Softbal Cards Look to ACC Tournament -- Derby 151 -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 10th PLACE ACC FINISH HAS CARDS PLAYING WEDS. IN ACC TOURNAMENT

With the ACC Softball regular Season over, the teams that qualified for the ACC Tournament now focus their eyes on Boston for the 2025 ACC Tournament.

The Cards are "in" with their 10th place finish in conference and will face #7 place finisher Virginia on Wednesday in Game 3 at 5:00 PM

The Cards and Cavs played three  times in the regular season, at Virginia, and the squads split the series 1-1..Louisville winning 6-5 and losing 0-6 and 3-8...the games were in Charlottesville, where UVA is located.  

The Cards finished the season 26-24 but were a sub-.500 9-15 in conference play. Louisville didn't finish the regular season all that well, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. 

Louisville pitching primarily used three hurlers...Alyssa Zabala, Brooke Gray and Sam Booe. Zabala was 10-10 on the season, Gray ended 9-9 on the season and Booe went 4-3. Holly Aprile had seven pitchers on the roster and all seven appeared in games. 

At the plate, the softball Cards were led by Char Lorenz and Easton Lotus. Lorenz hit .368 and Lotus batted .365. Lorenz led the way with nine home runs, and Bri Despines followed with seven four baggers.  Lorenz was the clear leader in RBI's with 53 and Madison Pickens led the team in strike outs with 36. In the base on balls category, Ally Alexander led the way there with 24. 

We wish the Cards the best of luck in the "second season" and hope they can do well enough to get into the NCAA Tournament. We'll have more coverage on the Tournament the closer we get to it

SOVEREIGNTY TAKES THE DERBY

Well, my Derby picks ran second in Journalism and fourth in Final Gambit but couldn't catch the winner,..Sovereignty in the stretch in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Although I did not originally pick the horse, I started looking at his Kentucky track record, especially at Churchill, and..since I was up a bit on the day's wagering, I bet him also. I have been  a fan of jockey Junior Alvarado for awhile, and took a hunch. 

The final time was 2:02.31. As the field entered the final stretch, Sovereignty and Journalism battled nose-to-nose, with Sovereignty, positioned on the outside, pulling ahead by 1 ½ lengths to secure the win. Baeza, a late entry, closed strongly to take third. 

It was a sloppy mess at Churchill, and I'd like to see Sovereignty and Journalism hook up on a dry track at the Preakness in two weeks

Who finished last? There is actually a betting pool for that as well, believe it or not. This year's last place finisher Admire Daytona, one of the Japanese entries. 

paulie

David Watson column -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

HOW'S YOUR DERBY WEEK? 

Hey, ho! Dave-O here, pinch-hitting this morning for Paulie. 

It is Derby Week in Louisville, KY., in case you've just come out of a coma or happen to be reading this in a locale where the residents do not place as much emphasis on the first week of May as the Louisville locals do. 

I spoke with "our fearless leader" last night and he's involved in a myriad of events and activities that began on Tuesday and will carry him through "The Run for the Roses" (as they call it up there.) I can only surmise that running through roses has its share of calamities. The thorns and occasional bumblebee could turn against you.

I always wondered why they never had Bret Michaels and hair-metal band Poison sing "Every Rose Has Its Thorns" on Derby Day at Churchill? Sing along at the link below. 

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNS

Paulie is quite busy with his horse-racing handicapping site 
(check out HANDICAPPING HEROES at this LINK ). Truth be told here, when we spoke last night, he sounded worn-out but happy after a day at Churchill Downs and gladly and gratefully turned the keys to the website vehicle over to me today with what sounded like relief, gratitude and maybe a bit of Jefferson's Reserve mixed in. So, let's go for a spin! 

I grew up in New Albany and so I remember quite a bit about Derby Week back "in the day". Being in Bradenton now, an expatriated Hoosier, if you will, I still have an interest in things like Balloon Glows and Steamboat Races, along with Mini-Marathons a few of the many events that are part of Derby week. Following them from afar is tough at times, but ask you hve to do is ask Google, Siri or Alexa, right? I even ran in the "Mini" -- as we called it back then -- and finished. I spent the next three days recovering, but I can say I did it. I apologize again to the guy whose front yard I threw up in. No pain, no gain, right?  

On the Louisville Cardinals sports scene, I see that things are slowly winding down. I should mention (after all, this is a women's sports site) that Sandy Pearsall's squad came out on top of the "hit parade" in Ulmer Stadium last night. It was a 13-10 win for the Louisville Sluggers against Marshall and the final regular-season home game for the Cards. 

Megan Hensley has been quite the offensive dynamo for UofL lately -- in addition to her pitching prowess -- and knocked a grand slam home run last night that was essential in Louisville's come-from-behind victory. This contest featured what had to be a wild and wonderful fifth inning, where a total of 16 runs were scored. What did UofL do? Bring Jeff Walz back throw the opening pitch and just decide to leave him in the circle? 

As the scoreboard operator gets a few days off to recover from sprained fingers, the Cards conclude the season at Ulmer with a guaranteed spot in the ACC Tournament but uncertain of their seed just yet. They'll head to the Panthers lair by the three rivers' convergence this weekend to decide all that. One can only hope, for Louisville's sake, that they don't bring in the Pittsburgh Pirates dressed in wigs and clean-shaven, to do their bidding. Or, maybe that wouldn't be so bad...the Pirates are in fourth in the NL Central, right behind my Cubbies and just above those laughable, losing Reds. 

I'm a big golfer (not gopher) as you might know if you've read these pages previously, so I do need to give you a report on the UofL women's golf squad. 

Olivia Cason, a junior from Owensboro, KY, has qualified for the U.S. Women's Open Championship. She fired a one-under par 143 to win the qualifying event for the Championship. That's 36 holes of golf in one day, dear readers. Ol' Dave-O can barely get through 18 holes these days, unless he's playing miniature golf. Even then, the clown's mouth and water hazards always get me.

Cason's big day, plus Louisville women's golf getting selected to compete in the NCAA Championships from May 7-9 out in California and being sponsored by Stanford, are another bright and successful sport for UofL women's athletics. I guess I could even surmise, if you're playing golf at Stanford, one must watch out for "the Trees"? 



It's been my esteemed pleasure to return to the hallowed pages and visit with you today. Thanks to Paulie for calling me out of the bullpen to pitch a few innings of relief here at the site. And, NO, I wasn't pitching for either Marshall or Louisville last night. The score would have been much higher. 

I hope, if you're of that persuasion and location, you have a great rest of Derby week and have a winner on Derby Day. I'd offer to give you a Derby horse I think might win, but my knowledge of horse-racing is equal to my knowledge of fluid hydraulics. I can tell you they run around the track in counter-clockwise fashion and the hooves pounding the dirt are quite audible if you stand by the rail.

Wait a second. Audible. Hmmm. There's a horse named Audible in the Derby! 8-1 morning line and won the Florida Derby? OK, I guess I have a Derby Pick after all. Audible. Barely. I can't heat you! (with respect to Gomer Pyle's Sgt. Carter) 

(Thanks to whoever for the pics I borrowed for today's article) 


Your pal
Dave-O
David Watson

  

Saturday Kentucky Derby -- Happy 139th!

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Derby Selections.

- Oaks recap 


Happy 139th. running of the Kentucky Derby to you! The fastest two minutes in sports is upon us. A well-matched field will take to the Churchill Downs main track for a mile and a quarter at (or around) 6:24 p.m. today. Here's what we have...remember these are for entertainment purposes only and always gamble responsibly...we have six races for you to look at.

"Until you go to Kentucky and see the Derby with your own eyes...you ain't never been nowhere and you ain't never seen nothing."  -Irwin S.Cobb



Race 6 -- The Twin Spires Turf Sprint


Paul


Based on Churchill and wet turf numbers, I'm going with #3 Regally Ready here with Corey Nakatani as my top pick. I expect a big run out of long-shot #1 Southern Dude and Icon Ike also.

Sonja

#8 Icon Ike and Rosie Napravnik will be flying late and should be able to pass this field to get the win. Veteran #6 Chamberlain Bridge loves Churchill's turf course and could get the top prize also. #2 Havelock will come running late with Garrett Gomez and should be considered also.

Race 7 -- The Humana Distaff

Paul

#8 Byrama returns to dirt today and just barely missed on the polystuff at Keeneland. Joel Rosario gets him to the wire first today. #7 Burban has finished either first or second in four starts at Churchill. #1 Jamaican Smoke tries to go wire-to-wire and just misses.

Sonja

I think Rosie will have a big day today and #3 Same Cross surprises this field at a price. #2 Rumor has tons of class and Mike Smith on board again. #1 Jamaican Smoke could outrun them all.


Race 8 -- Churchill Distaff Turf Mile


Paul

# 8 Marketing Mix was the favorite in this race last year and ran a disappointing fourth. With Garrett Gomez on board this year he does better an wins it. #6 Stephanie's Kitten loves Churchill and comes off the layoff in fine fashion. #7 Karlovy Vary will be there until they catch him.

Sonja

#5 Hungry Island won this race last year and will again this year. #3 Daisy Devine has been either first or second the last six times out and will be close today. #6 Stephanie's Kitten won The Edgewood here last year and has a chance.


Race 9 -- The Churchill Downs


Paul


#8 Trinniberg is on fire on American tracks and ran in the Kentucky Derby here last year. He gets to see the winner's circle this year. #9 Delauney has won five straight and can't be ignored. #2 Hierro won the Derby Trial here last year in the slop and rates a look if it's messy today.

Sonja

#9 Delauney and Rosie will win against this very talented field. #8 Trinniberg will make it close and I'm taking longshot # 3 Laurie's Rocket as one that could surprise them all.


Race 10 -- The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic


Paul

If my day goes like yesterday did, I'll be ready for plenty of Woodford to ease the pain by the time this one rolls around. #8 Wise Dan and #9 Point of Entry should be the top two...Dan barely winning. #4 Silver Max follows them home.


Sonja

I can't disagree with Paul's top two here. I'll select them both along with #3 Optimizer ( I love this battler) with Joel Rosario aboard.


Race 11 -- The Kentucky Derby


Paul


I've loved him since I first saw him at Gulfstream and # 14 Verrazano is my top pick to get the roses. #16 Orb will be flying late and make a race out of it. #12 Itsmyluckyday fades to third and #3 Revolutionary rounds out the superfecta.

Sonja

It's a long stretch at Churchill and #5 Normandy Invasion will love it and pass them all to win. #16 Orb will make it tough on him but lose at the wire. #8 Goldencents takes third for the O'Neill/Pitino/Krigger crew and #14 Verrazano finishes fourth.


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Oaks Recap


Sonja strikes again, with a big day of handicapping success. If you had put $2 across the board on her top three selections in the six races we outlined yesterday, it would have cost you $108. You would have received $130 back...a $22 profit. She did even better with exotics. A $2 exacta and $2 trifecta on her top three choices cost $72. Her picks returned $251...+$179 for the day.

Paul hit only one exacta and trifecta for the day, but it returned a total of $119..so it covered the $72 wagered. The big money came later...I "loaded up" on Beholder across the board and she ran second by a gut-wrenching half a length in the Oaks.  On a $2 across the board wager, she paid $9.00 and $5.60...so that was a profit. I did it a lot heavier than $2 across... I also scored big on the final race of the day. Paul McGee's Sky Girl won convincingly at 5/2 and I had the exacta and trifecta here also.  I needed that late luck...Tommy Boy and I tried various Pick 3's and Pick 4's and cashed nary a one...

Happy Derby!

-Paulie

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