SOFTBALL CREATES OWN AIR SHOW WITH 10-2 WIN OVER BOSTON COLLEGE
The Louisville Softball team missed Saturday's Thunder Over Louisville, so they decided to create a little "Thunder" of their own in Brighton, MA with a 10-2, six inning win over Boston College on Sunday.
All told, the Cards exploded for eight hits (six of them from Funke and Hensley) to go to 27-15 on the season and 8-7 in the ACC. Several walks allowed by Eagle pitching, a few well place bunts and some BC throwing errors allowed Louisville to build an early 1-0 lead after one, increase it to 5-0 after two and then watch the duo light the M-80's and cherry bombs that concluded the festivity.
Taylor Roby took the circle to relieve Hensley with one out in the second and tossed a bucket of water on any potential Boston College flare ups with 4.2 innings of one-hit pyrotechnics of her own. We're hopeful that SB Cards didn't blast off all their explosives while in Massachusetts. State rival UK comes to Floyd Street Wednesday for the annual Battle of the Bluegrass i Ulmer.
CARDS WBB ADDS THREE TALENTED TRANSFERS.
Jeff Walz decided to create a few fireworks as well over the weekend. Or maybe he has pre-Derby fever...because he just hit a huge trifecta. The Cards WBB program had three visitors over the weekend the seeing seeking brighter lights and big boom possibilities and found them in Louisville.
What a huge boost to the team! The "Elizabeths" are freshmen. Smith spent two seasons as a Cal Bear and was part of two NCAA Tournament teams. Walz continues to bring in answers for future needs and players that will light up the KFC YUM! Center for a very long time.
Let's look at each new addition:
BALOGUN was the ACC Freshman Player of the Year. The 6'1" Chattanooga guard was also ACC Player of the Week four times in the 2018-19 season. She is a scorer from about anywhere on the court and 13 points and 10 rebounds against the Cards when GT visited the KFC YUM! Center back on 1/13/19...one of her two double-double games on thee season. She amassed 437 points as a freshman, second highest in Yellow Jacket history. She started all 30 games last season. DIXON, a 6'5" forward, was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. She also started all 30 games for Georgia Tech and was named the ACC Freshman of the Week three times. She's a powerful rebounder, runs the court well and led all ACC freshmen with 6.4 rebounds a contest. Her 11.0 p.p.g. She hails from Memphis and will add needed height to the Cardinals roster. She had just 14 minutes against the Cards in the 1/13/19, 61-44 win but gathered six rebounds against the Cards. For future reference, she's called "Liz" a lot.
SMITH, a 6'0" guard played at Moreno Valley during her high school days, scored 600 points in her two years at Cal. 91 three-pointers highlighted her career on the West Coast and she has 244 assists. She put up 20 against Oregon in PAC 12 play and had 18 against eventual National Champion Baylor in NCAA Tournament Second Round action. An exceptionally quick player who excels at long range shooting, she was on the PAC 12 All-Freshman team her first year and named to the PAC 12 Honorable Mention squad her second season.All three girls were McDonald's All-American selections in high school.
They'll join incoming freshmen Ramani Parker, Nyah Green and Norika Konno -- plus redshirt freshman Molly Lockhart and grad transfer Yacine Diop as Cardinals. Louisville also returns Yacine Diop from her injury -- plus returnees Jazmine Jones, Kylee Shook, Bionca Dunham, Dana Evans, Kasa Robinson, Seygan Robins, Lindsey Duvall, Jessica Laemmle and last year's walk-on Alexis Barlow.
We, as fans, sometimes worry too much about when the timeline will suit our own hopes.
In all probability, all three transfers will redshirt a year, learn Walz's system and get to know their teammates, the campus and take some time to acclimate. Maybe we should just celebrate their arrival and enjoy the aspect of them being here, instead of wanting to know when they'll perform.
Walz has gone out and addressed needs. Give the man credit for work that has been accomplished. In our "microwave" society, we want it all and want it now. Sometimes we forget to savor the current moment. This is one to savor.
In short, don't anticipate the "end of the concert". Enjoy the music that is currently being played. Question not, nor demand knowledge of the time frame. Just celebrate that it's happened. Join us in welcoming the three new Burger Girls to the Ville!! Join us in welcoming three excellent freshmen to the fold also.
Sympathize with Paulie. How in the world will he learn all six new players' faces, personalities and styles all at the same time!
Not bad stuff from a guy who got out-coached, according to a government source, to end the season. I suspect we should all just say, "Thank you, Jeff!" and "Thank you, players." for deciding to come here. We should do that a lot.
It's ALWAYS a great day to be a Louisville Cardinal.
paulie
xxxxx
Huge!
ReplyDeleteCurtis "TRIFECTA!!!" Franklin
Solid series win for UofL softball.
ReplyDeleteDaryl and I were wondering what all the UofL players were tweeting about so now we know- exciting! Even if they have to redshirt they can still practice with the team and do film study. All three will provide good in-game experience for the rest of the squad.
Welcome to all!
ReplyDeleteJust one question, are any, or all three, immediately eligible?
ReplyDeleteIf so, we're LOADED!
All three are impact players and no redshirting them. They will be vying for starting positions, especially the two GA Tech players. I remember them very well, watched them play more than just against us.
Ineligible unless granted waivers.
ReplyDeleteFingers AND toes crossed 😊
I would not be surprised at all if they redshirt. *WINK*
DeleteOnce again, I know NOTHING, Col. Hogan.
Paulie
Great summary, Paulie.
ReplyDeleteSome "fans" were badmouthing Walz's last two recruiting classes, since he missed on a number of McD AAs. Wonder what they are saying now?
I would prefer that all three redshirt. Let's see what Duvall, Robins, Robinson, Lockhart and the three freshmen can contribute.
I agree let's redshirt them this season.
DeleteDon't think they're coming here to be redshirted.
ReplyDeleteNuts to think they will be redshirted. If Balogun and Dixon get waivers and find out they are redshirted they would go ballistic. Won’t happen.
ReplyDeleteSmith will have to sit out a year. Great chance Balogun and Dixon play immediately
ReplyDeleteCommon sense would make one think two to three transfers are imminent on current roster with these pick ups
ReplyDeleteWaiver: An action that sets aside an NCAA rule because a specific, extraordinary circumstance prevents you from meeting the rule. An NCAA school may file a waiver on your behalf; you cannot file a waiver for yourself. The school does not administer the waiver, the conference office or NCAA does.
ReplyDeleteThe question here is whether the firing of Machelle Joseph at Georgia Tech and the previous investigations, parental ans student itnerviews concerning such will be enough for the NCAA to make a waiver exemption.
We are Louisville. This is the NCAA. You know how those two mix.
It's out of the Cards hands, except for trying to build a case. The NCAA decides.
Paulie
It used to be shocking, but nothing surprises me now, because of the number of kids that just think the grass is always greener somewhere else. If you don't get your way, if you don't play, if your parents think other than the coaching staff does...you leave.
ReplyDeleteIt is the new norm for College Basketball.
South Carolina just had four decide to transfer.
Coaches try to lay out to freshmen what to expect from them and how the program works when they recruit a player. Sometimes it doesn't sink in. Of course, there are the horrific cases of player abuse, mentally, psychologically and otherwise.
That, my friends, is crap.
Paulie
I think that znD being allowed to immediately play Shepherd set up at leadt the GA players to be eligible next year.
ReplyDeleteFor playing time with only 2 years left it might be to the Cal players advantage to be forced by NCAA to sit a year. Would not expect her to voluntarily redshirt but feel that she and the coaches are pretty much planning on it.
znD = Notre Dame
ReplyDelete