more of the story and he'll be able to bring it to us here at the site. 

In UofL women's soccer, T.J Anderson and Morgan Dewey are departing from the squad. 
Anderson, a freshman, played in 10 games for the Cards in 2017 as a mid-fielder and saw the bulk of her action near the end of the season. No immediate word on where she's headed. 

Dewey, also a freshman, played in 11 contests in 2017 and tallied one goal. She was primarily a defender for Karen Ferguson Dayes. No immediate word on her future plans or next school. 


LACROSSE SEASON OFFICIALLY OVER

Any hopes of Louisville Lacrosse's season continuing and making the NCAA Tournament came to an end this morning when the DI Brackets were released and the Cards did not appear on the list. Five ACC Schools did make the tournament in Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Boston College and Syracuse. The other three schools that play ACC Lacrosse --  Duke, Louisville and Notre Dame -- did not make the field...which is surprising in Notre Dame's case. The Irish had a better record than Syracuse overall and in conference but the committee chose Orange over Green. 

A good season, nevertheless, for Scott Teeter in his first year with a collection of freshmen, transfers and seniors. The Teeter recruiting will have Lacrosse rebuilding each season and, as we have reason to believe, the Teeter system of Lacrosse can be very effective, with a full roster of players. 

We say "Goodbye" to a great collection of seniors. Jared Anderson hopes to catch up with one or two for interviews and we're also looking to get Louisville Lacrosse alumnae and ACC Network Extra analyst Steph McNamara for an interview down the road.  

Practice those draw controls, girls and listen to the coaching staff! 


PAULIE'S DERBY WEEK

A couple of you may have noticed I've been absent from the Cardinal Couple site since last Tuesday.  No, I wasn't sitting out a "yellow card" suspension and didn't foul out...it was Derby Week here in Louisville and I've been quite the busy with my other website HANDICAPPING HEROES. 

Handicapping Heroes a site about thoroughbred horse-racing in Kentucky and it was quite the active week. I got in Churchill Downs attendance time for three straight days early in the week, went to a Derby Party on Derby Day and used yesterday to recover and recoup from the 16-hour days of research, analysis, interviews and having a bit of fun. 

I had a great deal of success predicting the winners all week of the races and made a bit of $$$$$. I met some very fascinating people, got some great interviews and enjoyed it all, despite the yeoman effort and hours. 

Me and the other "boys in the band" put it all out there free of charge and we figured that those who "played along" with our selections and analysis would have returned better than a tripling of their outlays...for the week. You spend $1, you get $3+ back, in other words. 

A reader of the site went into great detail in an e-mail yesterday to me and outlined just how our picks made him a great profit. He invested $1200 for the week in wagers at a simulcasting facility based on the picks of me, Scott and "J-Fred Muggs." He turned that into $4900. He had the Oaks and Derby winner and hit several exactas that paid over $200 on $1 wheels and boxes. That, as they say, ain't too bad...

From here on out until late November, we'll look at Saturday racing in Kentucky. Feel free to give us a look. It's free, you know. 

HANDICAPPING HEROES

Got a Derby Week or Derby Day story to share? We've love to hear it. Leave it in our comments section! 

Have a great Monday and remember....wherever you go, there you are. Make the most of it. 

paulie
xxxxx