Asia Durr Tests Positive -- Squeeze Win In Walkoff -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

ASIA DURR TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

This news, revealed yesterday in a Tweet from the Cardinal great and WNBA New York Liberty guard Asia Durr is a another gut-punch to all of us that have taken a considerable amount of those in 2020. 

We try to bring you the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports here at Cardinal Couple. Asia Durr has certainly brought a lot of those moments over the years for us to write about.  So, it is with sadness we come to grips with the reality that she will not play in the 2020 WNBA season and is sick. 

Sadly, it won't be the last time that we, as Cardinal fans, will hear news of someone we've covered, exulted and praised coming down with COVID-19. 

All we can do is point to the fighting spirit, remarkable accomplishments and tons of hope, joy and inspiration that Asia has brought Cardinal and Liberty fans over the past and feel confident that she'll --  once again -- in her life take on a foe, an adversary and come out on top. 

Asia Durr is a winner. Asia Durr is a leader. She is one of the most incredible athletes I've had the pleasure to cover in my years here at Cardinal Couple.

I have no doubts she'll beat this foe, too.

And, in that statement of reality, I'll try to find some aspects of keeping hope, joy and excitement alive. She won't quit, she won't surrender or give up in this battle. 

Asia will win. 

As the debate rages in our society over what is right and wrong, acceptable and just, needed and un-needed...one thing we all can count on is that, despite this setback, Asia Durr will be back. The words of Deepak Chopra, pictured above, hold true. 

We must go beyond the pain and find love. 

In her story, her book... her temporary pain -- is far from the final chapter or last segment in the book of Asia Durr. . 


MANATEE DO IT AGAIN

It wasn't a slug fest or one-sided romp, but the Manatee Squeeze found another way to win again last night. The 3-2 victory, in eight innings, over the Bradenton Lynx, came in a bit of dramatic fashion. 

Scoreless for six innings, the Squeeze staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh to tie the contest. Stormy Kotzelnick began the inning with a triple. Louisville's Jordyn Wolfe brought her home with a perfectly placed RBI ground-out to the pitcher that scored Kotzelnick -- drawing Manatee within one run. Next up, Taylor Johnson tied the contest with a four-bagger that cleared the center field fence. 2-2. 

After holding the Lynx scoreless in the top of the eighth, Manatee wasted no time in ending the contest. Alexis Johns was placed on second to begin the Manatee at-bat. Jordyn Kadlub laid down a bunt that was mishandled and a throwing error brought Johns to the plate and Kadlub was safe at first for the game-winner RBI. 

Kenna Wilkey went the distance in the circle for the Squeeze and got her third win of the season. 

The Manatee improve to 10-3 on the season. That's good for second place in the FGCL, 
The Myakka City River Mocs are in first with a 13-1 record. 


Have a wonderful Wednesday and keep #25 in your thoughts,


paulie
xxxxx