Softball banquet: All about the appreciation -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CAPACITY CROWD FOR SOFTBALL'S BULLPEN CLUB DINNER 

There was a consistent theme at the UofL Softball Bullpen Club Dinner Saturday night at the Brown & Williamson Club in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and it dealt with appreciation.   

Appreciation from the players on being able to play at Louisville and with their teammates. Appreciation from head Softball coach Sandy Pearsall for her players, staff, sponsors of the program and the attendance of the event...plus appreciation for keynote speaker Lauren Chamberlain.

Chamberlain continued the theme during her remarks, encouraging the players to appreciate their college years and the chance to play college softball. She also encouraged them to keep up the positive attitude that was present during the evening's events and appreciate the efforts of their teammates, coaches and fans.

SONJA AND PAULIE LISTEN TO SEAN QUIZ LAUREN

We were certainly appreciative of being there and Sonja and I ran into Worldwide shortly upon arrival and appreciated the chance to talk with and interview some great people.

Coach Pearsall was effusive in her remarks about the crowd, the players and the upcoming speaker. We also got a few words in with the "pros"...both Whitney Arion and Kelsi Jones were in attendance. Both were able to play professional softball after graduation this summer. Arion is a softball coach now at Eastern Kentucky University and Jones working in an administrative capacity at Ball State. 

We saved our final interview for the chance to speak with the Soles sisters...Kayla graduated and working with 8-12 year olds...teaching them the fundamentals of the game and sophomore sister Jamie working to gain a spot in the Cardinal infield this season. 

We'll have all the interviews on the next CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR...and they were great fun to conduct. 

Sonja and I were fortunate enough to be at the table where redshirt sophomore outfielder Nicole Pufahl and sophomore utility player Ashley Nikolao and her parents were sitting. Both were stunning in their dresses (one gets used to seeing them in uniforms and when the girls get dressed up for events like this, it's a pleasant surprise and sight for viewing) and the two will be part of the power contingent that Pearsall will send to the plate against foes this season. 

Keynote speaker Chamberlain was a delight to listen to and the post-address interview with emcee Sean Moth revealed that she's been fortunate enough to meet and talk with stars Peyton Manning and Justin Bieber. 

The evening ended all too soon and it was a great night of casual conversation with old and new friends and a chance to hear from the girls that will be shaping the future of college softball at Louisville. A time to be appreciative. 

As Chamberlain commented during her address: 

" I'd give anything in the world to trade places with you and be sitting where you are right now...with a season ahead of you and so many great experiences and opportunities ahead. Appreciate them, because when they are over...I can tell you...you'll miss them so much and wish you were still playing college softball." 

(And Coach Pearsall would probably appreciate her bat in the lineup this season). 

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The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour from yesterday is now up and available on the Crescent Hill Soundcloud. Another fun show! 

LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-012316

paulie
xxxxx

GAME TIME CHANGE FOR CARDS SOFTBALL FRIDAY VS KANSAS -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS VS KANSAS MOVED UP DUE TO WEATHER CONCERNS

A timely update from UofL Softball asst. SID Lori Korte Thursday night as I was preparing the article on the Cards NCAA first round game against Kansas that was scheduled for Friday 5 p.m.

Make that 1 p.m. now.

Inclement weather expected for Columbia, MO. Friday night necessitating the schedule change. Missouri and Indiana State will follow at 4 p.m.

Not a biggie...the Cards left Wednesday for the "Show me" state and are prepared to face the BIG 12 foe. 

Another question in coaching strategy...wondering if

Pearsall will send out Maryssa Becker or not Friday against 'Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk' in hopes of bettering the chances to advance to the winner's bracket in the regional. Shelby McCombs at the ready if chosen to go first...a double elimination format at hand and Louisville technically either the #2 or #3 seed in this regional.

Becker recently selected to the 2015 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division 1 All-Southeast Region third team. A nice honor for the All-ACC selection...she is 14-7 on the season and has a 2.22 ERA. She's also a force out of the circle...a team-leading 39 RBI's, 9 home runs and a .350 batting average. 

The Cards will need that bat and more tomorrow against the Jayhawks. Well-rested and determined to give seniors Duncan, Jones, Arion and Soles a few more games to perform as Cardinals...Louisville should find the Jayhawk pitching a relief in comparison to some of the circle-masters the Cards have faced this season. 

It'll be available on ESPN3 and UofL's softball twitter account also does a great job of providing updates.

KENNY LOVES LOUISVILLE

Had the opportunity to hear UofL Sports Information Director Kenny Klein speak Thursday night at the monthly meeting of the Sportsmen's Supper Club. Kenny's been on the job since August of 1983...coming to Louisville after a couple of years at Morehead. 

Three things to know about 'KK':

1) He loves Louisville and Louisville athletics. It's a love he shares with a lot of us.

2) He still drives the car every day that Rick Pitino gave him. As we know, Coach P. has a heart the size of Texas.

3) The NCAA Final Four is his favorite event. He's there every year working the media table and so is the UofL Stat crew. 

His enthusiasm and optimism for the school, his bosses and the athletic programs is as strong as it was when he arrived here. He's seen changes galore in the campus and in the community. 

Kenny, his seven assistant SID's and the staff, photographers and video folks keep us 'in the know' and allow us to enjoy the stories, sights and sounds of Cardinal Athletics by providing us a comprehensive overview of 'Cardinalology'

From Milt Wagner to Trez Harrell, from Jackie Spencer to Shoni Schimmel and from Denny Crum to Rick Pitino...Mr.
Klein and crew have seen it all and relay it to us.

We, here at CARDINAL COUPLE, find the SID department indispensable and valuable for what we do. They're just as big a part of the teams we enjoy as the players and coaches...because they provide us with knowledge...and we all know that knowledge is power. We thank Kenny and his hard-working associates. 
  
paulie
xxxxxa 

Thoughts on Senior Day -- Tuesday Cardinal Couple

Thoughts on "Senior Day"

Sunday was Senior Day for UofL's Softball team.  As we near the end of the spring sports season, we see the traditional celebrations for each team's "graduating" "seniors".  I put air quotes around both words because the tradition of Senior Day is more a recognition of the end of a player's collegiate eligibility, or perhaps their expectation that they will no longer be involved with the team for some reason or another.

 Many players will have already graduated with an undergraduate degree and have already embarked on some graduate level courses, and occasionally, in extraordinary cases...I'm thinking of Tia Gibbs, as an example...will have achieved more than one degree.  Others, on the other hand, may be taking the next major step of their life before they finish a degree.  Whatever the case, its very possible that the athletes being honored are neither seniors, nor graduating.

I love the tradition of Senior Day, even if it does sometimes feel a bit scripted.  The young men and women that compete in collegiate athletics and are preparing to take the next major step of their lives should be honored.  Beyond the process of graduation, which may or may not roughly coincide with the completion of an athletes athletic eligibility or involvement with the program, whatever the cause, that next step should be honored.  Most of these young men and women have been actively pursuing the sport...or sports...of their choice since early childhood.

 Some may go on to pursue their sport at another school, perhaps by beginning a course of graduate study, while others may take the next step to professional athletics.  

Most, however, will see this as the end of high-level competitive play in a sport that has likely been a major part of the majority of their life.  For those men and women, to say that this is a life adjustment, is the understatement of the season.  Of course, the transition from college student to making a living in the wide world is an adjustment just on its own, but for student-athletes, the change is even more drastic.

Taking a few minutes, before one of the last home competitions of the season, to honor those seniors, to remember their contributions, to laugh at awkward pictures from their childhood displayed in all of their jumbotron glory, is more than a little bittersweet, but is an important observation of where they have come from. 

Taking a moment to reflect before taking the next big step forward is healthy, it puts the hard work and time spent in context.  Whether that moment of contemplation is more important to the athlete, or to the family and friends that have supported them, and yes even us, the fans, is a question that I don't have an answer for.

Softball honored four seniors before the double-header started on Sunday.  Two of  the seniors, Brittany Duncan and Kelsi Jones, transferred from other schools and were only able to play for the Cards for two years.  Their value, even in just two years, to the Cardinal Softball team can not be adequately described.  Whitney Arion and Kayla Soles, however, were with UofL Softball for four years, and, in addition to the value of their play on the field which is considerable, have provided continuity and have helped create the wonderful culture that exists on the softball team.

The activities of senior day do become somewhat scripted, I fear.  For the staff that works with these teams, and even to the fans, we see a similar staging in each sport, each season, but I hope that we can take those few moments as the athletes walk out, flanked by family or those who have taken on the role of family, to claim a framed jersey and bouquet of flowers and to have their picture taken with the coaches, to remember what this moment means to these players, to what it means for their life journey, and to remember that we all are part of supporting them...perhaps only a small part, but a part nonetheless...and helping them embark on their life as adults.

Paulie and I are blessed, in our work with Cardinal Couple, to get to know some of the young women of UofL athletics on something of a personal level, and I believe we are doubly blessed when those relationships...limited though they may be...continue on beyond the departure from the halls of academia and the sports facilities of Floyd Street and elsewhere.

To Brittany, Kelsi, Whitney, Kayla, and all of the other seniors of this year:  Its been a pleasure watching you play your sport for the past years, we wish you well in whatever the next step in your life is.

On a side note, UofL Softball quietly added something to the Senior Day festivities that I heartily approve of.  Just after the main ceremony was concluded one of the staff members went over to Boston College's dugout and gave bouquets of flowers to the Boston College seniors.  BC will honor these seniors in their own Senior Day festivities, of course, but I thought it was a nice touch to include the other team in the honors.  While I have seen this gesture made in other Senior Day ceremonies, its not a common occurrence.

Golf Going To South Bend

The NCAA selection for Golf occurred Monday evening, and UofL was selected as the 11th seed for the NCAA Regional being hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend.  The regional competition will be May 7th-9th at Warren Golf Course.  The top six teams and three individuals not associated with those six teams will advance to the NCAA championship which will be May 22-27 at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL.

jmca

Cards go 1-1 on Sunday -- Monday Cardinal Couple

DOUBLEHEADER DIVIDED AGAINST B.C.

Louisville Softball managed ten hits against Boston College pitcher Allison Frei in 13 innings yesterday but could only get one runner across the plate in a 1-0, 0-3 split yesterday at Ulmer Stadium.

If you like pitcher's duels, the Cardinal Softball complex on the corner of Floyd and Brandeis was the place to be.

The Cards...looking to stay in the running for a top three finish in the ACC Conference...got a strong performance from staff ace Maryssa Becker in the first game. The Oregon sophomore allowed just three Eagle hits and struck out five to improve her record to 13-5.

As she usually does, Becker helped her own cause at the bat. Jordan McNary, who went three for three in the first game, singled and scored in the bottom of the first. Becker drove her home with a single. The Cards added two more base runners in the inning but did not add to the 1-0 lead.

And that's how it ended...1-0.

In game two, Shelby McCombs took to the circle for Sandy Pearsall's squad and held B.C. in check until the top of third inning. An error, sacrifice bunt, fielder's choice and single gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead. A triple with two outs in the fourth helped Boston College (21-21, 4-14 ACC) push another run across the plate and they added a third score in the sixth inning with two singles and a two-base throwing error by Louisville.

The Cards threatened with runners in scoring position in the first, third and fifth innings but the scoreboard remained at 0 for the home team.

It was Senior Day at the ballpark and pre-game festivities honored Kelsi Jones, Kayla Soles, Brittany Duncan and Whitney Arion. Soles and Arion played all four years at Louisville. Duncan transferred in from Valparaiso after her junior year and Jones joined the Cards after two years at Missouri.

They were a part of 165 wins, two conference tournament titles and three NCAA appearances while wearing the Cardinals uniform.

-- Duncan...the powerful DH who smashed 10 home runs and drew 48 walks as a junior. Plagued by a thumb injury this season...she returned as a starter back on 4.21.15.

-- Soles, who did a bit of everything for the Cards after arriving from New Egypt, NJ...playing five different positions. A 2014 AAC second team selections as well.

-- Arion came in as a freshman and claimed the shortstop position and became the Cards leader in the infield. Always a threat at the plate and flawless on defense.

-- Jones, a transfer from Missouri who led the Cards at bat and handled all the outfield positions during her two years here. She currently leads the ACC in doubles and the Cards in batting average, steals and runs.

These four have a bit of playing to do, still, as they lead the Cards through the remainder of the regular season, conference tournament and, hopefully, an NCAA bid. Four student-athletes who made their mark at Louisville and will be missed after graduation.

The Cards were looking to gain ground yesterday on Notre Dame and UNC who are second and third in the ACC. Those two split in a couple of slugfests yesterday...UNC taking the first game 7-3 and the Irish responding win a 17-9 win in the second game. UNC ended a Notre Dame win streak that went back to March 17th by taking the first contest. UNC retains second behind Florida State with a 16-5 conference mark. Notre Dame sits at 17-6 and the Cards are 14-6.

Louisville returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game in Ulmer against in-state rival Western Ky.

paulie
xxxxx

SOFTBALL DEFEATS BOSTON COLLEGE 3-1...DERBY WEEK IS UPON US...RADIO TODAY -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Our Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE report will look at the UofL Softball win over Boston College. Our radio show is today at 11 a.m. and we'll preview that. Also, it is Derby Week in Louisville, KY. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Bats, microphones and horses...have I been to this party?) 

BECKER, SOLES LEAD CARDS PAST B.C.

Maryssa Becker delivered a three hit, one run allowed performance from the circle while striking out six and Kayla Soles two-RBI single in the second inning gave Louisville the momentum to down ACC Conference opponent Boston College 3-1 at Ulmer Stadium Friday night.

Louisville (26-16, 13-5 ACC) got a leadoff walk out of Brittany Duncan (no chance to deliver "the boom") and another Brittany (Sims) doubled to left to advance Duncan to third. (Insert your version of "WHOOOO!" here) 


That set the stage for the pride of New Egypt, NJ (Exit 5 on the Jersey Turnpike) ...Kayla Soles...to smack a drive right up the middle that scored the runners. In fact, it seemed like they both got to home plate at the same time. Duncan had scored and was turning around to give Sims the "slide" single...but Sims was standing there waiting to give her a high five. 

The Eagles retaliated with two outs in the top of the third with a run but Becker shut the door after those two hits and allowed just one more in the final four innings. 

UofL added an additional run in the fifth when Kelsi Jones doubled to left and scored on a Whitney Arion bunt and throwing error. The Cards got another strong effort out of Becker (12-5) and made some very spectacular fielding plays to back her up...especially Hailey Smith and Arion in the infield.

These two will get back together Sunday for a double-header that starts around noon. 

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HAPPY START OF DERBY WEEK!


It is the start of Derby Week in Louisville, KY. A great place to be for the many festivities an events. Today is the running of the Derby City mini and regular marathon, the Balloon race and Churchill Downs opens their spring racing card with night racing that begins at 6 p.m.

It all culminates with the running of the Kentucky Derby next Saturday. In the interim, all kinds of events are scheduled in-between. The Pegasus Parade, The Great Steamboat Race, the Run for the Rose' and the Chow Wagon festivities...just to mention a few. 

As "locals"...sometimes we can be a bit jaded about the cornucopia of activities and events. All it takes, though, is one first-time visitors wide-eyed wonderment over the mega-festival atmosphere that goes on for eight days here to remind us that Louisville, KY has the eyes of the world on it for those eight magical, non-stop and fun-filled days.

Happy Derby Week to you! 

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MAMA...THOSE MEN ARE TALKING AGAIN!

We'll be doing our regularly scheduled radio show today on WCHQ 100.9 FM and on the Internet at:

www.crescenthillradio.com


It starts at 11 a.m. and we'll cover news and items about Louisville softball, hoops, lacrosse and more! We have an exclusive interview with Jude Schimmel at her Sunday book-signing and a WorldWide Quiz you can take. Don Paulie might be popping in to deliver one of his rambling, disconcerted oratories and free pizza for the first 100 in the studio viewing area! 

(OK...we're not giving away free pizza...but you could order a pizza and eat it while you listen at home. Don't eat the pizza while driving, please...)

Radio, radio...we're on a Crescent Hill Radio. See ya there!

paulie
xxxxx 

SOFTBALL GETS THE SWEEP OVER VIRGINIA...SELECTION MONDAY TONIGHT...MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS DOWN VIRGINIA 7-5

Sometimes in order to get the job done, you have to finish it yourself. Sophomore Maryssa Becker stepped up yesterday to keep the Cards perfect in the ACC. 

Louisville Softball is now 6-0 in the ACC with a 7-5 win over the Virginia Cavaliers Sunday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium.

Becker delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-RBI, one out single in the bottom of the sixth inning and then took to the circle to retire the Wahoos in order in the top of the seventh to push Louisville to the three game sweep.



This was a see-saw affair...the Cards exchanging runs with the visitors early, tying the contest up twice and not taking the lead until the bottom of the fifth when Whitney Arion smashed a two-rum homer to go up 5-3. Louisville had trailed earlier 3-1 before a solo shot by Kayla Soles drew them within one. 

Louisville tied the contest in the fourth...Soles reaching on a single and pinch-runner Morgan Meyer replacing her and scoring with two outs. 

Virginia tied the contest back up in the top of the sixth but Louisville filled the bases in the bottom of the inning...setting up Becker's single to left that put UofL ahead to stay. 

Becker gets the win to go to 5-4 on the year. She started the contest but gave way to Madi Norman in the top of the third. After four innings from the freshman, Becker returned to the circle to seal the deal in the top of the seventh. 

Both Kelsi Jones and Kayla Soles went 3-3 for Louisville (13-7) who will travel to Columbus, OH next for a mid-week doubleheader against Ohio State. 

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WHERE YA GOING, LOUIE?



The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show will air tonight on ESPN at 7 p.m. and Louisville will learn their fate for first and second round action and where they are seeded. 

Cardinal Arena on campus is the place to be if you want to watch the selections with the University of Louisville women's basketball team and coaches. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the girls will sign autographs until 6:45. 

Speculation abounds about where the Cards will be seeded and where they will travel to begin Jeff Walz's seventh tournament appearance in eight years as the Cards head coach. Louisville is projected anywhere from the last two seed to a high fourth seed according to the various pundits and bracketologist out there...the NCAA will use its own pretzel logic to determine where the Cards will start their path on the road to Tampa. Paulie has been saying a #4 seed. Let's hope that is an underestimate...a #2 is what they deserve. 

CARDINAL COUPLE will be in attendance and we'll gather the facts and a few interviews for Worldwide's Tuesday article.
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GO WEST...YOUNG MEN

Let's hope last night's NCAA Men's Bracket Selections aren't a foreshadowing of what is to come for the ladies. Pitino's bunch got a #4 seed and is being shipped off to play their first two in Seattle...opening against the Cal-Irvine Anteaters. Yep...T-Will's and Peyton's hometown. 

I wonder if the NCAA would let them step back out on the court for a few drives and dunks? 

paulie
xxxxx

Softball splits in battle of the Birds -- Tuesday Cardinal Couple

CARDS WIN FIRST, DROP SECOND IN EXTRA INNINGS TO ILLINOIS STATE

ALISON SZYDLOWSKI

It was a battle of the Birds Monday afternoon at Ulmer Stadium and the Louisville Cardinals flew high in the first game...gaining a 10-2, five inning win over the Illinois State Redbirds...but falling back to ground with a 4-3, eight inning loss in the second game. 

CARDS 10 - REDBIRDS 2

Illinois State took an early first inning lead on Louisville 1-0 but Whitney Arion produced a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first to give the Cards a 2-1 lead. 

After the Redbirds tied it in the top of the second, Cardinal Couple favorite Kayla Soles sent one over the fence with the bags full of Cardinals to make it 6-2 UofL. 

Louisville added to the lead in the 3rd inning...one of Worldwide's "Sid team" members...Alison Szydlowski reached on Ill. State error and two Cardinal scored on the play to set the scoreboard at 8-2.

"Szy" would strike again in the 5th inning...her two-RBI double bringing home the game-ending runs for a 10-2 Cardinal triumph. Maryssa Becker drew the start in the circle and allowed just three hits in the five innings of hurling...

ILLINOIS STATE 4 - LOUISVILLE 3

The teams were tied 1-1 early after "Szy" knocked home a single, but the Cards found themselves down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Another "Sid"...Sidney Melton tied the contest with an RBI single, though, to force the extra inning.

The Redbirds got two runs on Shelby McCombs in the top of the eighth...the Cards battled back with a Brittany Sims single scoring one and putting runners on 1st and 3rd. Louisville could not get the tying run across the plate, however, and McCombs (3-1) takes the loss.

Next up, Louisville will travel to Oxford, OH to face Miami

for a 6:00 p.m. game. Louisville returns home for the weekend to host Virginia in an ACC Conference match up.
First pitch for that three-game series is at noon Saturday. 

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We are pleased to announce we will be featuring the CARDINAL COUPLE PICK'EM CHALLENGE again this year for the NCAA Women' Basketball Tournament. We'll have a $25 gift card for the winner and an absolutely fabulous Cardinal Couple T-Shirt for second place. 

Your objective is to pick as many winners as you can in the 63 games that will be played. You get (1) point for each winner. In case of a tie, the first tiebreaker will be if one of the entries had the national champion picked correctly. If there are more than one with that selection, we'll look at who had the most teams successfully selected for the Final Four. 


If a tie still exists, we'll go back to the Great Eight and check that for most teams correctly picked. If a tie still remains, we'll shred each and every entry and have Bill the Goat pick a winner by just randomly showing up at someone's house wearing a Cardinal Couple T-Shirt and a $25 Gift Certificate tied to one of his horns...

Entries can be left in the comments sections of articles after selection Monday or e-mailed to cardinalcouple@twc.com

Here's a popular format people use to enter...selecting the winners for each round. (No, this isn't an official entry):

ROUND 1

DRAKE, WICHITA STATE, CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, MONTANA, TCU, HOUSTON, CONNECTICUT, FORDHAM, IDAHO, PRINCETON, LOUISVILLE, SOUTH ALABAMA, KENTUCKY, PURDUE, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH FLORIDA, MIAMI, DREXEL, HARTFORD, CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELD, IOWA, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, DAVIDSON, NOTRE DAME, DEPAUL, VILLANOVA, YALE

ROUND 2

WICHITA STATE, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, TCU, CONNECTICUT, IDAHO, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, SOUTH CAROLINA, MIAMI, HARTFORD, IOWA, VIRGINIA, NOTRE DAME, YALE

ROUND 3 

CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT, LOUISVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, MIAMI, VIRGINIA, NOTRE DAME

ROUND 4

 WASHINGTON, LOUISVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA
or
ROUND 5

LOUISVILLE, VIRGINIA

WINNER

LOUISVILLE

Entries open after the Selection Monday show (really, Mr. Obvious?) and will close at the start of the first game. It's free, it's fun and you could win a major award plus gain the respect and nods of recognition from those you have always despised deep down inside in places you never talk about. Where there is no hope or tomorrow, just a grueling day-to-day survival of...

Jeez, where's that coming from? Have fun! Enter and win! 

PAULIE
XXXXX

Softball's first test starts today -- Friday Cardinal Couple

Six Returning Starters and a Youth Movement will test a challenging schedule

Freshman "Syd" joins
the Cardinal squad

The Louisville Softball team gets the season started today with a noon game against UC Davis in the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas. The Cards will also hit and pitch against host UNLV in a second game scheduled for around 6:45 p.m.

It's five games in three days for a team that will look to blend in the ingredients of six returning starters, nine freshmen and three new pitchers. One could say Sandy Pearsall and staff has had some interesting days as they prepare for 2015 ACC Softball and the demanding pre-conference schedule. 

And, it'd be an understatement.

Back for the Cards are:

Jay Miller will "coach 'em up" as an assistant.

- Hard-hitting (when they pitch to her) senior first-baseman Brittany Duncan. The Valpo transfer went .329 at bat last year, had 10 home runs and drew a team high 48 walks. Pitchers prefer to walk her, she led the team in RBI's despite that and has the returnee's highest slugging average

- Kelsi Jones...steady as a rock in the outfield, led the team in fence-clearers with 11...this senior transfer from Missouri will be looked to for leadership and production at the plate. Jones had more at-bats than any Cardinal last season and started all 58 games. 

- Kayla Soles. The pride of New Egypt, NJ is being asked to play yet another new position (second base) and the senior has embraced the opportunity to contribute. She sent Mr. Spalding to Brandeis Street nine times in 2014 with a .297 batting average.   

New and improved Ulmer Stadium is a delightful venue
for a fan to take in a ballgame.

- Whitney Arion returns at short and was 2014 All-AAC last year. Despite a slow start at the plate, she finished with a .274 batting average and has been the backbone of the infield since her freshman year. The senior will be essential to the Cardinal successes this season.

- Maryssa Becker may have been the most pleasant and unexpected surprise of the 2014 season. The freshman pitcher became to "go to" on the mound and complied a 13-7 record and team low 2.13 ERA. She's no slouch at bat either...producing a .310 batting average.

Also returning are outfielders Morgan Meyer, Jordan McNary, Brittany Sims...catcher and third baseman Kristina Dillard, and infielders Autumn McDuffie and Paige Alford. Meyer and McNary saw the most action of this six-pack but need to improve at the plate. Both are sophomores this season and the improvement curve should continue. 

We've also had impressive pre-season reports about red-shirt freshman Nicole Pufahl. Transfer from LSU Hailey Smith is an infielder that could give the Cards a boost. 

Madi Norman joins the
pitching staff

Pitching has gotten some attention and praise with three new hurlers and one returnee besides Becker. Shelby McCombs, Bridgette Flaherty and Madi Norman join the team and Tiarra Sanabria hopes to recover from injuries and be a solid contributor either on the mound or at first.

Which freshmen will step up? Who will emerge at catcher to replace the steady and spectacular graduates Marge Ruckenbrod and Taner Fowler? Can Katie Keller's .419 batting average be replaced?

All these questions...plus a new and more difficult conference alignment...await answers and results from Sandy Pearsall's squad. Staff changes and new foes will make it a season of guarded expectations and new challenges. 

The Cards were picked to finish fifth out of 11 in the ACC preseason poll. They have 20 pre-conference games...and just five of those at Ulmer...in a brutal, demanding and travel-laden start to a pivotal transition season. They'll spend a month on the road before the home opener against Illinois State on March 6th. 

Such is life in a city and program where February home games are risky business and subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Another reason we need a domed stadium. (President Ramsey got a big chuckle out of that Paulie proposal). 

As fans, we can help the Cards out by being there for home games. In addition to exciting softball action, you just might even see President Ramsey in "rally-cap" mode, Al Greener and the Pep Band or experience the laid-back scenario and view from the outfield berm. 

It all starts today in the desert sands of Nevada...a journey that will hopefully end up in Oklahoma City and a College World Series bid in May. 

paulie    

Cards softball to get ESPN broadcasts -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

Pearsall's Pride to get 11 ESPN slots

New conference, new opportunities...


The University of Louisville softball team will make 11 appearances on ESPN3 or ESPNU this spring...all ACC games...as they roll into their first season of ACC Conference play. 

Kayla Soles and crew will be on the "U" twice...back to back on April 12th and 13th...when Florida State visits Ulmer Stadium for 7 p.m. games.


ESPN 'tres' will show games against visiting North Carolina on March 21st (both games) and March 22nd. When UofL goes to Blacksburg to do the Hokie dance, the April 3rd. contest and doubleheader on April 4th. will be shown. The "let's play two" battle against Boston College on April 25th. and single game on the 26th. can be viewed on the laptop. 

All home Cardinal softball games will also be available on Cards TV through GoCards.com

We're getting closer to the season starting...the Cards travel to Los Wages  Las Vegas to hit and run against UC Davis, UNLV, CS Bakersfield, #15/16 Minnesota and #13/11 Washington from Feb. 6th-8th. It'll be a great early season test for the UofL squad that has had significant departures in Taner Fowler, Katie Keller, Hannah Kiyohara, Caralisa Connell and others due to graduation.

Pearsall returns starters Soles, Brittany Duncan, Whitney Arion, Kelsi Jones and pitcher Maryssa Becker from last year's squad the won the AAC Conference Tournament and played in the NCAA Regionals.

In 2014, Louisville posted a 36-22 overall record, claimed the 2014 American Athletic Conference Championship and capped the season with the program's 11th straight NCAA appearance
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The Cardinals return six starters and 13 letter winners from the 2014 team including NFCA All-Central Regional selection Maryssa Becker and all-conference team members Whitney Arion and Kayla Soles. Nine newcomers will also take the field for the Cards in their inaugural ACC season
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Sandy Pearsall enters her 16th season as UofL's head coach. After building the program from scratch in 2000, Pearsall has guided the Cardinals to six conference championships. Under her watch, Louisville has made 11 consecutive NCAA regional appearances and served as a host site in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013.