Kylee Shook invited to USA U 18 tryouts...UK WBB suffers more defections -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MESA RIDGE STAR SELECTED FOR U 18 TRYOUTS

Incoming UofL WBB freshman Kylee Shook has been selected to tryout for the USA U 18 team. The Cardinal commit and all-time leading rebounder and shot-blocker in Colorado Girls high school history is one of 27 that will compete for the roster in Colorado Springs, CO at the USA Olympic Training Center May 28-30.

Shook is part of the very talented 2016 freshman class that is headed to Louisville. She participated in the McDonald's All American Game earlier this spring with Cardinal commit Ciera Johnson. 


14 of the invitees have prior USA team experience...including Lauren Cox and Crystal Dangerfield...who were on the FIBA U 19 Gold medal squad who competed last summer in Moscow. 

A very nice honor for the Mesa Ridge machine. Best of luck to Kylee in her quest to make the squad! 

_________________________________________________


UK WBB CONTINUES TO SUFFER DEFECTIONS

What in the wide world of women's college basketball is going on Lexington? This story has been weird and continues to get weirder. What is going on with Matthew Mitchell's program? Alexis Jennings...see ya. Add Lindsey Corsaro (2016 commit -- Indianapolis Roncali) and Lindsey Duvall (2017 commit -- Bullitt East) as the latest two defections. Corsaro has reopened her recruitment and Duvall has ruled out the Cats completely.

UK fans are blowing up the message boards and social media with their outrage. Expectedly so...the Cats are down to six scholarship players. Last one in Memorial Coliseum...please turn the lights off. 

A few years ago...it was "Ditch Mitch" It's back...just add a
"ell" to the phrase. 

Is it time for Mitch Barnhart to walk out to the mound and signal for a pitching change? To tell Matthew Mitchell that his days as the head women's basketball coach are over? 

I say yes.

Despite our love here at Cardinal Couple to see the Cards beat Kentucky in all aspects of sports, I feel badly for the embarrassment and prolonged agony that Cat WBB fans are feeling now. This shouldn't have to happen to any fan-base or program. UK WBB fans are a proud and loyal bunch. Pull the plug on this and end the life support. 

It's time for a change of leadership of Kentucky WBB. Damage control hasn't gotten it done. There is no darkest before dawn left for this scenario. Barnhart needs to hang out the closed for renovation sign and start anew. 

paulie
xxxxx

Softball falls to FSU 4-3 but gets #2 seed in ACC Tourney...Lacrosse makes NCAA Tournament -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SOFTBALL ROBBED IN TALLAHASSEE

Louisville Softball took a 4-3 regular season loss to the 'Noles on Sunday but weren't totally responsible for the loss. A horrific umpiring call at a key junction of the game contributed to it. Yes, they didn't score the most runs...but FSU was basically given the deciding tally. 

In a game that had been see-saw score-wise, Louisville found themselves ahead 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth over Florida State. Jessica Warren and Alex Powers reached on base hits for the Seminoles. A single to center field by Sydney Brodrick was fielded cleanly by Nicole Pufahl. Warren would score easily but Pufahl's throw to catcher Jenna Jordan at home was clearly in time to get Powers out at the plate. 

The ESPN3 announcers called her out. I was watching on ESPN3 with Sonja and we both saw she was out. The multiple replays showed Powers out. 

The home plate umpire called her safe. 

The call gave FSU a 4-3 lead instead of a 3-3 tie and, eventually, the game...since the Cards could not produce another run in the top of the sixth...with runners at the corners...or seventh. 

Maryssa Becker started and Megan Hensley finished in the circle for the Cards. Hailey Smith, Jenna Jordan, Brittany Sims and Morgan Meyer all had two hits for Louisville.

Losing to #5 in the nation is no disgrace. Losing on a blown call is a travesty. On a televised game like that, I'd like to see a booth-review rule established for college softball. Interpretation replacing reality has no place in the outcome of an event. 


CARDS GET #2 SEED IN ACC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Despite the loss, the Cards were able to hang on by a few percentage points and clinch second place in the final ACC regular season standings. The ACC Tournament takes the top eight teams in regular season play...so Louisville will get the #2 seed and face #7 Syracuse in Raleigh, NC on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Louisville won two out of the three-game series against the Orange when the two played a couple of weeks ago. 


The entire tournament will be shown on the league's Regional Sports Network and Saturday's title game on ESPN .


Matchups:

#1 FSU v #8 Pitt
#2 Louisville v #7 Syracuse
#3 Notre Dame v #6 Virginia
#4 Boston College v #5 North Carolina 

North Carolina State, who is the host school for this year's tournament, did not qualify.

LACROSSE TO FACE NORTHWESTERN IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT

Louisville Lacrosse made the 26 team field (as we expected they would) for the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection and will face Northwestern in first round action at South Bend. The winner will move on to face Notre Dame. 

If it seemed like Bill Murray's Groundhog Day...it is because the Cards have faced the Wildcats the last two years in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and lost both times.

The Cards did face Northwestern during this regular season and defeated them 10-4. They split meetings with the Irish this year, winning in the regular season and losing in the ACC Tournament. 

Seven ACC schools made the field. Maryland goes in as the #1 seed, Florida #2 and North Carolina #3. 

The Cards play May 13th. at a time to be announced later.

paulie
xxxxx

Softball splits, Lacrosse waits, Nyquist wins, Asia cut and Happy Mothers Day! -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH FSU

The Louisville softball team got an outstanding circle performance from Megan Hensley in the first game at FSU and felt the fury of the Seminole bats in the second contest Saturday in Tallahassee.

LOUISVILLE 4 - FSU 0 

Megan Hensley tossed a two-hit complete game shutout against the #5 'Noles and the Cards put together three runs in the third inning to get the "W". 

Maryssa Becker started the top of the third off with a towering home run off FSU starter Jessica Burroughs and the Cards loaded the bases for Morgan Meyer's two-RBI single to grab the lead. 

Louisville added a run in the seventh when Sidney Melton reached with a single with two outs and scored on a Hensley hit. 

FSU 9 - LOUISVILLE 0

FSU touched LOUISVILLE starter Becker for a run in the first, three more in the three and five in the fourth for the run-rule victory. 

The Cards managed only three hits in the nightcap and were plagued by two errors and a wild pitch in the pivotal fourth inning.

The team will meet for a game today at noon...which can be seen on ESPN3. The Cards are in second place in the ACC...percentage points ahead of Notre Dame. A Louisville loss and wins by Notre Dame and Boston College could drop the Cards to fourth place in the final regular season standings. 

LACROSSE WILL FIND OUT NCAA NEWS TONIGHT


Louisville Lax awaits their fate this evening when the NCAA Selection Show for the tournament broadcasts at 9 p.m. tonight. 

Louisville (12-5) is pretty much in the tournament, from what we can gather by the rankings (either eighth or ninth...depending on the poll) and RPI ratings (16th.)...the question is whether they'll get to host in the first round. 

I will say that finding exactly how many teams will be in the tournament is harder to determine that the words to "Louie, Louie". After a half-hour of on-line searching, I still don't know. 

We'll know later tonight and...NCAA women's Lacrosse...how about a printable or downloadable bracket that is actually readable?

ASIA TAYLOR CUT BY INDIANA FEVER

Asia Taylor's quest to return to the WNBA were thwarted yesterday when the Indiana Fever cut the former Louisville star. 

Asia is a valuable commodity in Euroball, however, and we're sure she'll continue to shine over there. 


HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! 

To all you moms out there, we wish you a very happy Mother's Day! I remember my mom very fondly and so does Sonja. A mother is a special role...you are nourisher, life-giver, taxicab driver, sheriff, peacemaker, laundress, short-order cook, sexy girl, soothing influence, tough-as-nails-negotiator and so much more.

If I could tell you again...I'd tell you I love you mom. 

Somehow, I got a feeling you know. 

NYQUIST DOES THE DERBY

As the favorite in the race, Nyquist lived up to expectations by winning the Kentucky Derby over my pick Exaggerator by about a length. 

Congratulations to trainer Doug O' Neill, rider Mario Guterrez and the entourage for keeping this one undefeated lifetime. The sun shone bright on my Old Kentucky Home for the race. A couple of hours later, thunderstorms swept the area. 

Exaggerator was just a little too late in his strong charge down the stretch to try and catch Nyquest. He just needed a little more track and time...a sudden traffic-jam caused stop and restart in the backstretch probably cost him the race. 

paulie
xxxxx

Cardinal Couple - Horses Turning Left Edition

Softball Set to Wrap Regular Season

On the road in Tallahassee, UofL Softball looks to wrap up their regular season with some upsets against the 5th ranked Florida State Seminoles.

It will be a tall task, and success would not improve the Cards' seeding in the ACC tournament, though it may prevent the bat swingers from dropping to lower seedings if Notre Dame or Boston College see success this weekend.  Both Notre Dame and BC are poised for success as they tangle with Pitt and NC State respectively to finish off their seasons.  Neither Pitt, nor NC State are powerhouse teams in the ACC.

Here's how some of the math works out.  If BC sweeps NC State, UofL only has to win a single game in the weekend to stay ahead of BC.  If ND sweeps Pitt, UofL would have to sweep FSU to hold onto their second place seeding.  If ND drops a game against Pitt, UofL only has to take a single game off of FSU to stay in 2nd place.  If ND drops two games against Pitt, they can't catch UofL.

So all three teams, UofL, FSU, and BC know what they need to do this weekend, now it's time to go out and do it.  With a powerhouse like FSU in the other dugout, The Cards may have the hardest task of the weekend, despite being on the defense for their position.

Games are at 4pm and 6pm today, and 1pm tomorrow.  All are available on ESPN3.

Horses Turning Left

The drumbeat of decadence and depravity (with a hat tip to Hunter S. Thompson) has begun.  OK,
this is Louisville, the only place in the world that can turn a two minute long event into a two week party, so it actually began two weeks ago.

You saw the extent of my horse picking prowess in yesterday's article, so I shan't be elaborating on that anymore, but as a born and raised Louisvillian, I thought I might take a few minutes to try to capture why the Derby is a special thing to me.  This is primarily geared for our out of town readers, but I hope I can give some words for other Louisvillians to latch on to as well.

My recent vacation included an eastern European river cruise, which was wonderful in general.  One thing happened frequently on the cruise when other passengers found out we (the four of us traveling together) were from Louisville.  Almost without fail, particularly because of the time of year it is, they asked us if we always go to the Derby.  My response was always a hearty laugh followed by, "Lord no, I avoid that whole area of town the whole week!"

I've have only ever actually been to the Derby one time, and I was working grilling hamburgers in the infield for nearly all of the day, so my appreciation of Derby has nothing to do with actually going to the event.

The city spruces up for Derby, and that's a part of it.  The first year that Tess Clark, of UofL Volleyball, was here, she was excited, but uncomfortable, with our winter because of the cold and snow...that's what you get from an Arizonan.  My response was, "Yeah, but April and May in Louisville are worth it!"  Of course, Louisville tends to get wonderful weather in April and May (albeit, a bit miserable for allergy sufferers), and that's a big part of the meaning in my response, but part of it also comes from the way the city puts an effort to presenting itself for the best in the season leading up to Derby.  Having a large national spotlight on the city every year gets the city and its citizens to put in some serious effort in putting our best foot forward.

Louisville is also just a very congenial city, I'm coming to recognize that more and more.  I may have been a little slow in recognizing this, as I grew up here and assumed incorrectly that the general congeniality of Louisvillians was common across most cities.  That approach to others is only enhanced by the large influx of visitors to the city this week.  We are proud of our city, and I think with good reason, so when others come to visit, we don't resent their presence...we dearly want to share our city with them and for them to see how awesome this city is and what we have to offer.

I'm speaking in some sweeping generalities here, and of course, any group of people will have its That is what makes me appreciate Derby.  I'm proud of my city year around, but Derby is the day, every year, when that pride reaches full blossom and we have a reliable stage to show off what is great about us to the country, and even to the world.
Curmudgeons, some...but there is very real and tangible sense of civic pride in Louisville, particularly around Derby time.  

So this is our day to shine.  We love it here, and we hope you can join us, perhaps even for Derby week festivities in some future year.  Plan ahead, though, as hotel rooms sell out early.  Seriously, if you want to come for Derby week next year, book a hotel room now.  If you can't make it for Derby, come to The Ville whenever you can.  This is a particularly great time of year, but anytime in Louisville is great.

Paulie's Derby Selections

Paulie's Derby Selections are at his personal website. LINK: www.paulsykes.com

After the day he had Friday, they may change the name of the facility to ChurchPaulie Downs. If he has the same successes today that he did yesterday, he just might abandon THE CARDINAL COUPLE website and start his own tip sheet service.

HAPPY DERBY TO ALL FROM PAULIE, JEFF, SONJA, SAM and all our valuable associates! 

- JMcA

Friday Cardinal Couple - Basketball News

Welcome Taylor Johnson

Sheryl Swoopes has seen a veritable exodus of players from Loyola along with allegations of a poor atmosphere in the program.

Louisville is the latest beneficiary of that controversy and Taylor Johnson has signed the first of the paperwork to attend UofL and join Jeff Walz' roster.  Paulie wrote about her commitment earlier in the week, but now it's official.

Johnson brings with her some impressive stats from last year.  Averaging 15.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, a particularly impressive stat for a 5'7" player.  She posts some great point guard stats as well, with 4 assists, and pilfered the ball 2.6 times per game.  A 42.4% field goal percentage makes her a threat to score, and 79.5% free throw shooting will help The Cards earn that "F" in FRED.

Taylor will enroll for summer terms to get on campus as soon as she can after completing her undergraduate degree in film and digital media, with a minor in visual communication.

Kentucky's Revolving Door

I'm not one to cheer the misfortunes of another team, even a fierce rival such as is seen between UofL and UK, but the news at UK is certainly that, news.

After seven players and three assistant coaches departed, Matthew Mitchell is definitely in rebuilding mode.  The latest departure was Sophomore Alexis Jennings who was granted her release on Wednesday.

The rebuilding has begun, however, as Mitchell has re-hired a former assistant coach to return to the program in Niya Butts.  Butts left after Mitchell's first year as head coach at UK to be the head coach at Arizona.  Arizona decided not to renew Butts' contract in April.

Mitchell previously hired Kyra Elzy who was also previously an assistant coach at UK, and has since served under Holly Warlick at Tennessee.  Elzy will be the Associate Head Coach.

Mitchell is expected to announce his third and final assistant coach soon.

Good to be Back

I had to go look and see, but it's been over three weeks since I wrote my last article here on Cardinal Couple.  It's good to be back, but I had a delightful vacation in the meantime.  I'm looking forward to being back on the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour again next Saturday..

Please don't ask me for horse picks, my best suggestion would be to pick one that has four legs.  My expertise with horses does not extend any beyond that.

You can find Paulie's Oaks and Derby handicapping information over at his personal website www.paulsykes.com

AS USUAL, THE DISCLAIMER...Paulie's Picks are for entertainment purposes only and the site or author nor I make no claims of guaranteed financial success. That being said, the combination of Paulie and Sonja's prognostications have been very successful over the last several years. Proceed at your own risk. 

- JMcA

Louisville women's golf in NCAA regional starts today -- Thursday CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS IN BRYAN REGIONAL

The Louisville women's golf squad tees off in the NCAA Regionals today in Bryan, TX. The Cards are one of eighteen teams in the regional that leads to the NCAA Championships.


The Cards, who are in the tournament as an at-large squad and ranked as the #10 seed will put Laura Restrepo, Katie Mitchell, Molly Skapic, Ellen Kehoe and Olivia Cason on the tee shortly after 9 a.m. this morning on the first of three days of qualifying for the NCAA Championships. They'll be paired with Miami and Tulane for the Thursday round. The top six teams from each of the four regionals advance to the Championships...which will be held in Eugene, OR. May 20-25 at the Eugene Golf Club.

Louisville is ranked #35 by Golfstat and the Cards birdies and pars can be followed at www.golfstat.com

The Cards are led by two seniors. Restrepo, who was an all-ACC selections and averages a 73.10 score. Mitchell, who finished 13th. in the ACC Championships carries a 73.90 average. 

Hit 'em straight and putt well, Cards! 

_________________________________________________

THURBY IN LOUISVILLE

The Thursday of Derby week here in Louisville is known as "Thurby" and has become known as "Louisville's Day at the Races" 

If you're contemplating a trip to the Twin Spires today...we'll see if we can give you a little help on a couple of the races today.

Go to Paulie's blog THURBY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS where we've suggested a couple of plays today that hust might have you smiling at the cashier's window.

We also have the Friday picks available at that site also for Oaks Day. Six stakes races! Woo Hoo! 

Jeff McAdams, back from floating around Europe in a boat, returns to the pages for the Friday and Saturday columns.

Happy Thurby!

paulie
xxxxx

For Louisville Softball...the waiting game and preparation ensues -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SOFTBALL PREPARES FOR KEY SERIES AT FSU.

Louisville Softball faces the final series of the regular season and it's a doozy...headed to Florida State this weekend to face the ACC-leading Seminoles. The Cards are currently in second place in the ACC...14-6 in conference with no chance to overtake the 19-1 FSU squad...but presented with a chance to build momentum going into the ACC Tournament and secure a second place seed for the event. 

Only the top eight teams in the ACC participate in the tournament, which begins Thursday, May 12th in Raleigh, NC on the NC State campus. Louisville is assured of at least a #4 seed in the event...Notre Dame is 10-6 in conference play and Boston College stands in fourth with an 11-8 record

Notre Dame gets a sneak peek at the tournament site with their final regular season match-up in Raleigh against the Wolfpack. 

Fifth through eighth place seeding for the tournament could be a real battle...with six teams currently fighting for those final four spots. 

The Cards will depend on the strong arms and bats of Maryssa Becker and Megan Hensley to continue to guide the fortunes of the squad. Getting hits hasn't been much of a problem for Louisville this season...with 10 players currently batting .300 or better...but LOB's (left on base) runners have been a prime concern for head coach Sandy Pearsall and company. 

While the horses pound away on Derby Day Saturday in Louisville...the Softball Cards will also hope to be making a key stretch run as they sprint to the finish line of the regular season. 

Be sure to check out www.paulsykes.com for updated Oaks and Derby news. The field and post positions have been announced for Friday's Oaks and Paulie will be posting some notes about that later today over there

PAULIE
XXXXX

SHONI TRADED TO NEW YORK....TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SHONI SCHIMMEL TRADED TO NEW YORK LIBERTY

Former Cardinal WBB great Shoni Schimmel was traded from the WNBA's Atlanta Dream to the New York Liberty yesterday for a second year pick in next year's WNBA Draft Monday.

Schimme, a fan favorite on the roster...along with Angel McCoughtry...had recently come under fire from the Dream's head coach Michael Cooper for reporting to training camp out-of-shape..an issue that also upset Dream management. Cooper, however, indicated that the conditioning had nothing to do with the trade. 

"The way we are being structured and want to go, anybody could have been traded. This was about dynamics on the team. We wanted to put something on the floor that the fans can appreciate and will play with a high energy on offense and defense." Cooper commented. 

Nice try, Michael, but no cigar. So, you're saying that Angel, or Tiffany Hayes might have been trade bait? That the fans don't appreciate Shoni...who wowed the WNBA in the All-Star game? Fess up, pal. It was all about the conditioning and a plethora of guards on the Dream's 2016 roster. Moving Shoni to point guard may or may not have been a viable strategy but at least call this what it is. A power play from a coach who failed to get the Dream to the WNBA Playoffs in the 2015 season. A maneuver to try and save your job.

Meanwhile, Shoni's new coach, Isiah Thomas, sees the potential. 

"Shoni has demonstrated she can shine on a big stage and I am confident that with the leadership on our staff and our team she will thrive as a member of the New York Liberty playing in Madison Square Garden. Shoni is a good fit for our style of play and her long range shooting will really allow us to spread the floor on the offensive end. She takes pride in giving back to the community and she shares the same core values that the other members of this team do."

Tanisha Wright and Sugar Rodgers started for the Liberty in their first exhibition game of the season...a loss to Chicago. 

Shoni joins a team that went 23-11 in 2015 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals...losing to the Indiana Fever 2-1 in the series. The Fever went on to fall to 2015 WNBA Champs Minnesota.

So...it's goodbye Georgia Peach and hello Big Apple for #23. We hope the change is acceptable to the palate and that Shoni shines brightly in Manhattan. 

__________________________________________________


ASIA AND JUDE

Two other WBB Cards are also involved in the preseason WNBA contests and they faced each other the other night. Asia Taylor (Indiana Fever) and Jude Schimmel (Dallas Chicken Wings) met in a May 1st game. The Fever took the contest 108-90

Jude had five points in 24 minutes...Asia 13 points in 14 minutes. 

Both teams played without its top stars. Dallas played without returning starters Skylar Diggins, Karima Christmas, Courtney Paris and Odyssey Sims. Indiana was without Tamika Catchings, Marissa Coleman, Shenise Johnson, Erlana Larkins and trade acquisition Devereaux Peters.

paulie
xxxxx

TAYLOR JOHNSON TRANSFERRING TO LOUISVILLE...SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH IRISH -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

5'7" GUARD WILL HAVE ONE YEAR AT LOUISVILLE

Taylor Johnson, a 5'7" guard from Frankfort, IL who spent three seasons at Loyola (Chicago) has transferred to the Louisville women's basketball program and will be immediately available to play for the Cards. 

Following a weekend visit to the campus, Taylor put up this notification on social media Sunday night:

royalt_tay25 Soo excited to be apart of a new FAMILY at the Unversity of Louisville. Made it official today. Really looking forward to this new opportunity!

Johnson averaged 15 points a game for the Ramblers last season. One of her highlight games was a 24 point effort on 12/21/15 8 in a 88-75 win over DePaul. 

Guard depth was one of the things that Louisville could have used a bit more of as they went down the stretch in the final part of the 2015-16 season. With Taja Cole gone and no Dakota Weatherford listing on the 2016-17 roster, Johnson will be in the mix for starting time and significant minutes for the Cards.

With Loretta Kakala committing to the Cards on Saturday, it was a busy and fruitful weekend for Walz. Recruiting never stops, according to the Louisville women's basketball head coach, but maybe he'll take a little time to slow down and relax this week and take in a few Derby festivities. 

Welcome to the Ville, Taylor! 

__________________________________________________


SOFTBALL SPLITS SUNDAY IN SOUTH BEND

Louisville Softball split with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a double-headed in South Bend...losing the first contest 8-7 and winning the finale 8-3. 

The Irish got to Louisville starting pitcher Maryssa Becker in the opener and broke open a 3-3 tie with scores in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 8-3 lead on the Cards as Louisville traveled to the plate in the top of the 7th inning.

Spurred by a two-run homer by Hailey Smith the Cards battled back to cut the lead to 8-7 but couldn't get the tying run across. 

In the second contest, the Cards got a strong performance from freshman Megan Hensley in the circle and relief work from Becker to take a 8-3 win. Smith continued her hot streak at the bat with 3 for 4 hitting, and the Cards broke open a close 4-3 contest in the sixth inning with five hits and a walk to grab a 8-3 lead. Becker provided a two-RBI single in the turnaround inning and kept the Irish at bay the final 1 2/3 innings and Hensley got her 14th.win of the season for UofL.

Louisville (33-12, 14-6) ends the regular season and ACC schedule with a trip Derby weekend to Tallahassee for a 3 game series with league-leading Florida State.

__________________________________________________


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

Missed the last edition of The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour? No need to worry or fret...it's available on the Crescent Hill Soundcloud. 

A fun show with plenty of Walz speak, our final Derby analysis and Sam Draut and Paulie discuss softball and lacrosse also! 

LINK: THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR 4/30/16

paulie
xxxxx

LORETTA KAKALA A CARD!...LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL DOUBLEHEADER TODAY...THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LORETTA KAKALA COMMITS TO WBB

6'3 post Loretta Kakala visited the UofL campus over the weekend and has committed to the Cards...Jeff Walz's first commitment for the 2017 class. 

Out of Manteca, CA...she averaged 16 points a game last season and grabbed 8.5 rebounds. 

She is ranked 21st. in the Prospectsnation.com recruiting list for the 2017 class and 26th. by ESPN. She also competes in the shot put and discus in high school...which will undoubtedly draw comparison references with Emmonnie Henderson. 

Taylor Johnson, a red-shirt junior out of Loyola Chicago, is also expected to visit the campus. She has been granted her release from Loyola and would have one year of eligibility remaining

Good work, Coach and welcome to the Ville, Loretta! 

CARDS, IRISH PLAY TWO AT 11 A.M.

Weather in the South Bend area necessitated the cancellation of softball between UofL and UND yesterday and the teams will try to get in two today with an 11 a.m. start planned. 

The cancelled game won't be made up. Today's action can be viewed on ESPN3 and be sure to follow tweets here at the site about the action.  

Louisville has a 13-5 ACC record and the Irish are 10-5...so two wins for either squad would give them a nice foothold on second place in the conference.

__________________________________________________


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

Promoted from intern to columnist at Cardinal Couple! 

A fun show yesterday on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR with Paulie and Sam Draut in studio. We discussed lacrosse, softball, sampled the Jeff Walz press conference earlier in the week and played the final handicapping segment for the Kentucky Derby...a mere seven days away now.

You can hear the rebroadcast at the link provided below or you can go the the Crescent Hill Radio website and find it there. 

LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-20160430