Monday Cardinal Couple --- Softball completes the sweep...Cards 11 - Owls 3

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Cards improve to 12-6 in AAC with Temple win

- Vote for Katie!

The Louisville Softball team has found their bats and used them to bombard the Owls again Sunday. Spotting the Owls an early 3-0 advanage...Louisville proceeded to score the final 11 runs of the contest and sweeps the series on Senior Day at Ulmer Stadium.

The fans said an official goodbye to Taner Fowler, Hannah Kiyohara, Caralisa Connell, Katie Keller, Maggie Ruckenbrod and Rachel LeCoq yesterday (they actually will have one more home game Wednesday when they host UK) and then proceeded to say goodbye to several softballs and Owl pitchers.

After a three run homer in the top of the first put the Cards and Caralisa Connell behind, UofL wasted no time in putting some numbers on the left field scoreboard. The Cards got one back in the bottom of the first when Kelsi Jones doubled and scored on a Brittany Duncan sac fly.

The fourth inning proved to be fruitful for the Cards offense...five runs on five hits...and Louisville led 6-3.

Maryssa Becker went fence with Brittany Duncan onboard in the fifth to increase the lead to five at 8-3. By then, Caralisa had given away to Becker in the circle.

The Cards ended it in the sixth when Jones led off the inning with her team-best ninth home run of the season. Four singles from Jordan McNary, Kristina Dillard, Autumn McDuffie and Taner Fowler produced the final two runs to stop the game at 11-3.

Cats Wednesday. This one will cost you $5 to watch inside Ulmer, but free seating will be available on the outfield berm.

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Vote for Katie Keller! The senior and nine other softball players are in competition for college Player of the Year. You can vote once a day and Katie could use your help for the Senior Class Award title.

Link below:

VOTE FOR KATIE EVERY DAY!

( UNFORTUNATELY, YOU'LL NEED TO COPY AND PASTE THE LINK WHEN YOU GET OVER THERE . I VOTED OFF THE LINK ABOVE EARLIER AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME VOTE AGAIN WHEN I WENT BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER TO TEST IT)

Katie Keller

School

Louisville

Position

Second Base

Major

Communications

 

Classroom

Katie Keller currently carries a 3.118 overall GPA and has had solid performances in the classroom throughout her career. The communications major has been named to the Athletic Director’s honor roll (3.0 or higher for the semester)three times and was a member of the Dean’s List. Following her junior season, when she earned All-America honor on the field, she was also selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.

Character

Katie Keller is a leader both on and off the field. As a freshman, she stepped into a starting role at second base and gained the respect of her teammates and coaches with her communication skills. Her work ethic has never been called into question. She is dedicated and determined to improve herself and her teammates. Over the years, she has grown into a leader off the field as well, giving encouragement to teammates. Katie is always able to lighten up a tense moment with her sense of humor, but knows when to be serious. She is an intense competitor and a great teammate. We are fortunate to have Katie as a member of our team.

Community

Katie Keller has dedicated community service hours to several organizations including: Dreams with Wings, the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, the Humane Society, and the Hunger Walk. She has donated her time to help carve pumpkins with special needs children and assisted with a dance for people with disabilities who are residents of the Douglas Community Center in Louisville. Keller has also spent hours working with the Fit4Me program, in which UofL female athletes work with middle-school girls to improve their nutrition and fitness and encourage healthy habits,

Competition

Katie Kopeeller was recently named to the Top 50 Watch List for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. She earned NFCA All-America second team honors in 2013 after registering a .402 batting average and 54 RBIs and belting out a team-best 12 home runs. She was also named to the All-Great Lakes Region and All-BIG EAST first teams as a junior. In 2013, Keller was one of the Top 25 Finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

The three-year starter and three-time All-BIG EAST selection became the first player in program history to sweep Louisville Slugger/NFCA and USA Softball National Player of the Week honors on March 5, 2013. She is also two-time All-Great Lakes Region selection. She has an innate knowledge of the game and performs well under pressure.

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Our latest broadcast on the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour is now available on the SoundCloud. Several of you have e-mailed me about not being able to find the archived broadcasts. I hope the link below helps:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO 04-26-14

Let us know...

WE will be out of the studio Derby Day...and back live again on 5/10/14.

We have (5) different Lacrosse interviews to hear on the 4/26/14 broadcast...two with Coach Kellie Young, two with Faye Brust and one with Kay Morissette. 

paulie

Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Softball Cards hold on for 2-1 win over IPFW

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Cards escape bases loaded IPFW 7th to win.

-Meet Bill Salyer

-Cardinal Couple Radio today!

-Preakness? Nonsense...

If you are a fan of strong, dominating pitching...you had to love last night's 2-1 UofL win over IPFW in Ulmer Stadium. If you have a heart condition, though...the seventh inning probably had you looking for a first aid station or a defibrillator. Alicja Wolny's grab of a shot from IPFW's Alex Bousquet down the first base line got the Cards out of trouble and into the 2 p.m. game Saturday against UAB in the winner's bracket.

The Cards couldn't figure out IPFW pitcher Miranda Kramer in the first four innings. Three up, three down in the first three frames and a perfect game on the scoreboard before Katelyn Mann singled with one out in the fourth, stole second and Alicja Wolny drew a walk. The Cards were unable to capitalize, though...Maggie Ruckenbrod flying out to right and Jordan Trimble caught looking at one of Kramer's nine strikeouts.

Meanwhile, starting Louisville pitcher Rachel LeCoq was creating her own masterpiece on the mound, allowing just two hits and two Mastodon baserunners through five innings. Louisville entered the bottom of the fifth deadlocked in a scoreless tie and needed to make something happen.

Hannah made it happen. Hannah Kiyohara, UofL's left fielder started the inning with a sharp single to left. She was lifted for pinch runner Chrisanna Roberts, who advanced to second when Kramer plunked Taner Fowler with a fastball. Whitney Arion followed with a bloop infield single the load the bags with Cards and no outs. Jennifer Esteban, playing in her first game back from injury, drilled a shot literally off third base that IPFW couldn't come up with and Roberts scored to give the Cards a 1-0 lead. They wasted a prime opportunity to add to the margin though...Katie Keller becoming another Kramer KO victim, Mann popping out to first and Wolny grounding out to second.

IPFW wasted no time in tying it up in the top of the sixth. Alex Bousquet took a LeCoq fast ball to right center and it cleared the fence by the slimmest of margins. LeCoq recovered, however and sent the next three Mastodons back to the dugout.

Louisville responded in the home half of the sixth. After Maggie Ruckenbrod benefited from a dropped routine fly ball by IPFW right fielder Hillary Kartman, Jasmine Smithson Willett came in to pinch run.

( Our own Jenny O'Bryan, sitting in the right field open seating claims responsibility for the error...surmising that her taunting must have finally got to Kartman.)

Jordan Trimble's sacrifice bunt moved JSW to third and Kiyohara came to the rescue again, drilling a rope up the middle of the infield that nearly decapitated Kramer. It scored Smithson-Willett. Fowler's bloop infield gave the Cards runners on first and second...but Kramer shut the door once again...sending Arion and Esteban away from the plate with her eighth and ninth strikeouts.

All Louisville had to do was retire the Mastodons in the top of the seventh to take the win...but it proved to be an arduous task. With one out, LeCoq hit designated hitter Audrey Minton with a fastball inside. Prestlee Cooper came in to pinch run but watched as LeCoq fanned Megan Flenniken for the second out. It looked like it was over when Brittany Kachur hit a routine grounder to Cardinal shortstop Arion...but she had trouble coming up with it and suddenly, the Mastodons and two runners. With the infield playing in...Kayti Hanson lined a shot at UofL third baseman Mann, but she bobbled it and it was pulse-check time. Bags loaded, two outs and home run hitter Alex Bousquet at bat.
Fortunately, Wolny fielded the hit safely and the Cards were winners. After scaring around 800 fans to death.

Kiyohara was humble in the post game press conference, as was Esteban...simply stating they did what they had to do to help the team to a win. LeCoq was brilliant in her performance in the circle...admitting she "might have got the pitch a little high" on Bousquet's homer.

On a night where Louisville's three All-Region selections went a combined 0 for 8 at the plate...a transfer pitcher, player fresh off an injury and Hannah "Kivohara" (according to her name tag placard in the post-game press room) bailed out the Cards on a night where the rain mercifully held off.



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Louisville opens action Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against UAB. The Blazers used a six run third inning to send UCLA to the losers' bracket 6-3. UCLA and IPFW follow at approximately 4:30 p.m.

If the Cards win, they play for the regional title Sunday. If not, they face the winner of the UCLA vs. IPFW game about thirty minutes after the completion of that one. That winner will also advance to Sunday's finals...in the double elimination format.


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I had a great conversation wih IPFW Assistant Athletic Director for Media Services Bill Salyer before the Louisville game. He explained the choice of a mastodon as the school mascot. An important archaeological "dig" a few miles from the IPFW campus uncovered a great skeleton of a prehistoric mastodon and a baby mastodon as well...

It's a good thing they didn't find Jimmy Hoffa. The IPFW Hoffas just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

The mascot is called Don the Mastodon and Bill revealed to me that the Fort Wayne, Indiana school has an enrollment of about 14,000 students....mostly commuters. They have 16 sports teams on campus and play men's volleyball instead of football. About 50 IPFW softball fans were on hand to cheer on the Mastodons.

Best quip of the night in the press box also came courtesy of Bill when he deadpanned:

"I only go out drinking on two different occasions a year. When it's my birthday...and when it isn't."

He didn't reveal whether he's a potential candidate to replace Julie Hermann at Louisville or not...probably because I never asked if he was or not...but you gotta love the guy's spirit. They even do occasional radio broadcasts of IPFW softball. Are ya reading this, Mr. Jurich?

Jeff and I stand ready to handle the play-by-play and color commentary duties. We haven't decided just who would do which and it probably wouldn't matter...two babbling guys who are going to go off on random tangents and things unrelated to softball or sports would well be worth a listen.

Speaking of...we're on the radio this morning at 11. Crescent Hill Radio, along with outfield hooligan Jenny. We'll see just how far her taunts get here over the internet airwaves...

Join us, won't you? Either live or archived on the heavenly Soundcloud.  

LINK BELOW:

THREE REASONS TO ACCESS THE INTERNET


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I've gotten several inquiries from folks on whether anyone can beat  ORB today in the Preakness at Pimlico. My answer? Not unless they've cloned Secretariat and have entered "BIG RED II" in the race. Sonja is in full agreement.

Since ORB will probably go off as the odds-on favorite, there won't be a lot of money to be made there. We're going to try a Pick 4 earlier in the card that ends with the Preakness. Looking for some prices in the first three and a "single" with ORB in the final leg.

IF pressed for a possible upset special in the Preakness Stakes, I'll offer either GOLDENCENTS..who will force the early pace and probably try to wire the field, or ITSMYLUCKYDAY, a horse I absolutely loved when he was a 2 yr. old and has still got me waiting for that one huge triumph.

Sonja says that beating ORB is liking pitching a no-hitter against the Louisville softball team. Improbable, highly unlikely but not impossible. She loves OPTIMIZER in a earlier race on the card today in Maryland and will be backing that one fairly significantly.

Happy Preakness!

-Paulie

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Proposed basketball rule changes

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Staff Columnist Jenny O'Bryan alerts us in today's column about a possible rule change being considered for womens college basketball. It could have a pronounced effect on the game...)



-Rule change could greatly alter WBB

-Rutgers finally decides on vote for AD: Julie Hermann

-Media Tuesday for Louisville Softball

If you have listened to Paulie, Jeff and I on Crescent Hill Radio on the Cardinal Couple radio hour you have likely heard us reference NCAA and their affinity for rules.  There are so many rules and regulations that it makes my head spin just thinking about it. 

However, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee made a recommendation for a rule change at their annual meeting in Indianapolis.  This is one rule I can get behind. 

The committee is recommending that a 10-second backcourt rule be implemented in the women’s game.   In order for this to become a rule for the 2013-14 season the Playing Rules Oversight Panel must approve it.  They will convene June 18  in a conference call.

Below is an excerpt from the NCAA website regarding the recommendation:

Women’s 10-second backcourt rule

In women’s basketball, committee members added the 10-second rule in the backcourt for the first time since the NCAA began administering women’s championships in 1981-82.

Previously, teams could take as much time off the 30-second shot clock as they wanted before crossing the mid-court line.

Officials will use the shot clock to determine if a 10-second violation has occurred.

Committee members believe adding the 10-second rule will increase the tempo of the game and create more offensive scoring opportunities.

Women’s intercollegiate basketball is the only level in the sport throughout the world that does not have a backcourt rule in place.

If this rule is adopted by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, the committee is also recommending that the closely guarded rule in the backcourt be eliminated from the rules book.

The closely guarded rule in the frontcourt would read that a player holding the ball for five seconds with a defender not exceeding six feet will be a violation. Previously, the defender had to be within three feet of the offensive player with the ball to force a 5-second violation.

“Given feedback from stakeholders through the years, this is the right time to approve the rule,” said Barbara Burke, Women’s Basketball Rules Committee chair and director of athletics at Eastern Illinois. “Overall, we discussed pace of play, creating scoring opportunities and flow of the game. Adding the 10-second backcourt rule adds another element of strategy, and this rule fits into the concepts of growing the game.”

I have to say this is one NCAA rule I welcome.  Not only will it increase the pace of the game and provide more scoring opportunities, I believe it really works to the advantage of a team like Louisville that likes to play pressure defense.  The thought of some combination of Bria Smith, Tia Gibbs and Jude Schimmel wrecking havoc in the backcourt with pressure has me bemoaning the fact that basketball season is 6 months away!

While this rule is not a done deal, yet, it does sound like the support is there pretty unanimously.  We should know more in late June. 

For more about proposed rule changes check out the full article (mentioned above) at:

RULE CHANGE

-Jenny O Bryan

( One thing that we should see here at CARDINAL COUPLE if this rule goes through is our readers won't be bemoaning the fact the Louisville guards are taking 10-15 seconds to get the ball across the timeline on occasions. We'll follow this proposal with interest...the  CARDINAL WBB full court press was very productive at times last season.  -- Paulie)


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The search for an Athletic Director at Rutgers University had come down to Frazier and Hermann. The six-member committee couldn't decide, though. Until today.

Word is...that a vote last night resulted in a 3-3 tie on who will become the new AD for the Scarlet Knights. There are three men and three women on the committee.

They tried again, today, through the eleven member Board of Governors, to break the deadlock. Julie wins! Julie wins! There are only three schools in Division I athletics with a female Athletic Director...California and North Carolina State...and now Rutgers. 

Sean Frazier is the deputy athletic director at Wisconsin. It's widely known that Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez lets Sean handle most of the day-to-day operations. Julie Hermann supervises 20 of the UofL sports and also keeps tabs on marketing at UofL.  Frazier would probably mutter that getting close only matters in horseshoes and hand grenades.

WE have to ask the question...why didn't they appoint seven (or five) people to the first decision-making committee?  

Good luck, Julie! Rutgers has a whole bunch of issues to resolve...one of them being how to break a tie...We're going to miss you!

Be sure to catch the Thursday editon of CARDINAL COUPLE...Jeff McAdams will review Hermann's appointment.


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I had a blast down at Tuesday's Media Day for the UofL Softball team. Got there a little early and learned quite a bit watching practice...the Cards do a full field  and full speed drill where they put the team in situational aspects of a game and see how they perform. Two outs, bottom of the seventh inning Alicja Wolny at bat and Rachel LeCoq on the mound....as an example. Even though the wind was blowing straight out of the ball park, I didn't see any home runs today. I'm guessing their saving those for IPFW, UAB and UCLA.

I also got some great interviews for our Saturday radio show on Crescent Hill Radio. Without giving anything away...here are 10 teasers you can listen for Saturday (or on the archived broadcasts that stay up on the site for several weeks...) You can listen to Crescent Hill Radio 24/7 if you wish on the internet. The station is applying for a low wattage FM license that will dramatically increase the "over the airwaves" broadcast area and hopes to obtain the permission to being this in November.  You can listen to Crescent Hill Radio at the link below

CRESCENT HILL RADIO

Here's your teasers:

1) What do geese and a certain UofL softball player have in common?
2) Who is the best stand-up comic on the team?
3) One of the players reveals her most embarrassing moment on the field.
4) Just how many dogs is Coach Pearsall keeping track of these days?
5) Does a certain Cardinal softball player accept my challenge to a 60 yd. race?
6) How does Coach Pearsall feel the Cards have done with "small ball"?
7) Which Cardinal softball player is a big fan of THE WALKING DEAD?
8) Which softball player defeated Shoni Schimmel in a game of "HORSE"?
9) Who picked whole wheat bread over white and rye bread?
10) Which player prefers Katy Perry over Pink, Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars?

See you Saturday 11 a.m. for CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO on Crescent Hill Radio!

-Paulie

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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Softball fells LSU , Hoops ends regular season tonight

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- LeCoq closes door on Tigers

- Syracuse vs. Louisville in WBB tonight


The start was shaky for the #15 Louisville softball team Sunday in the Citrus Classic but the end result successful as the Cards defeat #11 LSU 6-2.

Starter Caralisa Connell was having "one of those afternoons" ...loading the bags with three straight walks in the second inning. A wild pitch made it 2-0 LSU and a fourth base on balls loaded the bases again with two outs.

Exit Connell, enter Rachel LeCoq. End LSU threat with a strike out.

Louisville responded in the top of the third against LSU pitcher Rachelle Fico. Katie Keller singled and reached home on a Alicja Wolny double. Maggie Ruckenbrod's base hit plated Wolny and the Cards had tied the game.

UofL took the lead in the fifth inning, Keller scoring after receiving a base on balls and scoring on a Ruckenbrod fielders' choice.

The Cardinals increased the lead to 5-2 with a couple of runs in the sixth. Hannan Kiyohara singled and scored with two outs on a Jennifer Esteban hit. Esteban got greeted at home as well when Keller delivered a single.

Maggie Ruckenbrod delivered an insurance run in the final inning with a bomber over the left field fence to make it 6-2...her first home run of the season.

LeCoq (7-1) with the clutch relief performance...holding LSU to just three hits and no runs in 5.1 innings. The Cards produced 11 hits total.

"This was a great day for Louisville softball. I thought our team did a tremendous job and really came ready to play. A big key to our win was Rachel LeCoq shutting down LSU. I also thought we had great offense throughout the game." said Sandy Pearsall after the triumph.

Jordan Trimble has been sick and did not play. Jasmine Smithson-Willett has been battling a stress fracture but saw limited action. Hoping two of my favorite players on the team can get back to full time participation soon.

Louisville returns to Ulmer Stadium for the Red and Black Classic March 8-10. A good group of opponents coming in to play...Michigan, Miami (OH), Austin Peay and Illinois State.

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After a triple overtime loss Saturday to Villanova, no one could blame the Syracuse women's basketball team for looking for a little redemption tonight against Louisville. Although an NCAA bid appears to be a certain thing for the #22 Orange, who are 22-6 overall and 10-5 in the BIG EAST, the chance for a "double bye" in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament hinges on a win over Louisville tonight.

Quentin Hillsman isn't a confident man.

" I worry about it every day. I'd be worried if we beat Villanova because we've been on both ends. We're not in that room with that little S-curve thing they talk about...Hopefully we come out Monday and have some legs left after this and win this Louisville game."

The Orange have an RPI of 46 and could fall no further than 6th with a loss to Louisville. The prevailing sentiment is that the NCAA will take eight BIG EAST teams...
(Connecticut, Notre Dame, Louisville, St. John's, Syracuse, South Florida, DePaul and Villanova.)...but a 'Cuse win would guarantee a nicer seeding...since SU has lost their last three games.

Louisville is guaranteed a top four finish and double bye in the BIG EAST Tournament regardless of how they do...they own the tie-breaker over St. John's if they end up at 11-5 in conference each.

The players that the Cards have to worry about? It begins in the paint with Kayla Alexander, the 6'5" do-it-all center. She and forward Carmen Tyson-Thomas had 22 points and 11 rebounds each against 'Nova Saturday.

Head Coach Quentin Hillsman will be active on the
sidelines tonight.

Guards Brittany Sykes and LaShay Taft are big-time ballers that will challenge the Cards. Elashier Hall a talented player who scores well in the 'Cuse offensive set. Rachel Coffey a great shooter who is also tough defensively.

Louisville has their work cut out for them. The Cards will need to go toe-to-toe with the aggressive, physical, chip-on-their-shoulder Orange and if Louisville can get the three-ball working (Laura Sweeney from Villanova blasted the 'Cuse from the deep Saturday) the Cards chances for success go up dramatically.

Game time 9 p.m. on the CBSSN network.

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Sandy Is Back To Her Laundry

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


( Staff Columnist Sandy Walker brings us her weekly Laundry list of UofL women's sports today. Voted 'most likely to spin and rinse' by her high school classmates...Sandy is a fixture at Cardinal Womens' athletic events and likes to sit in the visiting team's section...where she hands out detergent samples, discount coupons and maps to the UofL coaches' houses. Folded up and in the hamper, we bring you Sandy.)


Thanks to a back up repair call for Sandy's washing machine she is again showing off various team issues but it seems that she is getting off to a slow start.

ALL THINGS SOFTBALL



Hannah Kiyohara

Louisville junior Hannah Kiyohara was named as BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week.  She is hitting .462 with a .588 on-base percentage and went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI to give Louisville an 8-0 win against Stony Brook. 



Also recognized was junior Rachel LeCoq who was named to the Big East honor roll. 

She had two wins and did not allow an earned run in 22.0 innings. In 3 complete games she pitched two shutouts, struck out five and only giving up one walk.

Rachel LeCoq

This years complete team roster can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/lou-w-softbl-mtt.html

PROMOTIONS

The team has released their 2013 promotional schedule which includes fan friendly giveaways, special events and season long promotions.   The first fans specials are set for March 12 v Western KY and March 20 against IU where fans can enjoy dollar hot dogs and beer.  Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for the outfield or take advantage of comfortable chair seats in the stadium.

With most home games at Ulmer Stadium have no admission the school is still offering a “2013 season ticket” which includes additional promotions, team schedule and the right to enter ticket stubs for special season long give-aways.  The list of current season promotions can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/021813aaa.html.

SCHEDULE

The next game is at home for the 8-2 Cards against Kent State in the Cardinal Classic this Friday at 2:30.  The complete season schedule is shown at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/lou-w-softbl-sched.html.

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BASKETBALL

Congratulations to the basketball women as they completed their return defeat of DePaul.  In case you want more on this match or the game recap, stats and notes can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/021713aad.html.

Be sure and mark your calendar for tomorrow night’s 7:00 KFC YUM! CENTER game against the University of South Florida who is displaying a deceptive season record of 17-7 and BIG EAST 6-5.  This will be the Lady Cards next-to-last regular season home game and has not been announced as televised by any national stations. Come downtown and put your bucket in the seats so your support for the team can be shown.  We were fortunate to defeat them earlier in the season while in Florida and it is a definite that they would love to return the favor.  The 21-5 Louisville Women have struggled all season with major injuries which have required new people to step up to each task as needed.  Although it is reported that Mo is healthy and can play this Wednesday  the injury report as a whole is no different and they need the fans to act as their 6^th player.
 

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LACROSSE
 

It is not the time to let the ladies of Louisville Lacrosse down now.   They have risen to their own expectations and plan to continue to cause others to take notice.  The 2-0 Cardinals next meet Old Dominion at the UL Lacrosse Stadium this Saturday at 1:00.   Dress warm and bring the hot chocolate.  It appears that this season will be worth the effort as their upset win over number 13 Ohio State shows.

DOUBLE AWARDS FOR BOLTJA!

Nikki Boltja

Nikki Boltja was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and also WomensLax.com Player of the Week.  She totaled 4 goals, an assist, a ground ball and a caused turnover in the 12-11 upset victory over the Buckeys.  Her complete bio can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-lacros/mtt/nikki_boltja_733695.html.

LACROSSE RULE OF THE WEEK
 

“When a whistle blows, all players must stop in place. When a ball is ruled out of play, the player closest to the ball gets possession when play is resumed. Loss of possession may occur if a player deliberately runs or throws the ball out of play. “  Complete rules can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/081506aab.html

Kellie Young’s complete team roster can be found at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-lacros/mtt/lou-w-lacros-mtt.html.  This is an extremely young team with four starting freshmen so come out and show them what Cardinal Support is all about.

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Wednesday Cardinal Couple - Softball at Baseball game

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Louisville Softball team throws out first pitch at UofL baseball game Tuesday night. (Photo by Charlie Springer-UofL
Card Game)

Wednesday Cardinal Couple

- Softball Team throws out first pitch at UofL baseball game.


-Game times changes for Saturday softball


-Kiyohara a true team player


The University of Louisville softball team took to the diamond a few days earlier than expected, and it wasn't at Ulmer Stadium for the NCAA Softball Regionals. 

Cardinal Couple's Sonja with Charlie Springer.  

Instead, Sandy Pearsall's squad traveled across campus to Jim Patterson Stadium to throw out the first pitch for the Louisville vs. Morehead baseball game. The Cards won the Senior Day contest 8-3 over the Eagles and used eight pitchers in the contest. 


None of the eight were from the softball team, as far as we know...but Collins, Leonard and Connell could have probably shut the Eagles down. 


Charlie Springer has the write up for you over at his fine site...UofL Card Game. Click the link below to read the Observer's observations.


Cards Send Seniors off in style with 8-3 win.


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ESPN has decided to pick up the second day of action at the Softball Regionals at Ulmer on Saturday. Not ESPN 2, U, 3, Classic or Desportes...but the original ESPN. 


They've also changed the start times for the games on Saturday. First pitch is at 3 p.m. now...when the  winners of Friday's games one and two will face off. The revised schedule:


Saturday


3:00 p.m.  GAME 3  Winner #1 vs. Winner #2
5:30 p.m.  GAME 4  Loser #1 vs. Loser #2
8:00 p.m.  GAME 5  Winner #4 vs. Loser #3


No changes to Sunday...and ESPN 2 still has the feed for that one...as far as we know. 

Jennie, Jennie !!

We'll see if Brent Musberger and Dick Vitale show up to do these. 


But, no problems if Jennie Finch does the color analysis again. Not only does she know softball...she's pretty pleasing to the eye as well.


Great opportunity for the softball Cards to get at least one game in on the flagship ESPN Network station. And, we hope one is all they'll have to play Saturday. That means that they've won two games and will be playing in the finals...scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.


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Cardinal softball player Hannah Kiyohara was selected to the BIG EAST First Team in the 2011 season. The freshman right-fielder started 42 of the Cards 49 games and batted .331 for the season. After such an auspicious beginning to her career, the sky looked the limit for the Auburn, Washington native. 


Instead, she became the Cards utility player her sophomore year. Seeing action in 35 of the Cards 53 games and starting 25 of them, Sandy Pearsall has used her at right-field, short shop, second base and also at designated hitter this year. 

We can't confirm it, but it is rumored she also filled in for J-Bone on public address duties and played the organ at games when Al Greener wasn't available.


When the decision was made to rest Kristin Austin and her sore hamstring in a couple of the BIG EAST Tournament games, Kiyohara took over right field and the Cards were in capable hands. 


Hannah Kiyohara defines the term "team player" and with Austin's graduation this year, we're confident that #24 will return to her right-field domain for the 2013 season. 

"Run over to the dorms, Becky, and see if
Hannah wants a little court time..."

Unless Sandy Pearsall loans her to Jeff Walz as a back-up point guard (she played basketball also at her high school, led the team in scoring and was First Team All-South Puget Sound League) or has her directing traffic at the corner of Floyd and Brandeis. 


If you need it done...and in a efficient "mannah"...call Hannah. 


( OK. Corny rhyme. We're outta here. See ya Thursday.) 
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SOFTBALL GOES TO 21-0 with 6-0 ROAD WIN OVER WKU

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4 run 1st inning key for Louisville


Ticker...NCAA Men: 


 Murray St. 58 - Colo. St 41 FINAL...
 Kansas St. 70 - Southern Miss 64 FINAL
 Louisville 69 - Davidson 62 FINAL
 Syracuse 72 - UNC-Asheville 65 FINAL
 Marquette 88 - BYU 68 FINAL                       
 Wisconsin 73 - Montana 49 FINAL
 Vanderbilt 79  - Harvard 70 FINAL
 New Mexico 75  - Long Beach St. 68 FINAL

 Kentucky 81 - Western Kentucky 66 FINAL
 VCU 62 - Wichita St. 59 FINAL                           
 Gonzaga 77 - West Virginia 54 FINAL
 Baylor 68 - South Dakota St. 60  FINAL


 Iowa St. 77 - Connecticut 64 FINAL 
 Colorado 68 - UNLV 64 FINAL
 Ohio St. 78 - Loyola 59 FINAL
 Indiana 78 - New Mexico St. 66 FINAL


      


THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Collins, Leonard hold WKU to 3 hits in 6-0 win.



-Tournament thoughts...


-(Here it comes again...) Play the WBB Bracket Challenge with CARDINAL COUPLE !!


The 14/15 University of Louisville softball team defeated host Western Kentucky 6-0 to improve to 21-0 on the season Wednesday evening. 

Senior Tori Collins and sophomore Chelsea Leonard combined to notch the Cards' 11th shutout of the season while juniors Alicja Wolny and Katelyn Mann and sophomore Hannah Kiyohara drove in two runs each.


"I was pleased with how we came out and scored four runs early and set a great tone for the game." said UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall. "We knew they would be a tough opponent and would constantly put pressure on us and we knew we would have to be aggressive."


The Cards put up four runs in the first. After Esteban and Kristin Austin singled, Taner Fowler drew a walk to fill the bases with Cards. Wolny followed with a single that scored two and Kiyohara singled to make it 4-0.

 

Louisville increased the lead to 6-0 in the third. Jordan Trimble was safe on a fielder's choice and went to third on a Kiyohara double. Mann drove them both home with a double to end the game's scoring. 


Collins went four innings, giving up three hits and fanning three. Leonard tossed the final three and allowed no hits while getting four KO's. 


Louisville travels to Sacramento, CA. next for the Sacramento State Capital Classic. The two-day event starts Friday. 


21-0. An incredible start to what just might be the most memorable season in Sandy Pearsall's coaching career at Louisville. The BIG EAST and Kentucky await down the road...but for now, these Cards are raking every pot. How this team isn't ranked in the top ten of NCAA Women's college softball is a mystery to us...


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"I am 99% certain that man was not Benjamin Franklin.."

- We're not sure...but while watching the First Four last night in the men's tournament, it looked like Dwight Schrute of THE OFFICE television show fame was sitting on the South Florida bench, wearing a suit and tie in the game against California. Or maybe it was the corned beef sandwich I was having...performing mind altering and sight hallucination symptoms. Whoa...

"No, I am NOT Mel Brooks and I'm getting tired of the references!"

- We like the NCAA's sly dealings at times when it comes to the Tournaments. On the men's side...Harvard vs. Vanderbilt. As Milt Wagner would say...two of those academic schools. Maybe they should skip the hoops and settle this one with GPA's and ACT scores...also how about, on the women's side...putting Louisville in the same region as Arkansas? Ex UofL coach Tom Collen could meet current Louisville coach Jeff Walz if both teams make it to third round. 


-Which letter of the alphabet is most represented in the women's tournament teams' names? It's "S" (Santa Barbara, Sacred Heart, Stanford, South Carolina, South Dakota State, St. John's, Samford, St. Bonnie and San Diego). Nine teams. Which popular letter is not represented? "J". No "J"'s in the women's bracket. "M" finished a close second with seven. If that's not a bracket choosing ploy, we've never seen one. 

Charlie's last name starts with an "S" also. 

"S rules!" says Sonja Sykes. A final four with Stanford, St. Bonnie, St. John's and Sacred Heart? Not bloody likely...


-Another NCAA WBB sly plot. Tennessee playing Tennessee-Martin? And guess who coaches one of the programs and played at the other? Not Geno...


Also, matching ex-BIG 12 Nebraska against current BIG 12 Kansas. Putting soon-to-be BIG 12 member West Virginia up against current BIG 12 member Texas? Well played, ye NCAA WBB bracket deciders!


-Biggest first round NCAA WBB blowout? Here's six candidates...


-UConn vs. Prairie View
-Notre Dame vs. Liberty
-Maryland vs. Navy
-Baylor vs Santa Barbara
-Stanford vs. Hampton
-Duke vs. Samford. 


We're going with Notre Dame. (Watch it go to overtime...)


Finally, here's a Shoni article that Jody Demling (or J-Dem, if you go the street vernacular route of names) did with her. Click the linkie and thanks to Commish Mark for sending it!






Shoni ready

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Guess what? We're having a bracket challenge for the Women's NCAA Tournament. Yes, that's right! You can enter the CARDINAL COUPLE contest on YAHOO and win a $25 Panera Gift Card if you do the best. (Tell me more, Monty!) 


"Just follow the link below and fill out your entries. You can join Yahoo, or enter using your Facebook or Google information. It's just that easy!" (Crowd gasps)


(But Monty...isn't that a difficult and time-consuming process?) 


"Hey, pal....life is a difficult and time-consuming process. We get one chance, one opportunity to make our mark on this spinning orb and we need to make the most of it. Bungee jumping, dining at Panera, filling out brackets, buying Easter baskets...it's all the same. DON'T MISS OUT ON THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR OWN PERSONAL "ONE SHINING MOMENT" (cue soundtrack) IF YOU WIN THIS CHALLENGE. AND, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE WINNING. IT'S ABOUT PARTICIPATION, ABOUT..." (...reaches for remote..changes channel.) 


Our ID is 814 and the password is ladycards.


LINKIE:


Cardinal Couple women's NCAA Bracket Challenge
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