Let's Play Two - Sunday Cardinal Couple

("Let's Play Two" is the theme today. "Mr Cub" Ernie Banks was noted for the phrase but it certainly applies to University of Louisville basketball today.)

Basketball

Two games on tap at the KFC Yum! Center today.

The men start things off with a noon tip vs Boston College.  This one has been designated kids day.  The men started off the season looking pretty shaky.  Unsurprising given the drama occurring around the program just before the season started, but they've really started to put their game together and have looked pretty good the past couple of game.  Let's hope they get the day started off with a good victory.

Catch this one on WHAS 11 locally, or ACC Network Extra if you're not in the Louisville area.

The women have the later game today with a 5pm tip.  Tying in to the kids day theme for the men's game, this one is the annual Girl Scout game, so expect a lot of teen and pre-teen girls to be in the house.  The Girl Scouts always bring a lot of energy and excitement to the arena, and combined with a lower bowl sell out and upper bowl seats being sold (meaning attendance will be north of 11k), this should be another fun one.

The women are going for the 21-0 start with this one, to keep this best ever start to a UofL WBB season alive.  12th ranked Florida State will certainly provide a challenge.

The men have seemingly been reborn after the loss to UK after Christmas. Boston College another challenge today in the ACC for David Padgett's players.

Softball

Softball frequently plays double-headers, and the team is in practices and getting prepared for the start of the season less than 3 weeks away.  Double-headers will be less frequent in the schedule this year as the ACC has switched their scheduling to be a one-game-per-day Friday, Saturday, Sunday format, where they would previously play 2 on one of the days, and 1 on the other day (ie, 2 Saturday games, and a Sunday game...sometimes a Friday game, and 2 Saturday games).  The early season will still see the team doubling up some in the early season "tournaments" that can involve 5 games in a weekend.

Last night was only a single Softball event, however.  The annual softball event at the Brown and Williamson Club at PJCS.  Paulie, Jared, Sonya and myself all attended and as usual had a great time.  Interviews were had with Nicole "Poof" Pufahl, Jenna Jordan, Megan Hensley, and Coach Sandy Pearsall.  The keynote speaker of the event was legendary Fresno State coach Margie Wright, who spoke about what it took to have a championship mentality.  She highlighted a decision to "grow up" for these young women arriving on campus and being their own person, making their own decisions, and being responsible for their actions and willingness to do what it takes to excel.  She spoke of her history in athletics, including adding some perspective about growing up before Title IX, and how that related to her very serious childhood desire to grow up and be a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, saying that at 10 years old, she just had no concept that she was the "wrong gender" for that.

History and perspective, as well as an understanding of taking responsibility and "growing up" may be key for this very young softball team.

Some other random thoughts of mine from the banquet:

- Megan Hensley has hit the gym a bit during the off season.  I can only imagine her pitch speeds will be the beneficiary.

- Interviewing Jenna Jordan, about halfway through, I had to stop and question whether I was interviewing a player or a coach.  She demonstrated incredible insight into the game, her part of it, and how the team overall was developing and where they still needed to improve.  She was incredibly well-spoken, and it was a great interview.

- It's always a bit of challenge with Softball, but with so many new faces, I've got a lot of names and faces to figure out, learn, and match up.

- "Mike" and "Funk" where the two captains of the OKC Challenge in the fall and gave a presentation about the 4 day conditioning event (culminating in the ever-amusing 2+ mile truck push).  Related, "Mike and Funk" would make a great title for a video blog about...something.  "Mike" is Alison Szydlowski, and "Funk" is Celene Funke (say: FUNKY)


(A special "Thanks!) to Jared Anderson for the great Softball banquet photos from last night!)


THEY SAID IT: 

(Interviews from last night): 

Nicole Pufahl and Jenna Jordan

Megan Hensley

SANDY PEARSALL


--

JMcA

Basketball, Spirit Teams, Softball, and Team USA Controversy... Wednesday Cardinal Couple

Women’s Basketball

It seems as if everyone but Coach Walz was not looking forward to the break women’s basketball had this weekend.  Coming off a 33-point victory over Notre Dame and on a 19-game win streak is always exciting and motivating.

Walz was looking forward to the break for many reasons.  Primarily, at this point in the season a short break is good to help recover on any minor injuries the players have had and to catch up on rest.  The break also gave the team a chance to get together in practice just to hit the basics again such as free throws, layups, and communication.

The Cards prepare to visit Pittsburgh tomorrow.  The Panthers have not looked good this year and sit at 9-9.  Their only game against a ranked team was a 21-point loss at West Virginia.  Pitt sits at 1-4 in the conference with their only win being a close game against Georgia Tech.  However, ACC basketball is tough, and anything can happen so don’t overlook them.

Coach hasn't been hitting the ski slopes or building snowmen during the break in the schedule, though. He's been out recruiting, from California to our nation's capitol. Welcome to our newest Cardinal Ramani Parker. a 6'4" post out of Fresno, CA. who verballed earlier this week. She joins Nyah Green as the 2019 verbals so far. 

A ranked Florida State team will visit the KFC Yum! Center this weekend.  Like the Notre Dame game seats are going fast.  The lower bowl is nearly sold out and I hope (fingers crossed) we will see some of the 300’s open for this game.  The 12,600+ crowd the other night was unreal, and I hope we can manage at least 10,500 for this one.

Men’s Basketball

I just want to give a quick shout out to the men’s basketball team.  They won their third straight game with a 2OT thriller in South Bend.  It’s become a common occurrence to go into overtime against Notre Dame in men’s basketball.

David Padgett seems to finally have gotten this team together and they’re now 14-4 and 4-1 in the ACC.

Ray Spalding has certainly stepped up his game and is it too early to start mentioning Padgett for ACC coach of the Year? 

Spirit Calendars

All spirit squads at UofL are separated from the D1 teams we have.  Cheerleaders, Ladybirds, mascots, and pep band do not receive the same scholarship and compensation as the other sports.  The uniforms you see the cheerleaders and Ladybirds wear are self-funded.

You may have noticed the cheerleaders and Ladybirds walking around selling calendars at the basketball games.  This is a big fundraiser for both groups and each member has a certain quota.  The calendars feature group photos as well as individual photos of each member.

If you’re in need of a 2018 calendar or just want to help their programs out each calendar is only $10.

Gymnastics vs Larry Nassar

Justice is served. 

Larry Nassar, a former doctor for Michigan State and USA gymnastics.  After being accused of sexual misconduct by several gymnasts it has finally come public about his sexual assault and abuse actions.

After reading ESPN’s lengthy article about the situation I found it odd how many people originally rejected the claims of many gymnasts.  Whether it was parents, coaches, or school officials everyone either turned a blind eye or didn’t believe anything.

As much as we’ve seen advances for women in the realm of sports gymnastics has had its setbacks because of issues such as this.  Nassar got away with sexual assault for decades before an investigation finally happened.  Former gold medalists such as Simone Biles, Jordyn Weiber, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglass have all come out with statements in the last few months regarding the topic.  It’s sad we had to wait for this issue to be brought to the attention of the public for something to happen.

I asked Paulie if this was okay to bring up in the article and he was fine if it didn’t consume today’s entire write-up.  I just found it worth mentioning since Cardinal Couple covers women’s sports.  I am glad that UofL takes Title IX seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy for any sexual misconduct and sexism.

Softball Banquet

Softball kicks off their season with the Bullpen Dinner this Saturday at the Brown and Williamson Club.  This is an opportune time to meet the players and coaching staff before the season begins.

This year’s guest speaker is Hall of Fame coach Margie Wright.  She’s the first NCAA Division 1 coach to reach 1,000 wins and finished with 1,457.  Come down to the softball banquet after watching the Louisville vs Kentucky swim meet at 1:00.  You can make your visit to campus an all-day affair.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

I look forward to returning to the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour this Saturday.  Work has kept me occupied the past couple of months but I’m excited to get into the new studio with the “A-Team” again.  As always, thank you to WCHQ FM for being a gracious host and be sure to tune into them any day of the week for the best local music there is!


Petition Request

The present Chairman of the BOT and the Interim President are desiring to deemphasize athletics at the University of Louisville. We the fans and contributors of the University demand their resignations and encourage the governor to ask Grissom to resign.

Go to Care2petitions

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/704/390/256/savelathletics/

Best wishes and Go Cards!

- Jared

WBB: Hurricanes blow into town...Bustos delivers at Softball banquet -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

BATTLE TODAY AT THE TOP OF THE ACC

"Bassy's" babes blow into town

The Miami Hurricanes are no tropical depression. They sit at the top of the ACC conference with Florida State, Louisville and Notre Dame and are quite capable of creating havoc in the KFC YUM! Center today at 5 p.m. against Jeff Walz's high-flying birds.

The "U" is 15-4 on the season, has won seven out of their last eight and sports a 5-1 ACC record. They own a quality, blow-out win at Notre Dame earlier this month and downed Virginia 67-58 last time out in Coral Gables. 

Katie Meyer's sunshine dwellers were picked to finish eighth in the ACC pre-season poll...but have been one one of the several surprises in a league that is showing unexpected parity and laden with eight teams that could finish in the top 25 when regular season conference play ends.


Led by Adrienne Motley's 16.5 ppg, this crew also gets gale wind force performances from Jessica Thomas...who poured in 18 against the Cavs, Jassany Williams' team high 6.7 grabs per outing and Michelle Woods...who touched Virginia for 12 points. 

They are physical, go to the boards well and have several guards who thrive off the dribble drive. They're also fourth in the ACC in made 3-point shots. Miami has been knocked off foes by an average of 17 points a game and has a seven point edge in rebounding over opponents.

Losses have come at Middle Tennessee by five, at home to Arizona State by four, at Tulane by five and a 15 point defeat in Cameron Indoor Stadium to the Dookies two games back. 

The Cards will look for guards Mariya Moore and Bria Smith to have better outings that they did in Louisville's sole ACC loss at Tallahassee to Florida State Thursday night. UofL will also hope to see a continuance of Sara Hammond's recent strong play and the timely contributions of Shawnta' Dyer off the bench. Jude Schimmel's steady play will also be needed this afternoon if the Cards are wanting to deflate the big wind team that's blown into town.


Recent subpar efforts from Myisha Hines-Allen and Emmonnie Henderson also need to be reversed if Louisville wants to stay atop the ACC leaderboard and prevent a third loss on the season.

This one is a Fox Sports South broadcast and the network is rolling out "big game" Deb Antonelli and Mike Hogewood as the talking faces in front of the camera. The nation's best WBB radio team of Matt Andrews and Adrienne "AJ" Johnson is your best bet for following in you can't pack the YUM! this afternoon. 

Miami averages slightly over 1000 per home contest. Let's give them something to talk about by putting 14-15,000 around Denny Crum Court. 

We'll have the recap later tonight here at CC.


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BUSTOS DELIVERS A FENCE CLEARER AT SOFTBALL BANQUET

Speaking of big turnouts, an impressive crowd packed the Brown and Williamson Center in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium last night for the Louisville Softball banquet. 

It was a delightful evening and Worldwide Jeff, his dad Charlie, Sonja and I had a great time with pre-banquet chats (that we recorded) with former Cards stars Alicia Wolny and Katelyn Mann -- who now run 502 Softball Academy...these two are even more charming and witty than when they graced Ulmer Stadium. We've posted a link to their endeavors on the Right Side of the Site. We also got audio from senior star Kayla Soles (love that Jersey girl!) and keynote speaker Crystl Bustos. We also had a great chat with head coach Sandy Pearsall...which I definitely should have recorded.

We were fortunate enough to be at emcee Sean Moth's table for the meal...he handles any situation with aplomb and style...and he and I discussed whether he could handle calling a horse race. He has his doubts...but loves the action despite "never cashing a winning ticket." 

The food was about what you'd expect at one of these functions...a Cornish hen quarter with mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli. The iceberg lettuce slice wasn't bad and the choice of cheesecake or chocolate turtle cake was the redeeming feature of the feast. 

After Moth's heartfelt and witty opening, Whitney Arion -- another senior star of Pearsall's roster -- delivered the invocation and the attendee's were treated to three great videos of last year's highlights, the Oklahoma City Challenge and player introductions. All were great...the girls revealing that in addition to their softball talents...they could do great bird calls, were addicted to coffee, and revealed other other fun facts about themselves. 

Coach P thinks Sonja and I are too tall. 

Sandy Pearsall took the podium first and gave the crowd a brief synopsis of the upcoming schedule and how preseason practice had been going. She's got a mix of great returning talent and impressive freshmen and her goal is to win the ACC Championship. Never one to self-promote her own personal achievements....Pearsall lauded her excellent coaching and support staff and brought recognition to the alumnae in attendance. 

We were lucky to have one of the best in Cardinal Softball history at our table. Former great Chelsea Bemis was at our table...the San Diego native is back in the 'Ville and serving on the UofL marketing staff. With her, Softball SID Lori Korte and UofL photographer Michelle Hutchins at our table...we were surrounded by greatness and enjoyed the dialogue at the table during our dinner.

They saved the best for last. Keynote speaker Crystl Bustos kept the crowd attentive and amused with her recollections of playing in three World Championship softball tournaments in 2000, 2004 and 2008. She shared her early days of softball also...she originally wanted to be a baseball player and was an excellent pitcher and hitter before she discovered fast-pitch softball. 

Bustos may have been the best hitter to ever play the game.  She's now a coach and instructor and gets to do what she loves every day...hit, teach and develop younger softball players. 

She also delivered a powerful message to the players in attendance. She sees the key to success in softball and life similar to a group putting together a puzzle. She challenged the players to solve the puzzle together that the coaches provide for the sport they administer and oversee.
Solving your daily issues is easier by combining the many mini-puzzles that can confront you into a single puzzle that you solve.

Interspersing her message with delightfully wonderful anecdotes of her own person triumphs, battles and experiences...she drew a long standing ovation at the end of her remarks. She was genuinely touched and appreciate of the crowd's admiration and we're sure she'll make good of her promise of following the Cards this season. 

A great night in a wonderful setting Saturday evening. If the Cards can pull off their season with the success they managed in last night's banquet...they'll be Oklahoma City bound in May.

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Our archived broadcast of Saturday's CARDINAL COUPLE
RADIO SHOW should be up on Crescent Hill's Soundcloud later this morning. It's a good one, don't miss it!

We're covering hoops, softball, volleyball, there's a Worldwide quiz for you to take and Kenny K. Keith and Don Paulie drop in for comments:

(I've pre-posted the link, if it doesn't happen for you when you click on it....try again in a couple of hours...or send me a scathing e-mail) 

LINK:

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO IS ON THE AIR AND INTERNET, TOO !!





-paulie 

Pearsall ready for the changes and reloaded in the bullpen -- Friday Cardinal Couple

Cards Softball preparing for the season

I got the opportunity to hear Sandy Pearsall and Dan McDonnell speak Thursday night. Both delivered great talks and Q&A opportunities for an appreciative crowd. 


Dan is a inspiration to anyone who is lucky enough to spend just a few minutes in his presence...and I got to sit at the same table with him for over two hours...so, as always...I was blown away by his eloquence and grateful for the chance to listen to him and talk to him.

It's almost enough to convince me to start covering Louisville baseball here at the CC . 

Almost.

I was also fortunate to be sitting next to Kayla Soles, the do-everything senior softball slugger from New Egypt, NJ. She revealed to me that she'll be in yet another new fielding position this season...moving to second base. She started her career here at third base, moved to the outfield when asked and now to second. 

She also waters the infield nightly, brushes off the bags after practice, drives the team bus, balances the softball checking account, helps elderly professors across busy campus streets and...well, you get the idea. A leader.

Another delightful person to converse with. She was impressed I knew her hometown and could remember where the last three softball banquets were. (We'll get to the current one coming up in a bit...) She's majoring in criminal justice and pursuing a minor in sports administration. She also hit the longest home run I've seen in quite a few years to start the season off for the Cards last year.

They did "ball off the bat" velocity/speed testing on the hitting skills of the UofL players a few days ago. When the ball leaves Kayla's bat, it's been clocked at going 90 miles an hour. Yes, 90 mph....

Good golly, Miss Molly! I would dread charging her from third base anticipating a drag hit and then see her rip one in my direction...her at-bats should come with a warning label

Soles also engaged in a lively Q&A with the audience. Gracious in bestowing thanks to her coaches, trainers and fellow teammates...she also revealed the things that upset Coach Pearsall the most. Lack of hitting, fielding and "called third strikes".  Her description of her hometown was outstanding. A little town in the middle of New Jersey but 20 minutes from the beach. She even assisted in the charity raffle drawing. Multi-tasking...again.

But, the hit of the evening was Coach Pearsall (sorry for the pun).


The highlight of her talk was describing this year's pitching staff. Freshman Bridgette Flaherty is the lone lefty on the pitching squad and has turned in an impressive fall performance and is looking good in the preseason drills. Madi Norman is wowing the coaches as well and is another freshman with high potential. Shelby McCombs graduated a semester early from high school to join the Cards in January and is a flame-thrower who also hits for power. Returning Tierra Sanabria is working through some injury setbacks but is one of the veterans of the staff as a sophomore. Maryssa Becker, the ace of the bullpen from last year...is still delivering with that same speed and intensity and can also give the ball a hard time when she bats. 

New conference, some new and old foes and some definite challenges ahead in Florida State, Notre Dame, Clemson and the Carolina schools. 

Pearsall will have the "Pitch and hit" Cards ready to face the challenges. February 6th. can't get here fast enough...



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We suggest you join CARDINAL COUPLE at this gala affair. A guaranteed good time for all and excellent guest speaker plus silent auction.

paulie