Softball checks in at #18 -- Walz Presser Today-- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PUTS SOFTBALL AT #18

Yes, dear reader, softball is just a few weeks away. 

The Cards "Hit and Pitch" women received recognition from the College Sports Madness site recently, when they were picked #18 in the publication's most recent poll. CSM also predicts that the Cards will make the NCAA Tournament and finish second in the ACC in Holly Aprile's second year as head coach of the squad. Always-powerful FSU seems to be the popular choice to take the ACC, and, ironically, Northwestern...who eliminated Louisville last year...is ranked at #17, just in front of Louisville. 

Let's roll you back to last year, where the Cards made the NCAA Tournament after a 35-23 record , that included a 12-12 finish in the ACC. Louisville was shipped off to Evanston, IL to land in the Northwestern-hosted regional. Two wins put UofL in the finals of the regional, but it proved to be a rough Sabbath, the Big 10 Wildcats winning twice over the Cards to advance out of the regional. 

The ranking is pretty optimistic, since Louisville had 2/3rds of their pitching staff wither graduate or transfer. Only Taylor Roby remains. She was effective last year at 14-4 and should see extended time in the circle this season.  She'll look for help from transfer-in-from Auburn Chardonnay Harris. If you caught our interview/article with the Cards head coach earlier this month, she's also looking at a couple of freshman arms and a returnee or two from last year that are healthy and could add pitching depth. 

When you consider the departed Hensley and Watson were a combined 21-19 last year, the graduation and transfer don't appear to be too crippling, in terms of wins.

Here's the Aprile interview link: INTERVIEW WITH HOLLY APRILE 

We'll provide, again, this year our comprehensive coverage and pictures of the 2020 Softball Cards. We challenge you to find another non-University moderated site that does Softball better than we do. Whether it's recognized or appreciated, we can't honestly say, but we dig the sport and we're gonna cover it, so...join us in our fandom

This is Celene Funke's squad. She went .324 at the plate, led the universe in triples and, if she can add a bit of fence-clearing skills to her resume (she had three "touch-'em-alls" last season) it'll give opponents another thing to worry about beside her speed (29 stolen bases) and league-leading enthusiasm title. The senior owns center-field and will contend for ACC Conference Player of the Year. 

Other returnees that should have an impact on the Cards' chances are Rebecca Chung at catcher (.299, six HR) and short-shop Catlin Ferguson. Chung, along with two other Cardinal catchers on the roster, will play an important role in the development of the Cardinal hurlers.  Ferguson is a steady, fielding anchor in the dirt, but we'd love to see "Fergie" improve her stick skills. (.212, four HR).

Louisville also gets Charley Butler back in the outfield, after her season-ending injury last year and Maddy Newman, who will probably end up at second base. Both are fast on the paths and a year's experience should make them even more dangerous at the plate. 

Freshmen are the question mark about this squad, as they usually are each year. What roles will they fill, which spots will they occupy and, along with the transfers-in and last year's reserves...who will get the nod for openings at first and third in the infield and right field? Maybe Holly has an insight on this Saturday...read about the Batter Up Brunch below. 



BATTER UP BRUNCH

The days of the magnificent Softball banquets left with Sandy Pearsall (and we miss them), but a Softball "Batter Up Brunch" has evolved in place of them. It's the second year for the Saturday "brunch" concept (we had no clue that they had one in 2019) and it'll be held this Saturday, Jan 25th from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the PNC Club over in the Cardinal Stadium football complex. 

This event for Bullpen Club member and their families provides a chance to hear more about the 2020 squad and meet the players and staff, we assume.  The registration deadline closed on the 20th., so if you didn't get tickets by then, you're out. 

It looks like Sonja and I will be there.  I'll also cover Spring Sports Media Days, Parts I and II, which start Thursday. The programs participating tomorrow are Swim & Dive, women's golf, women's tennis and track and field.

For softball, events like the Batter Up Brunch are directed through and announced to the UofL Softball Bullpen Club and you can join it for $50 a season.

Higher donation amounts are always welcome. You get a timely update from Coach Holly on happenings within the program. As it usually goes, the more money and higher level you join at gets you more perks. If you have an interest, click the link below: 

BULLPEN CLUB INFORMATION


WALZ PRESSER

It's Wednesday, here's the Jeff Walz presser to discuss the upcoming games in the KFC YUM! Center this week (Virginia tomorrow and Pitt Sunday).

Coach addressed the media and field questions starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Kueber Center Planet Fitness Center first floor Media Room on Floyd Street.  Paulie drug his old, slow-moving carcass down there to record the words and there is audio/video linked up below

WALZ MEDIA PRESSER 1/22/20. 

I kinda liked it when we just referred to the place as the "little YUM" Maybe I'll go initials from now on. K.C.P.F.C. sounds pretty official, right? 

Have a wonderful Wednesday and be sure to check back later today for "Walz Words" and  tomorrow here at "the Couple" for Jared's preview of UofL WBB vs. Virginia. Or maybe a detailed Jared's account of his trip to Tallahassee. You just never know what he's going to come up with....


paulie
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