Clint Hurtt...what we like at UofL...Gehret 5th in high jump...Ky Girls Softball first round

FRIDAY at C.C.

-Clint Hurtt....a reason to believe.

-Gehret gets 5th in NCAA finals

-Kentucky Girls High School softball tournament first round results.

-Hoopin' it up tonight at Bellarmine!

-Another O.T. loss for the Atlanta Dream


Editor's note: Our special correspondent David Watson will be offering the commentary on Saturday and Sunday here at CARDINAL COUPLE. Be sure to "click him".

WE don't stray too often from our commitment to be "the fan voice for UofL women's sports"... but after hearing Clint Hurtt speak to a capacity crowd at the June Sportsmen's Supper Club meeting...we are fired up about UofL 2011 football.

Clint Hurtt is what is what is right about UofL athletics and the passion involved toward the sports provided at Louisville. To hear him speak about college athletes in general is awe-inspiring. To hear his story on the path that led him to UofL as the football teams defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator is magical.

Clint Hurtt "gets it" and isn't shy about telling you about it.

We've heard the raves and rants about how well he sells himself, the University of Louisville and life itself to potential college athletes. Until Thursday night, though, we never had the chance to hear him pour his heart out about his passions and beliefs.

I wish I was 18 years old again and a D1 prospect worthy of his attention. This man is for real. I'd follow him to Alaska.

Fortunately. he is here in Louisville. And, serve notice that however long Louisville will be graced with his skills, talent and abilities is a bonus...each hour, minute and second. We hope it is a very long time.

Charlie Strong, it is said...is a good judge of charatcer and dedication. He brought Clint Hurtt to Louisville. We believe, Charlie...oh, yes...we believe. You brought UofL the best apple in a full tree with Mr. Hurtt...

Thank you. Both of you. Like our intrepid Women's Football Camper Margaret Richards wrote a few days ago here at CARDINAL COUPLE..."I can't wait for football season to get here."

We understand. We're ready, too. If you have ANY chance to ever hear Clint Hurtt speak...don't pass it up.
You'll walk out of the venue eight feet high and feeling good about the world. And, that ain't bad...friends.

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Rachel Gehret took fifth in the
NCAA Championship. Not bad...

UofL high jumper Rachel Gehret wasn't quite eight feet high yesterday like we were after hearing the electrifying Clint Hurtt...but her six foot jump over the bar was good enough for fifth place in the high jump finals at the NCAA Championships at Drake University. Her leap was the second best in UofL track and field history.

Rough weather delayed some of the activities Friday but a full schedule of events are planned for Saturday. Good luck to the remaining Cardinals and their upcoming events.


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Kayla Fairley is
Ballard's outstanding
pitcher.

Some excellent pitching efforts in yesterday's first round of softball....

Louisville Ballard bashed Letcher County Central 15-0 in the first round of the Kentucky High School State Softball tournament in Owensboro yesterday. Kayla Fairley tossed a one-hitter for the Bruins. The game was stopped after three innings because of the "mercy rule". Ballard advances in the winners bracket and faces Ryle today.

Louisville PRP blanked Montgomery County 9-0...getting six runs in the bottom of the sixth...to advance to the winner's bracket also. They allowed just four hits in their win yesterday and will play Allen County-Scottsville this morning at 10 a.m.

Other results:

-Allen County-Scottsville got a perfect, no-hit game out of junior Kelsi Pardue to defeat East Jessamine 10-0. She struck out eleven East Jessamine batters.

-Hopkins County Central blanked Walton-Verona 5-0 behind the four-hit pitching of Ali Austin.

-Central Hardin slugged their way to the winner's bracket with a 10-2 win over North Laurel. Central jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage and held North Laurel to just three hits.

-Calloway County sent Ashland Blazer to the consolation bracket with a 3-0 win. Lindsay Rucker tossed a one-hitter for Calloway.

-Lexington Lafayette survived a slugfest with Owensboro Catholic 11-8. The teams combined for 27 hits.

-Ryle "run ruled" Magoffin County 12-1 in five innings yesterday...holding Magoffin County to just three hits.

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Kentucky vs. Indiana All-Star games tonight at Knights Gym over at Bellarmine. Tickets are $20. The girls start it up at 5:30 p.m. and the guys take the court at about 7:30 p.m. They go to Indy tomorrow and play at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Kentucky Girls team has UofL signee Sara Hammond on the roster and three girls from the Louisville area...Mecheal Guess (Manual), Juliann Miller (Mercy) and Maddie Peabody (Sacred Heart). They'll need to find a way to stop Indiana's Bria Goss (signed with Kentucky) and 6'2" Liza Clemons (Purdue).

The Kentucky boys and girls team also did a tour of Churchill Downs yesterday. They are dressed in blue in the center of the photo. They move quick...they were gone by the time I got down to the paddock area and I couldn't get a closer photo of them. Let's hope they move as quickly tonight and tomorrow against the Hoosiers.

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Former Atlanta Dream guard Kelly Miller came back to haunt the Dream last night, nailing a three pointer with seconds remaining to tie the score 85-85 and force overtime. Second overtime game of the year for Atlanta, second loss in overtime for Atlanta. Final...Washington Mystics 98 - Atlanta Dream 90. The Dream are 0-2 so far this year. We're beginning to see a trend here...

Kelly and Coco Miller are twin sisters that play baketball
in the WNBA. Last year they both played for the Atlanta
Dream. Kelly was traded to Washington this year. The Dream
are probablty wishing they hadn't done that...now.

Angel McCoughtry, still hobbled by a knee injury, saw just three minutes of court time. 1 out of 4 from the field and two points. The Dream got 20 and 14 boards from Erika DeSouza...who missed the final couple of minutes of the extra session with a nose injury. Miller nailed the first basket for Washington in the overtime session and the Dream never got the lead.

Kelly, of course, was on the Dream last season with her twin sister Coco. Both the girls were starters and stars at the University of Georgia before going to the WNBA. The Dream received point guard Lindsey Harding in exchange for Miller and draft signee Ta'Shia Phillips (Xavier).

We'll see how that works out as the season progresses....
.