Beam us up...Chelsea Bemis's three run blast leads softball to 5-2 win

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.FRIDAY SPECIAL EDITION...Louisville softball

-Bemis's belt in 9th brings Louisville 5-2 win over UIC

The University of Louisville softball squad won their first game in the NCAA Louisville regional Friday night

Bemis (center)  with teammate Colby Wherry and Coach
Pearsall in the post game press conference

at Ulmer Stadium 5-2...thanks to the heroics of senior third baseman Chelsea Bemis. Her bottom of the ninth inning, three run, one out blast over the center field fence was the game ender...in a game that had virtually no offense in the first seven innings. It was not until a surprising two run top of the eight for the Illinois-Chicago Flames that runs got entered on the center field scoreboard...a scoreboard that malfunctioned late in the contest.

Maybe the scoreboard was bored or disgusted. The pitchers' dual that consisted of Cardinal Tori Collins and Flames' Devin Miller certainly had batters walking back to dugout in disgust...after lazy pop outs to the infielders and soft grounders on the Ulmer Stadium dirt. A pitching change by UofL head coach Sandy Pearsall to begin the seventh almost backfired..when the Flames touched freshman Caralisa Connell for the 2-0 advantage on two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly in the eighth that had Louisville's back to the wall. Pearsall later commented that she didn't think Collins was at her best in the game...allowing several deep fly balls and gathering only 1 strike-out in six innings of work. Louisiville needed to score...a feat that had eluded them through seven innings.

The Cards came through. Bemis tagged her first home run of the game to center, barely clearing the fence, to open the inning. Alicja Wolny followed with a sharp single and the vocal Cardinal fans in attendance notched the volume up to Metallica levels. With Chelsea Jordan in to run for Wolny, a Colby Wherry single found its way to right field...but the speedy Jordan was tagged out at third on a perfect throw from right-fielder Melinda Macias. Wherry advanced to second on the put-out and Pearsall sent another speed burner in Tesha Payton in to run for Wherry. The strategy paid off...Maggie Ruckenbrod smacked a single to left and Payton touched the plate to tie it.

Connell calmed down and got the Flames retired, allowing only a walk to Courtney Heeley. That set the stage for Bemis's blast...a moon shot to center that brought in Kristin Austin and Katie Keller.

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After the game, Bemis was nonchalant about the game winner...claiming she was just looking to drive the ball for a hit and hopefully score Austin. When asked about any tension or nervousness in the Cardinal dugout after the Flames took the 2-0 lead...she said that none was present..the Lady Card were loose, relaxed, having fun and ready for their turn at bat. Coach Pearsall echoed  Bemis's description...relating that she wasn't going to harp on the lack of run production earlier...feeling confident her team would find a way to tie it and then win it.

She found that ways and means in the form of San Diego slugger Chelsea Bemis and Louisville advances in the winner's bracket to face California at 2 p.m. Saturday...who defeated Jacksonville State 6-3 in the opener.

CARDINAL COUPLE will be there with the inning-by-inning coverage for our readers.

Softball Cards today in NCAA Regional...Track and Field NCAA Qualifiers...WBB Rules Changes?

The Louisville regional of the NCAA Softball
tournament begins today at 5 p.m. Louisville
plays at 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY FROM CARDINAL COUPLE:

Welcome to live coverage of  NCAA first round softball action:

5:05 p.m. It's started here at Ulmer,  first game of two tonight. The California Bears and Jacksonville State.
Can't help but noticing the mask on the JSU pitcher while she's in the circle. Kristin Graham on the mound for Jacksonville..looks like she could play power forward for them in hoops. JSU went down without a fight in the top of the first....Godzilla Graham toiling on the mound now for the JSU gang. They get out of the inning with no runs allowed, three hits. 0-0 after one. And , the air conditioning is working in the press box. Nice, I like. .

5:18 p.m. California pitcher Jolene Henderson having NO trouble with Jacksonville batters so far. Six up, six down. The Bears looking to make a mark here in the bottom of the second. Bears get to the girl in the mask for a couple of solid hits in the bottom of the second and a bit of risky infield throwing makes it 1-0 after two innings.

5:30. JSU gets a single off of Jolene Henderson (breaking up the no-hitter) but can't capitalize...we're still 1-0 Bears going in to the bottom of the third...

5:38 Bears batter Britt Vonk advanced to third on a bad throw on a routine grounder and scores on a Jace Williams double. 2-0 Bears. The girl behind the mask has allowed seven hits to the California girls so far...and they're looking pretty comfortable at the plate against Graham... 

Cal having no trouble against JSU.

5:54 After four innings in the books it remains Bears 2- JSU 0. Hot pizza in the press box, though...bonus...and the weather still remains absolutely perfect for softball...breeze blowing slightly out to center and partly cloudy.

6:17 p.m. The Bears with four runs in the bottom of the fifth...now 6-0. Doesn't look good for the Jacksonville crew. Two hits so far off of Jolene Henderson...and she's looking strong still.

6:28 p.m. JSU not going down without a fight...bases loaded, no outs in the top of the seventh...

6:30 p.m. Uh, oh...Two runs in for JSU and runners at the corners. One down. Henderson gets out of it, though...allowing one more run. 6-3 final...Bears. Henderson allowed five hits in seven innings...the JSU squad went down swing and will face the loser of game two...tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

Let's hope they're facing the Flames...

7:15 p.m. Interesting comments from winning pitcher Jolene Henderson for California in the post game presser...never got nervous or anxious in the seventh inning when JSU made the three run rally. The Bears aren't opposed to having to travel across the nation to play in the regional...they travel most of the year in the pre-PAC10...and the distance between some PAC-10 schools is pretty huge. California doesn't care who they face tomorrow "as long a someone shows up to play us.." according to Bears head coach Ninemire...we're fifteen minutes away from the Cards vs. Flames and the bleachers and berm are starting to fill up..

GAME 2   LOUISVILLE vs. UIC

7:40 p.m. After UIC's Melinda Macias touched UofL starting pitcher Toni Collins for a leadoff single...and Coryn Schmit drew a walk the Flames could do no further damage and after a half inning it's 0-0.

7:49 p.m. Louisville's Sandy Pearsall is a ball of energy when she's coaching from the third base line as the Cards bat. So far, in the first...the Cards have hit two choppers back to the pitcher...Katie Keller out and Jennifer Esteban safe...but Esteban thrown out trying to steal second. After a Bemis foul out...it's still 0-0 and Louisville needs to get the bats unpacked...

8:03 p.m. UIC comes out swinging again to start the inning...leadoff single from Ashley Hewitt. Collins doesn't seem to have her normal dominant stuff early on the mound. Still, she set them down 1-2-3 after the single and the Cards get ready to bat for the second time with no score on the board yet.

8:09 p.m. Alicja Wolny starts the second for the Cards with a hard hit single up the middle. After Colby Wherry advanced her to second, Maggie Ruckenbrod beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners. A Hannah Kiyohara foul out left it up to Taner Fowler...but her tapper to short ended the inning for the Cards at bat. Through two full innings now...still bupkis to bupkis.

8:11 p.m. Collins has a dominating inning on the mound...1-2-3 go the Flames with a few weak tappers. Cards still looking for battage...maybe this is the inning.

8:18 p.m. Kristin Austin opens with a single for Louisville and takes third on some nifty base running after a Esteban single one out later. Bemis doesn't deliver at the plate, though and Alicja Wolny lines out to short to end the inning. We're scoreless...I'm starting to yawn.

8:23 p.m. Coryn Schmit doubles to the wall to start the 4th but is thrown out trying to steal third. A deep fly to right by Natalie Hernandez falls safely in Kiyohara's glove and Ashley Hewitt flies out to Esteban in left. The Flames are hitting the ball...we're just glad it's to someone in a Cardinal uniform. 3 1/2 finished and zip to nada on the scoreboard.

Wolny before her fifth inning singlw.

Colby Wherry grounds out to start the Cardinal fourth but Ruckenbrod come through with a single. Hannah Kiyohara's pop out to short and a ground out by Taner Fowler send the Cards back out to the field...you know the tune by now...0-0 after four.

8:31 p.m. UofL head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz here watching the action. Maybe he could grab a bat and try to score a run. It's a pitcher's duel...Collins gets out of the top of the fifth after a infield single allowed to Courtney Heeley.


8:44 p.m. Kristin Austin draws an opening walk to begin the Cards half of the fifth. After advancing to second on a Katie Keller fielder's choice...she watches Jennifer Esteban line out to short and Bemis fly out to left. Finished with five...0-0.

8:51 p.m. Flames go hitless against Collins and Cards come up to bat. Crowd exhorting the Cards to get some offense going. Wolny can't comply...popping out to second. Wherry grounds out to short and so does Ruckenbrod. We're finished with six and a bunch of zeros on the scoreboard. Louiville with five hits so far, UIC three. Freshman Caralisa Connell taking the mound for Louisville in the top of the seventh. 

9:04 p.m. Connell gets Hernandez on a grounder back to her, Hewett goes back to the dugout after a called third strike and Jenna Marsalli grounds out to Wherry at short to take it to the bottom of the seventh. 12-0 Louisville (just kidding...checking to see who's still awake out there.)

9:10 p.m. Katelyn Mann beats out a bunt to start the bottom of the seventh and goes to second on a wild throw to the bag. Taner Fowler can't advance her with a foul out to the catcher..but Kristin Austin reaches on a blooper single...Mann couldn't advance, though. Katie Keller pops out down the 3rd base line for out #2 and Esteban lines out to third to end the inning and take it to the eighth.

9:14 p.m. Connell is blazing in the top of the eighth but the Flames get runners to first and second on infield hit and a walk with one out. They also beat out another infield hit to fill the bags. Carly DeMarco infield singles home Courtney Heeley for the first run of the game and a sacrifice fly to center by Schmit makes it 2-0. Cards get out of it with no further damage but time to flip or fly now...

9:34 p.m. Bemis starts it off for Louisville and puts one barely over the left center fence to cut the lead to 2-1. Alicja Wolny follows with a blooper single to left center. Pearsall sends Chelsea Jordan in to run for Wolny but Jordan is thrown out at third after a Colby Wherry single. Wherry gets to second on the tagout and Tesha Paysen comes in to run for her. Maggie Ruckenbrod works the count to 2-2 on Miller before singling home Paysen to tie it up at 2-2. Katelyn Mann goes down swinging for the second out of the inning. Taner Fowler ends the inning with a deep fly out to center. 2-2...we're done with eight innings.

9:39 p.m. Connell gets Hernandez and Hewitt to fly out to start the ninth. Heeley draws a walk that is quite unpopular with the fans, though..(who are still going nuts in Ulmer) and then Heeley steals second. Teresa Aguilar strikes out looking though and bottom of the ninth brings Austin, Keller and Esteban to the plate for the Cards.  

UH-OH...half the scoreboard just went blank here at Ulmer...maybe it's a sign....

9:50 p.m. Kristin Austin singles to get it underway for Louisville. Katie Keller singles to center and runners on first and second now. Esteban pops out for out one with no runner advancement. That set the stage for Chelsea Bemis...who drilled a pitch deep over the center field to win it for Louisville 5-2.  

CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN
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-Softball starts swinging today at Ulmer Stadium

-12 UofL Women's Track and Field member in NCAA

-Rules changes in Women's College hoops?
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The University of Louisville softball team begins it's quest to advance in the 2011 NCAA Softball Tournament this evening against the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames at 7:30 p.m. in Ulmer Stadium.

CARDINAL COUPLE will be on hand to cover the action...beginning with a 5 p.m. game featuring California and Jacksonville State. California is the #1 seed in the Louisville region and #7 seed overall in the tournament.  They got to Louisville by finishing 2nd in the PAC-10 conference regular season and then defeating #1 national seed Arizona State in the finals of the PAC-10 tournament. Jacksonville State

earned their berth by winning the Ohio Valley Conference title with a win over Southeast Missouri State.

Cards face Illinois-Chicago
who won the Horizon League

Louisville will need continued good pitching from sophomore Tori Collins if they are to advance in this regional...which is a double elimination format. Collins has performed well in the circle lately...shutting out South Florida and Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Tournament and allowing just one run to Syracuse in the finals. Tori  is 16-10 on the season. If Collins falters, freshman Carlisa Connell pitched well earlier in the year, part of a Cardinals 12 game win streak, but UofL head softball coach Sandy Pearsall hasn't called on her lately. With the possibility of five games ahead over the next three days...let's hope Collins is well rested and ready to go. The Cards will

also need strong performances from the plate from sluggers Chelsea Bemis and Alicja Wolny...long ball threats Maggie Ruckenbrod, Colby Wherry and Katie Keller and a steady stream of hits out of Jennifer Esteban, Hannah Kiyohara and Taner Fowler.

The youth movement has been well served for Pearsall this season. Freshmen have contributed greatly to this successful UofL season at catcher, 2nd base, on the mound and in the outfield....as well at the plate. At this time of year, as UofL men;s basketball coach Rick Pitino is fond of saying, there really are no freshmen anymore. Time for Kiyohara, Ruckenbrod, Fowler and Keller to keep providing.

Louisville is also greatly aided by their veteran experience in the infield. Bemis and Wherry are four year starters on the left side...Wherry, the steady gloved shortshop and Bemis at 3rd. With Alicja Wolny covering the bag at first...the Cards make very few miscues in the dirt and their continued excellent fielding will also be a key to success.

Get it done, ladies. Let's go..the time is now. 

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Twelve UofL women's track and field athletes have qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Preliminary Round Qualifiers. The events will be held in Bloomington, IL from May 26th-28th. The Cards field event specialists are among the strongest and deepest in the nation and Louisville will be represented in six different categories in the field. Here's a list of the participants for UofL and their events: 

Khadija Abdullah will go in the
shot put and discus for UofL

-Saravia Richardson - 100 meters

-Monica Hernandez - 3000 steeplechase

-Chelsea Brown - 400 meter hurdles

-Gabrielle Jackson - 400 meter hurdles

-Rachel Gehret - High Jump, Long Jump

-Megan Schubert- High Jump

-Charachesicia Lockhart - Long jump

-Chinwe Okoro - Shot Put, Discus

-D'Ana McCarty - Shot Put, Discus, Hammer

-Khadija Abdullah - Shot Put, Discus

-Amashi Kendall - Shot Put, Discus

-Jenna Wargo - Javelin

The Cardinal men's track team will also be on hand in Bloomington...with 11 athletes competing in nine events. Run fast, throw long and jump far, Cardinals! 

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The NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee is recommending some changes in the game...for the 2011-12 season. First and foremost is moving the three-point line back a foot to be the same distance as the men's line...20-foot, 9 inches. In preparation for this, the committee asked member institutions to track the number of three-point field goal attempts taken from behind the current women's line and the men's line. These were tracked during exhibition and scrimmage games only. The stats tracked showed that 66% of the shots were actually taken behind the men's line and 34% from the women's current line.

The goal here? (Sorry for the pun). To open up the game additionally for the women's game. Some coaches will probably not be in favor of this proposed change. At Louisville, bombers Becky Burke, Shoni Schimmel and Tia Gibbs shouldn't be too affected by the change if it does pass approval from the Playing Rules Oversight Panel...who will discuss and consider on June 9th. Schimmel has been known to bomb them in from NBA range. Some of hers should be worth four points...

Another change being looked at is using a 10 second half court clock for exhibition and closed scrimmage games during the 2011-12 season. Some believe that the addition of a 10-second clock would increase the tempo of the game and force teams to extend defenses. Opponents are lining up to point out that it would probably add more stoppages to contests because of fouls and turnovers. Coaches are also proposing that if a 10-second clock is to be implemented, then the shot clock be increased to 35 seconds, instead of the current 30 seconds. Would this change be a more effective tool for the offense or defense? Time will tell.
I shudder to think what a Geno Auriemma or Jeff Walz full court press aided by a ten-second clock would do to the Seton Hall's and Cincinnati's of the BIG EAST...

Kia Vaughn, Rutgers and WNBA star, is a
expert at the art of elbow throwing...bad Kia!

Other items being considered are a "restricted area arc" located three feet from the center of the basket in which a secondary defender cannot take a charge and a re-definition of the term "flagrant foul". The debate centers around creating a Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 classification. Flagrant 1 would be a player who swings an elbow and makes contact with an opposing player above the shoulders. This infraction would be proposed as a two free throw and possession infraction. This is what is commonly referred to now as an "intentional" foul. Flagrant 2 would be designed as "a player who swings an elbow excessively and makes  contact with an opponent above the shoulders." In this case, the player would be ejected from the game and the opposing team would get two free throws and the ball.

This one doesn't make too much sense to us. How do you determine how excessive is "excessively"?  Hook them up to a polygraph? Get a witnesses statement? We agree that there is too much elbow-throwing in the game these days...but trying to define the extent and severity of a thrown elbow is hogwash. You throw an elbow, hit an opponent above the shoulders and it should be opponent's ball after two free throws, period. Intended or not. How do you prove any malicious intent or action? Especially in situations where a player is trying to protect the ball from being stolen. Leave this one alone, rules-deciders.
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Three lacrosse players in All-Star game, NCAA Softball and The Preakness

WELCOME TO THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Foley, Dashiell and Lovejoy in North-South Senior All Star Game

-NCAA Softball kicks off in Louisville tomorrow

Can Animal Kingdom go back to back?

-The Preakness: Who's running and who we like.

Three senior University of Louisville lacrosse players have been selected to play in the 2011 IWLCA/Under Armour Division I North-South Senior All-Star game on June 11th. at the United Sports Training Center in Downington, PA.

Bergan Foley, Emily Dashiell and Liz Lovejoy are the trio of Cardinals selected for the prestigious honor...and three of only five Cardinals ever selected for the game.

Foley finished her four years at Louisville as the school's offensive leader in seven different categories. She led the nation in goals twice and is fourth all-time in career goals in NCAA Division I history. At Louisville, she played 65 games and found the back of the net 265 times. Foley is from Huntingdon Valley, PA. and will be missed as the Cards "go to" scorer.

Bergan Foley is the all-time leading scorer
in Louisville Lacrosse history.

Emily Dashiell led the Cards with 247 draw controls and ended up with 149 goals. She is listed as eighth all-time in the NCAA in career draw controls. The Salisbury, MD native also holds the Louisville all-time records for caused turnovers, ground balls and career draw controls.

Lovejoy had an outstanding senior season for Louisville with 57 goals and 11 assists. She is the all-time leader in game winning goals for Louisville and amassed 174 career goals during her four years at UofL. She played in 67 games at Louisville and is second all-time in four offensive categories

These three will be very hard to replace on the 2011-12 Louisville Lacrosse team, not only for their scoring and offensive prowess...but for the guidance and leadership they exhibited during their four years at Louisville. All four were fierce competitors and for all three to be selected to the All-Star game is quite an accomplishment and feather in the Louisville lacrosse program's hat.

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Senior Chelsea Bemis is a long ball threat for the Cards.
Clear the fence, CB!!

Softball Cards will take the field 7:30 p.m. Friday night against Illinois-Chicago in the second game of first day action in the Louisville regional . Louisville (36-18) and UIC (25-22) have met twice before in softball...Louisville winning the last meeting 6-3 in Ulmer Stadium back on March 15, 2009. For Louisville, it is their eight consecutive NCAA appearance and second time they've hosted a regional . The Cards got to the "big dance" by finishing second in the BIG EAST tournament and knocked off #1 seed Notre Dame in the semifinals.

Illinois-Chicago earned their berth in the regional by defeating Butler 5-3 to take the Horizon League title on
Sunday. It's their ninth appearance in the NCAA tournament and they are 12-15 all-time in NCAA Softball Tournament action. They are led at the plate by Carly DeMarco (.358) and Coryn Schmitt who has 10 home runs and 32 RBI's. Devin Miller (17-17) is the girl in the circle for the Flames and has a 2.47 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 235.1 innings.

California (39-10) plays Jacksonville State (39-19) in the 5 p.m opener

Looks like a great weekend for softball, get out and support your Lady Cards!

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The field and post positions have been set for the 136th. running of the Preakness. The second jewel in racing's triple crown for three year olds will take place this Saturday at Pimilco Race Track in Baltimore, MD. The runners, post positions, trainers, jockeys and morning line odds below:

1. ASTROLOGY.  Steve Assmussen trains and Mike Smith gets the ride  15-1
2. NORMAN ASBJORNSON.  Trained by Christopher Grove and Julian Pimental on board. 30-1
3. KING CONGIE. Tom Albertrani handles and Robby Albarado is the jockey.  20-1
4. FLASHPOINT. Churchill favorite Wesley Ward is the trainer, Cornelio Velazquez in the saddle. 20-1
5. SHACKLEFORD. Dale Romans in the paddock and Jesus Castanon pilots.  12-1
6. SWAY AWAY. Young gun Jeff Bonde trains and veteran Garrett Gomez has the reigns.  15-1
7. MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE. Bob Baffert saddles this one and California Martin Garcia rides.  15-1
8. DANCE CITY. Hall of fame Todd Pletcher in the suit and Ramon Dominguez in the silks.  12-1
9. MUCHO MACHO MAN. Kathy Ritvo gives instructions...Rajiv Maragh carries them out.  6-1
10. DIALED IN. Nick Zito gets this one ready and Julian Leparoux returns as rider.  9-2
11. ANIMAL KINGDOM. H.Graham Motion looks for back to back wins with John Velazquez. 2-1
12. ISN'T HE PERFECT. Nigerian Doodnauth Shivmangal picks Edgar Prado to ride.  30-1
13. CONCEALED IDENTITY. Eddie Gaudet has Pimlico favorite jockey Sheldon Russell up.  30-1
14. MR COMMONS. Big race specialist John Shirreffs tries for the upset with Victor Espinoza  20-1

SELECTIONS AND COMMENTARY

PAUL: I'm looking at four horses in the Preakness and NONE of them are ANIMAL KINGDOM. I think DIALED IN handles this smaller field and shorter distance quite fine and is the top choice here. I'll go with KING CONGIE, MUCHO MACHO MAN and SHACKELFORD in exacta and trifecta boxes and wheels. I've been wrong before, but I'm speculating that DIALED IN tunes in, takes off and romps.

SONJA: I'm taking ANIMAL KINGDOM and DIALED IN as my top two choices to get the Black-Eyed Susan blanket. I'll take each across the board. After that, let's go with DANCE CITY, ASTROLOGY and SWAY AWAY in the exacta and trifectas underneath the top two and boxed also.
I'll also be wary of Bob Baffert and MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE and will include him in some other wagers.

David Watson knows
absolutely nothing about
horse racing...

DAVID WATSON: Let's "go for broke" here and pick KING CONGIE as my top choice. I'll expect ANIMAL KINGDOM, DIALED IN and MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE to chase him home. My longshot has to be NORMAN ASBJORNSON. What a name! I think he runs the shoe repair shop down the street from me...

Good luck Saturday and if you wager, do so responsibly. Selections, picks and commentary seen here are for entertainment purposes only and based on our Derby picks...should be ignored completely...except for Paul touting NEHRO. Showoff....
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WNBA teams in training camp,

WEDNESDAY @ CC:

Angel and Iziane with a young Atlanta Dream fan.

-WNBA Teams getting ready for the season

-Cardinal Caravan today in Elizabethtown


The Women's National Basketball Association's teams have opened up their training camps in preparation for an early June start to the season. Angel McCoughtry, of the Atlanta Dream, will attempt to help lead her teammates back to the Eastern Division title game this season. McCoughtry returns to the states after a season of Euro basketball...and will reunite with teammates Sancho Lyttle and Erica de Souza...both foes during the European season. The Dream have invited 15 players to the preseason camp...including DePaul standout from the past NCAA season Felicia Chester. Guard Iziane Castro Marquez returns for the Dream also, along with guard Shalee Lehming...giving the Dream all five starters back from last year.

Angel McCoughtry is a high scoring
key to Atlanta's success this season

The current Dream roster also contains a lot of the bench players from last season. Front liners Alison Bales and Yelana Leuchanka are listed and returning guards CoCo Miller, Brittany Raven and Armintie Price are vying for spots on the roster...although Miller's twin sister Kelly, who signed a two year contract last year has been traded to the Washington Mystics. The sister guards were key during the playoff stretch for Atlanta last year. The Dream picked up talented guard Lindsey Harding in the trade...they also sent draftee Ta'Shia Phillips (Xavier) to the Mystics to get Harding.

Oklahoma muscle first year player Ashley Paris will battle for a spot on the roster as will rookie Kelsey Bolte. The Dream play their first regular season game on June 5th, in Atlanta's Philips Arena, against the New York Liberty...who have ex-Louisville Sacred Heart and Western Kentucky star Crystal Kelly in camp...and three Rutgers stars...Kia Vaughn, Cappie Poindexter and Essence Carson.

A little women's basketball, professional style, to tide us over until the college game revs up again ...

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Just a reminder that the first CARDINAL CARAVAN takes place today in Elizabethtown at Three Putt Willie's @ Pine Valley. Elizabethtown is less than an hour from Louisville, for those who want to get their Cardinal Athletic fix in...the Caravan has two more scheduled stops planned as well.....Shelbyville and Jeffersonville, IN.



Bill Clinton won't be appearing at the Cardinal Caravan, but he is a
UofL fan. Wonder how Bobby Petrino is handling that?

 With the new flux of Cardinal fans pouring in from Eastern Oregon....maybe Jurich ought to gather up the LadyBirds, Louie the Cardinal Bird and Al Greener's pep band and do a promotional appearance in Pendleton, OR. They'd be wise to include Shoni, Jude and Walz if they did...

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The pair of cardinals that have been nesting in our front bushes are now the proud parents of three baby cardinal birds. They've been testing their wings under the close supervision of mom and pop the last two days and they're quite fun to watch. We're pretty sure these are the same cardinals that have been regular residents here the last several years....we named them Keisha and Edgar (wonder where we came up with those names?) and now the task has fallen upon us to name the youngsters. Paul's going with Bria, Sara and Jude. Sonja likes Justine, Anne and Samantha (three new UofL women's coaches).
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Cardinal Caravan begins tomorrow, 'Off The Rez' feedback

TUESDAY with CARDINAL COUPLE

-First Cardinal Caravan is Wednesday in Elizabethtown

-"Off The Rez" still generating lots of comments

-David Watson weighs in on "Off the Rez"



Three Putt Willie's at Pine Valley in
Elizabethtown, KY is the first
Cardinal Caravan stop



The 2011 edition of Cardinal Caravan kicks off Wednesday in Elizabethtown, KY. at Three Putt Willie's. This annual event features University of Louisville coaches, players, athletic administrators, the Cardinal Pep Band, the LadyBirds and Louie the Cardinal Bird interacting with fans over food and drink. Louisvillle athletic teams have a significant fan base in the Elizabethtown area and, although we don't know the exact list of coaches and players schedule to address the crowd and mingle yet...you can be assured that Tom Jurich and his staff have lined up a good cross-section for the Cardinal faithful.

Still no mention yet of a Louisville appearance for the Cardinal Caravan.

The event has been held at Captain's Quarters, off River Road, in past years and has proved to be a popular and well attended venue. We do know that the Caravan will land in Jeffersonville, IN. (right across the Ohio River from the KFC YUM Center at Buckhead's) and maybe the Cardinal Caravan planners figure that's close enough for Louisvillians to travel. No harm in gathering with Southern Indiana Cardinal fans at all. Same cause, same team.

The caravan is also scheduled to hit the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville.

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We are getting plenty of e-mails and comments about Saturday night's TLC showing of "Off the Rez"..the documentary about the Schimmel family and their move off the Umatilla Reservation to Portland, Oregon.

The documentary was watched all over the nation and we've received responses and comments about it from East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii and many other locations here in the United States. The vast majority of you liked and enjoyed the documentary. It has spurred several of you to go about obtaining UofL women's basketball season tickets for next year. "Off the Rez"  has certainly enlarged the Lady Cards Basketball fan base and even rival BIG EAST bases like Rutgers and Connecticut have had kind words to say about the documentary.

A few people have wondered why more wasn't included about the Jeff Walz recruitment of Shoni and why Walz didn't have a significant role in the film. Remember, coaches can't comment publicly on recruits until they've sent a letter of intent (LOI) to the school or enrolled on campus. The vast majority of "Off the Rez" 

Shoni Schimmel is not a Wildcat...as one
misguided e-mailer to CARDINAL COUPLE
suggested. She's a CARDINAL!  

was filmed before Shoni announced she was going to Louisville. Even though it wasn't shown until after the completion of her freshman year at Louisville. Also, this was a story about the Schimmel's... not the recruiting prowess of Coach Walz. We don't need a documentary to highlight Walz's expertise on bringing talented basketball players to campus...but it would be something fun to watch for Cardinal fans...

There are always a few 'negative Nellies' and 'stupid Steve's' out there, as well. "Off the Rez" was certainly NOT a UofL propaganda film..as one e-mailer insisted. And, let's get one thing straight...the proper spelling of her name is SHONI SCHIMMEL. We've seen that butchered several times. One e-mailer came up with the preposterous theory that Schimmel's decision was "made for her by the Umatilla Reservation tribal council" and she would have gone to Stanford if she had been able to...but her grades were too low to gain admission there. Whatever. We should note that Shoni made the Honor Roll at UofL her first year academically. 

Several of you have lamented the fact that you missed the documentary and wonder when it will be shown again...or if it is available on DVD yet. TLC has not announced a rebroadcast time or date for the documentary yet. We're hoping they do...it has to be more gripping and rating-worthy than "Say Yes to the Dress" or some of the other TLC staples...

We'll end with this communication from Sarah P., of Nashville:

"My daughter and I watched the show "Off the Rez" Saturday night and were so impressed we watched the rebroadcast also that directly followed it. My daughter Karen now has a hero and role model in Shoni Schimmel and wants to be a basketball player. We hope that Louisville's basketball team plays in the Nashville area sometime before Shoni graduates and we plan on driving to Louisville a couple of times in the upcoming basketball season to see her and the Louisville team play.  What a wonderful story and remarkable young lady!"

We have a feeling that "Off the Rez" has created a lot of new Schimmel and Cardinal women's basketball fans across the nation, as several of you have indicated. We can only tell you that you need to catch the Cardinals live in the KFC YUM Center if you get the chance. The fan base is over 10,000 per game, loud and frenetic and the rest of the team beside Shoni is pretty darn good as well. Wonder when the Asia Taylor

documentary is coming out...or the Shelby Harper or Monique Reid? As we've told you since this site was first started..."see the show".

***********************************************************************************

David Watson is a special correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. He recently watched the documentary "Off the Rez" and comments on it:

I didn't get to see "Off The Rez" until Monday night. Was involved in a weekend golf tournament and the less said about that the better. My clubs will soon be appearing at a yard sale near you. Those that are still intact. In watching "Off The Rez"(which goes so much faster when you can fast forward through the commercials) I came up with several thoughts. I wondered about the life on the reservation and how I - as a middle class, white American- would adapt to it? I have travelled in areas of our nation where American Indians are not held in very high regard. I have not known the slanders, slurs or experienced the discriminations that still occur to ethnic citizens in the United States. Would I have a chip on my shoulder? Would I distrust the outside world off the reservation? Would I lapse into alcoholism and despair over my situation?

I've had it pretty good so far in life. I've never known hunger, poverty or racial hate. I am sympathetic to all of these and tried to do things in my life to combat them. I will continue to do so. I guess what I wonder is whether one has to experience these things directly to fully know them? Is throwing money, man-hours and unused clothing and appliances at the problem enough of a
contribution to gain understanding and sympathy for the plight? 

I come from a family of five other siblings, so I can identify with a large family. My parents are devout Catholics and did not believe in birth control methods that were not authorized by the church. I have three children, I remain Catholic in name, but not so much in practicing philosophy. I don't know how others feel about the aspect of large families, but I do know that you learn a lot about child raising, responsibility and life when you are the oldest of six children who have two full time working parents. One thing about large families is that you never have to worry about having someone to play with. 

"Off the Rez" reinforced my belief that there are still many problems we need to fix here in our own country before we try to solve the rest of the world's problems. Indian, Jew, African-American or Hispanic...we are all Americans and despite the political rhetoric and 'me first' philosophy that is so prevalent these days...we need to care about each other. Shoni Schimmel made it. So will Jude. How about the rest? Who will do documentaries on them?
.. 

Cards to play in Louisville Region in NCAA Softball Tournament

.
MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE EDITION

-LOUISVILLE draws Illinois-Chicago in first game

-Other BIG EAST Schools in the Tournament

The University of Louisville softball team will face Illinois-Chicago at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 20th.
in the Louisville Region of the 2011 NCAA Softball Championship Tournament. The Cards (36-18)
will also host California (39-10), the seventh seed overall and Jacksonville State (39-19) as the other
participants in the double elimination format that will take place from May 20th-22nd at Ulmer Stadium.

Louisville hosts a regional for the second time in three years

"We are very excited to be hosting again," commented Sandy Pearsall. "This has been a year of ups and downs for us...but this team continues to find ways to get the job done. With three tremendous opponents
coming in, this will be a very exciting regional. We had such great fan support for the BIG EAST Championship, we hope that they will be back to support us this weekend."

With California as the top seed in the Louisville regional, it's probable that a great deal of Bears fans won't
be making the trip across the country to attend, so tickets shouldn't be a problem for Louisville fans who
get in early. You can call the UofL ticket office at 502-852-5151 for information...or to purchase them.

Prices are :

Ulmer Stadium, home of the Louisville Softball Cards

Berm (General Admission)

$7 (Single Session)

$20 (All Tournament)

Reserved

$10 (Single Session)

$25 (All-Tournament Pass)

Students with ID
$5 (Single Session)
$15 (All-Tournament Pass)

The Cards reached the field of 64 via an at-large bid, finishing as runners-up in the BIG EAST tournament.
The Tournament schedule is below:

Friday, May 20th.
GAME 1 - California vs. Jacksonville State @ 5 p.m.
GAME 2 - LOUISVILLE vs. Illinois-Chicago @ 7:30 p.m

Saturday, May 21st.
GAME 3 - Winners Game 1 vs. Game 2  @ 2 p.m.
GAME 4 - Losers Game 1 vs.  Game 2  @ 4:30 p.m.
GAME 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 @  7 p .m.

Sunday, May 22nd.
GAME 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5  @ 2 p.m.
GAME 7 - (if necessary) Rematch of Game 6  @ 4:30 p.m.

The Cards usually play pretty well in Ulmer (unless it's Syracuse as an opponent). The long range weather forecast for this weekend looks dry...so get those tickets and get out there!

**********************************************************************************

Besides Louisville, three other BIG EAST teams will take part in the 64 team field...Notre Dame, DePaul and Syracuse. Their regional draw and first round opponents below:

Ann Arbor Regional
NOTRE DAME (45-9)  vs. Kentucky (36-14) Friday, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Kentucky is headed to Ann Arbor
to face the Irish in the first game.

College Station Regional

SYRACUSE (44-11) vs. LSU (38-16) Friday (TBA)

Columbia (MO) Regional

DEPAUL (39-13) vs. Indiana (37-16) Friday (TBA)

South Florida did not receive a bid, despite finishing 4th in the BIG EAST regular season standings. They
were defeated by Louisville in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament by Louisville 2-0.
.

Cards fall to Syracuse 1-0 in BIG EAST Softball Finals.

SUNDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE

-Softball loses to Syracuse 1-0 in BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

-'Off the Rez' - Where do they go from here?

-Louisville women's hoops to play Texas A&M in 2011-12 season.

The University of Louisville softball team fell in the finals of the BIG EAST softball tournament yesterday at Ulmer Stadium to Syracuse 1-0. It is the second year in a row these two have met in the finals and the second time Syracuse has won the tournament by

Louisville left ten base runners stranded against
Jenna Caira...who allowed six hits, no runs. 

one run in the final game.

Once again, it was "Card killer" Jenna Caira dealing out the fatal blow to the Lady Cards softball crew...shutting the Cards down without a run for the third time this season...two of them from the arm of Caira.

For the Cards, Tori Collins pitched the type of game that will get you a win nine out of ten  times...allowing just one run and five hits while striking out ten Orange batters.

The third inning proved to be the key at-bat for Syracuse...Kelly Saco taking one to the fence for a double and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. Before the attempt, UofL catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod apparently picked off Saco on a throw from the plate to second base..but the original call was over-ruled after discussion and complaints from the Syracuse coaching staff that Katie Keller didn't have sufficient possession of the ball when she tagged Saco out.
Stephanie Watts drove Saco home with a single for the 1-0 advantage. Louisville kept the disadvantage to just one when Watts was thrown out at the plate by Kristin Austin after a Lisaria Daniel single.

The Cards got robbed of an apparent run in the fourth when Ruckenbrod singled and got to second when her hit was misplayed. Pinch runner Chelsea Jordan moved to third on Austin's bunt single and crossed the plate on a Taner Fowler ground ball. Umpires once again intervened and sent Jordan back to third...calling Fowler out for runner's interference while
running out her hit. Caira was able to then get the third out of the inning...stranding Jordan at third.

Louisville had a chance to tie it in the seventh after Jennifer Esteban singled and got to third when Chelsea Bemis struck out but got to first safely after Syracuse catcher Ashley Dimon couldn't control the third strike and then hit Bemis with a throw as she was running down the first base line after the passed ball. Esteban would remain at third, though..when the Cards' Alicja Wolny grounded out to end the game.

Caira was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Louisville placed four players on the All-Tournament team...pitcher Tori Collins, 3rd base Chelsea Bemis, shortstop Colby Wherry and catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod. 

We opted to view last night's contest from the right field knoll instead of the press box. For those of you who missed not receive our real-time game commentary, we can only tell you that sometimes we like to be just fans...cheering for the Cardinals. And, that is what CARDINAL COUPLE's mission statement is...to be the fan voice for all UofL women's sports. We missed the commentary and money-shines going on up in the press box...but sometimes, you just want to yell, cheer and interact with the other fans. 

We could gripe and complain about the two calls that eventually gave Syracuse a run and took one away from Louisville....but the umpires are in charge of game time decisions and have the right to reverse calls. In this case, unpopular reversals. Still, this Louisville softbal team has overcome some mighty large obstacles to get to where they are and WE'RE very proud of Coach Pearsall and her outstanding ladies in every aspect. WE hope they get the chance to continue this amazing journey with an NCAA bid.  

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Shoni Schimmel and her mother Ceci.

Off the Rez premiered last night on TLC and the documentary was hard hitting and gripping at times. When one gets a personal glimpse into the lives of others...you come to realize that the bond of family can be a very strong and guiding force in one's life...either by being present or vacant. In Shoni and the rest of Schimmel family's life...that bond is huge.

The continued success of Shoni after leaving the Umatilla Reservation and going to Portland and then Louisville has come with a dear price to pay...not being able to have the daily interaction with all of the extended family. It makes her successes all that more remarkable and noteworthy. We see a bright and success filled future ahead for "Sho-time", her sister Jude and although neither will be in constant contact on a daily basis with their siblings, parents, relatives and reservation friends...they'll be assured and gain strength from the knowledge that the support is unwavering despite the distance.

And, in the final analysis...that is what life is all about. You eventually leave the care and security of your home to etch out your own niche in the world. The degrees of success you find is metered and determined by the effort and results you create, ignore or achieve. 'Off the Rez' may be a time of adjustment for part of the Schimmel-Moses extended family...but life itself is a series of adjustments. You keep pushing....and we're confident that Shoni, Jude, Ceci, Rick and all the family will be quite successful in the years to come. The University of Louisville fan base is strong and alive in northeast Oregon.

***********************************************************************************

Part of the Louisville women's basketball schedule has been released for 2011-12 and the second game of the year will have Lousville travelling to College Station, TX. to play Gary's Blair's Texas A&M squad. You remember A&M, right? They won the NCAA Womens Basketball Championship a couple of months ago.

Louisville forward Asia Taylor will go to play against the Aggies.

Other tenative trips include a visit to Florida State and the school is trying to schedule a couple of games up in the Oregon/Washington area, where a strong Shoni and Jude Schimmel fan base exsists...

WE can't wait!


.

It's official...Softball Cards in final and Women's Basketball announces the signing of Smith, Schimmel and Niamke

.

For the second year in a row
Louisville and Syracuse meet
in the BIG EAST Softball
Tournament final game. 

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Walz comments on the Spring Signing Period

-Louisville to face Syracuse in BIG EAST Softball

Tournament final today

-Off the Rez airs tonight at 9 p.m.

It's official...as they like to say at the racetrack after a race.
Jeff Walz has announced that Monny Niamke, Jude Schimmel
and Bria Smith have all signed to play for the University of Louisville next season. They join Sara Hammond to give Louisville a 2011 recruiting class that has been ranked as high as fifth. Coach Walz released a statement about it:

"This late signing class solidifies our back court and will no doubt put us in a position to dial up the pressure on opponents. We couldn't be happier about addressing the needs of our team along with adding wonderful young women who will be great ambassadors to the university and our community."

Dial up, indeed. Most of Louisville's opponents in the 2011-12 won't want to answer that Cardinal call of a back court that will be the deepest in UofL women's basketball history. Here's the official bio on each of the the late period signees...courtesy of the UofL Sports Information Department:

Monny Niamke, 5'5", Point Guard, Paris, France (Victor Hugo)

Niamke has played for the French National U16, U17 and U18 teams the last five years. Last season she helped guide them to a silver medal in the FIBA U17 World Championships. She was also named MVP of the European Tournament in Forgeres (France). Won a gold medal at the 2009 Youth Olympic Games in Finland with the U16 squad. Also won a bronze with the U16 in Italy. She is described by Walz as 'one of the best young guards in  Europe. She brings to the team one element we have been lacking for some time, pure speed. She is very skilled on the perimeter and will utilize her quickness to attack the basket and distribute the ball. She also has the capability to be a lock down defender and cause havoc in our defensive schemes.'

Jude Schimmel, 5'5", Combo Guard, Mission, OR. (Portland Franklin)

Schimmel finished her senior year averaging 28.4 ppg, with 9.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 7.3 steals per game. Gathered 5A first team all state honors this season and finished with 1,546 career points. Game high this year of 51 points. Was Portland All-City and on the Oregon All-Star team for the Northwest Shootout. She has played AAU for the Oregon Reign from 2008-10, Team-Concept Fire in 2009-10 and American Horse from 2002-07. Also lettered in softball and cross country. Walz comments...'We are thrilled to add another Schimmel to our Louisville family. Jude will have the opportunity to impact our game with her athleticism and ability to score off the bounce. She is as hard a worker as I have seen in some time, and will no doubt be on the finishing end of precision plays with her sister.'

Bria Smith, 5'10", Combo Guard, Massapequa, NY (Christ the King)

The #8 ranked player in the nation by Hoop Gurlz. This season was named a McDonald's and WBCA All-American. Also first team Parade All-American. Miss Basketball in New York state. New York Daily News Player of the Year. She averaged 21.1 ppg, with 7.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a senior. Third year for All-State and All-City honors. She also was on the USA team at the FIBA U17 World Championships. Has been invited to the USA Basketball U19 trials. Walz remarks...'This is a monumental moment for our program and fans of Louisville basketball. Bria brings with her a pedigree of success and star status. She is an electrifying scorer with a great basketball mind. Her competitiveness is unsurpassed and her will to win is paramount. She comes from one of the premier high school and AAU programs in the country and will no doubt elevate our program to new heights.'

The cupboard is stocked full of provisions. It's now up to Walz and the coaching staff to mix a entree that will delight Cardinal fans and win games. The players will need to show Walz and the coaching staff their desire to earn the playing minutes with hard work, determination and a willingness to play defense...a Walz staple.

Take a few days and do something with the wife and kids, Jeff. Disney World, skiing...maybe a family cruise or trip to the mountains. You've brought in a bumper crop to go with an already fantastic base. Time for the farmer to go to the barn dance before harvesting the yield.

**********************************************************************************

Cardinal senior Chelsea Bemis says it's just a matter of
selecting a pitch and driving it against Syracuse
pitcher Jenna Caira. Bemis drove a three run
blast over the fence yesterday in the 6-0 romp over
the Irish.

Here we go, again. Louisville vs. Syracuse in the BIG EAST Softball Tournament final. Despite the gloomy skies that greet us as we write this article this morning...the game should be far from depressing and should feature a great pitching match up between Cardinal killer Jenna Caira and torrid Tori Collins hurling the softball. The plate approachers aren't ready to let this one be a pitcher's duel, though., Syracuse used a bottom of the seventh inning hitting frenzy to advance past Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals and jumped on DePaul early yesterday in the semifinals to get to the championship game. Sometimes, two runs is enough...especially when you have the juggernaut Jenna Caira tossing the orb.

Louisville went ballistic on Notre Dame in the third inning yesterday en route to the 6-0 win. They waited till late to pounce the USF Bulls in the quarters...2-0 with a run in the sixth and seventh. Tori Collins has been barely hittable...holding the Bulls to a couple of singles and the hard hitting Notre Dame squad to just four singles. Someone set up lounge chairs and umbrellas for the UofL outfielders...Collins either strikes them out, gets them to pop up to the infield or ground out.

There is also the irrelevant fact that Syracuse has won the last five games vs. Louisville. Swept the regular season three games series, took one from the Cards early in the season in a tournament in Alabama and won the BIG EAST Championship last year. Matters not. Today is a new day, new game and you can toss streaks and trends into the trash can.

Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. On ESPN 2 if you can't get out to Ulmer. Should be a doozy! Stay away...rain!

*********************************************************************************

Just a reminder...the documentary Off the Rez shows tonight on TLC at 9 p.m. A look into the life of Shoni Schimmel and her family as they make the move to Portland, Oregon from the Umatilla Reservation.
.

BIG EAST SOFTBALL Tourney begins today, Cards put six on All-BIG EAST Teams

Note: This is the restored entry for Thursday...which was temporarily lost when our server went
down. FRIDAY'S COVERAGE IS BELOW THIS ENTRY...

.
WE PRESENT THURSDAY at CARDINAL COUPLE


LIVE FROM ULMER...at the BIG EAST SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

10;48 a.m.  Muggy already out here at Ulmer...we're through three innings in the first game which features Syracuse vs. Pitt. The Panthers leading 1-0...captailizing on  an infield error and single.
Pep band director Al Greener and J-Bone are entertaining the press box...the game sure isn't.

11;21 a.m. Still 1-0. Wouldn't hurt Cardinal fans too much to see the 'Cuse lose this one. They did sweep the Cards at the end of the season. J-Bone has created a new tradition here at Louisville softball...the end of the fifth inning stretch "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" stand up. So far, it's been the most exciting thing the fans have had to cheer about. One inning to go. Possibility city...

11:39 a.m. Syracuse with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win it. A bases loaded, two run
single by Lisaria Daniels the game ender. The 'Cuse advances....heartbreak for Pitt. Next game
is Rutgers vs. DePaul @ 12:30.

12:21 a.m. Things moving smoothly toward the start of Game Two. Maybe a 100 or so here watching this one and it's still blazing hot. No rain yet, though...and no indication that it's coming. Al Greener has fixed the problem he has been having with his organ. I was ready to start calling organ donor transplant lists.

1:04 p.m. 3-1 after 1 1/2 innings, in favor of DePaul. Rutgers had the bags loaded and couldn't captialize. (Never would have happen if C.Viv Stringer would have been on the bench.) I'll be surprised if the Rutgers pitcher Abbey Houston makes it the distance. DePaul is rocking her. 

1:22 p.m. 3-2 now and both teams are smashing it. Megan Williams on the mound now for
the Scarlet Knights. 9 hits already in this one...just as many as in the entire first game.

1:52 p.m. 4-2 and the heat is stifling. Rutgers getting hits (7) but can't score. Bottom of the
fifth and DePaul at bat...Still no rain. Poor J.Bone is suffering from seasonal allergies. Been
there, done that. He's a gamer, though and is handling P.A. duties well in between sneeezes.

2:13 p.m. 5-2 as DePaul slowly begins to pull away from the Scarlet Knights. Last chance for
Rutgers...top of the seventh. Not looking good for the Scarlet Knights, who haven't hit the ball that badly...just haven't been able to put up more runs.

2:22 p.m. It has ended. 5-2. Two more today, beginning at 4:00 p.m. when Notre Dame faces Providence and then UofL and USF around 6:30 p.m.

CARDINAL COUPLE WILL HAVE RECAPS OF BOTH CONTESTS FOR YOU LATER THIS
EVENING.

We had the chance to talk with BIG EAST Director of Sports Administration Kristen Brown after game one. A delightful young lady who granted us this exclusive interview.

Her observations:

-C.C.: Welcome to Louisville! Your first visit?

-Kristen: Actually this is the third time...once for the swimming and diving championships Louisville hosted in February and a trip last summer to do some preliminary site visits for swimming and softball. 

-C.C.: What other sports beside swimming and softball do you administer over?

-Kristen:  Primary for field hockey and women's tennis and I also assist with men's soccer, men's lacrosse and baseball.

-C.C.: Your opinion of the Louisville softball facilities and Ulmer Stadium?

-Kristen: These are tremendous facilities here at Louisville! Your athletic director Tom Jurich has done a fantastic job and made a comittment to all the facilities for women's sports....and all of your sports teams here at Louisville.

-C.C.: As far as your own background, did you attend a BIG EAST school?

-Kristen: I actually did not...I was a basketball student-athelete at Northern Illinois.

-C.C. Ah, the Huskies...I attended a UofL football game up there years back and I remember
them serving fresh corn out of the field during pre-game tailgaiting...free!

-Kristen: Well, you know DeKalb...where NIU is located...is in the middle of corn fields...so you can't help but have some good corn up there!

-C.C: How many years have you been in your current position? 

-Kristen: It hasn't even been a year yet. It'll be a year on June 21st. 

-C.C.: Does it look like something you'd like to stay with and advance with the BIG EAST?

-Kristen: Well...you never really know. I do enjoy being in the BIG EAST and what I do in this job. I've been in an administrative role in athletics for 7-8 years now, so I am enjoying what I'm doing and I think this is the path I want to stay in. 

-C.C: Final question...do you have a favorite here in the tournament and who would you like to see win it? 

-Kristen: Oh, no.... 

-C.C.: You're supposed to say Louisville!

Kristen: (Laughing)...In the conference office, we spread our love equally 16 ways.  


THE REST OF THURSDAY'S CARDINAL COUPLE:

Chelsea Bemis was BIG EAST Player of the
Year in 2010. She did not get selected to
any BIG EAST Teams this year. Are you
kidding me?

-BIG EAST Softball Tournament kicks off today in Louisville

-Six Softball Cards get All-BIG EAST honors

-Reaction to the Bria Smith announcement

-THANK YOU!

The University of Louisville and seven other BIG EAST softball teams square off today at Ulmer Stadium for the quarterfinals and first day of softball action in the 2011 BIG EAST Softball Tournament. First pitch at 10 a.m. CARDINAL COUPLE will be on hand...providing coverage of the action.

Louisville is slated to play at 6:30 p.m. against South Florida. WE'RE hoping the weather doesn't alter the course of the schedule today...but it is a possibility...with a 30% chance of scattered thunderstorms. It's going to be a hot one today as well, with 90 degrees forecasted as the high today.

The Cards come into the tournament as the #5 seed. A late season slump against Syracuse dropped them from a potential chance at getting the #3 seed...which ended up going to the 'Cuse. Maybe the #5 seed was a blessing in disguise...since Louisville, as a #4, would have had to face Cardinal killer Jenna Caira of Syracuse most likely...if the Cards had done better at Syracuse. Louisville has not played South Florida this season. USF pitcher Sara Nevins was a 1st team All-BIG EAST selection and Lindsey Richardson a Third team pitching choice. Looks like the Bulls may have some arms on the staff.

We're hoping they stick around awhile, these Cards, in the tournament. Speaking of staying, wasn't the case for South Florida in a game against DePaul..where the USF coach pulled his team from the field...accusing the DePaul coaches of deliberately instructing DePaul's pitcher to throw at and hit USF batters. Awkward...

Three days of softball ahead. Go CARDS!

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Six Softball Cards were selected to the All-BIG EAST squads yesterday. Making the First team were sophomore first baseman Alicja Wolny and freshmen Katie Keller and Hannah Kiyohara. Keller, a second baseman,  helped Louisville with five home runs. Right fielder Kiyohara had 12 runs scored and 13 RBI's during the regular season.

Hannah Kiyohara, one of the
youth movement leaders
for the Softball cards

Wolny is a two-time ALL BIG EAST selection. Other Cardinals selected include freshman pitcher Caralisa Connell on the Second All-Big East team, who had a 12 game winning streak for the Cards midway thru the season. Making the Third All-BIG EAST team were senior shortstop Colby Wherry, her fourth time being honored as an All-BIG EAST selection and sophomore left fielder Jennifer Esteban. Surprisingly, Cardinal third baseman Chelsea Bemis was not selected to any of the teams after being the BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2010. Chelsea didn't have that bad of a season...the omission is ridiculous. A lot of good third basemen in the BIG EAST this year, granted...but three of them better than Bemis? Not bloody likely...

**********************************************************************************

Bria Smith and her mother Andrea display the
Cardinal Bird during her signing
(Photo by Joseph Staszewski-NY Post)

Reaction to Bria Smith choosing Louisville has been mixed and varied. The obvious joy and elation here in the Louisville area mirrors that of when Shoni Schimmel joined the Cards last summer. Already, WE'RE getting e-mails and speculation on potential starting lineups, combinations and inquiries if this addition will cause another transfer or two.

Can't tell ya, don't know. What WE can be fairly certain of is this...Walz and his coaching staff will have a multitude of options available to attack 2011-12 opponents. Shooting stars, yep...check that off. Inside game? Oh, yeah...check that one off. Speed? Are you kidding me? They could start a track team
with the quickness this bunch will have. As most top notch coaches usually do...WE'RE guessing that Walz had played over a thousand times in his mind the strengths of this squad and has started to formulate some ideas and plans. College basketball, it is truly an around the year job...

Ol' Pat in Knoxville did not choose to comment on losing Smith to the Cardinals...preferring to speculate on what she already had on campus, who was already committed in the 2011 class and hopes for 2012 potential arrivals. Tennessee fans, from what we've gathered on the message boards and e-mails we've received seem to be focusing on five things:

1) Getting Smith would have been nice..but not necessary...they're already loaded at the guard spots.
2) Walz can recruit.
3) UofL will never win an NCAA Championship in women's college hoops.
4) UConn didn't get Smith and that's a good thing.
5) Bria has a boyfriend that will be attending UofL and that's why she went there.

Paul unable to contain his joy about the Cards scooping
Tennessee for the services of Ms. Smith?

Lady Vol fans...passionate about their hoops and definitely opinionated...

WE think that there are plenty of talented high school players to go around. Sometimes, the best and brightest of the high school seniors fail to reach the potential and expectations of the fan base, Sometimes they do.

WE'LL remind you of a young lady from Baltimore several years ago who dropped off the recruiting radar after she decided to spend a year at the Patterson School after a great high school career in Maryland. A Louisville coach took a chance on the skinny wing and Angel McCoughtry turned out to be the best to ever don a UofL women's basketball jersey. You never really know where you're going to find your shining stars...and just how brightly they may light up the sky.


**********************************************************************************

WE would like to thank you for "clicking on" CARDINAL COUPLE yesterday (and every day) to follow the news and announcement about Bria Smith's choice. We recorded our 4th largest ever site count yesterday...topped only by the Shoni Schimmel announcement, Sara Hammond announcement and the Louisville win over Xavier in the 2011 NCAA Tournament this year. We have experienced an unbelievable growth here at CARDINAL COUPLE since we began this site back in January, 2010 and owe it all to you...our readers. 

Our commitment remains firm and unwavering...to be the fan voice for UofL women's athletics. We do delve into other subjects at times...horse racing being one...but we are still committed to ALL UofL women's sports and they will always be our prime directive here at CARDINAL COUPLE. 

We're still here, we'll always be free and we aren't going anywhere. YOU'LL never need to "sign in" or "register"here at CARDINAL COUPLE. We don't think fans should have to do that.  WE hope you'll continue the journey with us. 
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