Swimming and Diving Suspended -- Squeeze Advance to Championship -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Swimming and Diving Suspended Following COVID-19

Big news came from the UofL campus yesterday when the announcement came that a two-week suspension of the swimming and diving program following a COVID-19 outbreak.

Three members of the program tested positive, although names and their involvement with the program were not released in accordance with HIPAA.

UofL began the suspension on Saturday, July 18, and they are expected to resume on Saturday, Aug. 1.  All proper procedures and protocol are being taken, and all members will have to retest and have negative results before rejoining the program.

This is the second program to run into COVID-19 related issues.  The men's basketball program ran into the same situation two weeks ago.

Although we hope to see this as the final case on campus there is a chance we will see more programs have similar issues in the coming weeks, especially when they play other opponents or travel out of town. If that happens at all. 2020 has been interesting.


Manatee Squeeze Advance to Championship


The Manatee Squeeze won their FGCL Tournament playoff opener against Fast Pitch U, 13-1 in five innings yesterday.

Cardinal softball student-athletes Jordyn Wolfe and Paige Schindler saw action and recorded multiple at bats.  Both players reached base safely at least once and either scored or recorded an RBI.

Stream Live Tampa was airing the game live through Twitch, Youtube, Facebook, Periscope and Twitter.  I managed to tune in as they headed to the bottom of the fourth with the Squeeze leading 5-1.  Between a trio of errors and a plethora of hits, the Squeeze added another eight runs.  They shut down Fast Pitch U in the top of the fifth inning to take the mercy rule victory.

Jenna Greene dominated the circle in the win with a five-inning, 11 strikeout performance from the Presbyterian College pitcher.

The win advanced them to the semifinals against the 6-seed Square Up Academy (SUA) Pioneers, who upset 3-seed Bradenton Slice.

In their second game, the Squeeze faced the Pioneers.  The Squeeze took the win, 11-0 in five innings again.

The Squeeze jumped on the Pioneers early with a four-run first inning.  Then another four runs in the second.  And three more in the third.

Despite incoming storm clouds, the Squeeze remained unfazed and continued to pound the ball in a contest that featured three home runs.  Our very own Paige Schindler had two of them.

Kenna Wilkey (Northwestern) took the win in the second game after pitching four shutout innings.

So, the #2 seeded Squeeze advance to tomorrow's championship game against the #1-seed Myakka City RiverMocs at noon, time tentative depending on weather.

The RiverMocs have dominated the league all season and did win their only tournament game in run-rule fashion yesterday (they got a first-round bye), but we did see the Squeeze get a win out of them recently.  It's a showdown you do not want to miss. The two squads faced each other three times in the regular season and the Manatee Squeeze won two of the contests -- 3-2 and 2-1. The River Mocs win was a 8-2 contest.

This game should be aired on the same platforms as yesterday.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared