Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Softball Dinner and Hoops

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Softball Dinner features Danielle Lawrie

- WBB faces St John's today

The 2013 University of Louisville Bullpen Softball dinner was held Saturday night at the Hyatt in downtown Louisville and featured Olympian and NCAA Championship pitcher Danielle Lawrie from the University of Washington. A capacity crowd packed into the Hyatt Ballroom to hear the evening's events that were emceed by Cardinal public address announcer and all-around good guy Sean Moth.

The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction that featured everything from Cardinal softball gear to bean bag boards and Charlie Strong Makers' Mark bottles.
 
Unfortunately, CARDINAL COUPLE's bid on a UofL Softball windbreaker and visor fell short of winning...but it was good to stand around and talk with the people in attendance...including Shoni Schimmel, Becky Burke and hundreds of Cardinal Softball fans.

Shortly before the crowd moved from the hospitality area to the ballroom tables, we caught up with freshman Jasmine Smithson-Willett and got a quick Q &A in.

She's thrilled to be at Louisville and really loves the city and her teammates. At first, she was a little overwhelmed by the speed and quickness of the college game but has adjusted nicely. She's willing to do anything for the team and mentioned that when Coach Pearsall was looking for left-handed hitters to do the slap hit and beat out throws to first, she jumped right and showed coach her ability to perform the maneuver. Her biggest smile came when we talked about the road trip coming up to Vegas and the chance for her family to come in from California and see her play.

Before we knew it, we were at our table and got to see several great videos about the team's preparation for the upcoming season and hear several players talk about their dedication and commitment to the team. Coach Carol Bruggerman then took over the podium and awards were presented to Tori (Collins) Heyman, Chelsea Leonard (who led the nation in saves) and Taner Fowler (All-American).

Next it was Coach Pearsall to the podium and she was effusive in her praise for her support staff, coaches and players. She recalled the great moments of last season and could hardly contain her enthusiasm when speaking about the current group of Softball Cards and the challenges they lay ahead for them.

"It's tough competition, but the girls that are back are a year older and that means quite a lot in softball" Pearsall informed the crowd.

At the end of her remarks, Coach was presented with an autographed bat from the players who helped her acheive her 500th. win last season.

"I really wasn't that aware of it when number 500 happened, but shortly after the game...my phone started exploding with texts congratualating me on the acheivement, mostly my players....they're a special group of ladies." Pearsall reflected.
 
Featured keynote speaker Danielle Lawrie has had an amazing journey in her young life and kept the crowd captive and hanging on each word as she recounted it. Chosen to play on the Canadian National Team at the age of eighteen...she was the pitcher that recorded Canada's first win ever over Team USA.

As she recalled her collegiate years at the University of Washington, Lawrie made note of the challenges she faced and her drive and desire to conquer them. From a extremely competitive family that includes a brother in Major League Baseball who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays, she recalled how her father would never keep (and toss in the trash) any second place trophy that someone in the family had been awarded and that her brother wouldn't talk to her for three months after she beat him in a game of bean bag toss.

Lawrie was a wonderfully entertaining and inspirational speaker as she took us through her collegiate years and Olympic experience. Her message to the crowd and players was clear...set your goals and stay dedicated to acheiving them. After fielding a few questions from Sean Moth, Lawrie's time on the stage and the evening was over. It hardly seemed that it had started...

A excellent time with a very special group of college athletes, coaches and Cardinal fans last night. We appreciate the opportunity provided to us to cover the event and can tell you that Cardinal Softball is rip-roaring ready to go this year and the players and staff would love to see you support them even more than last year (if that's possible) at Ulmer Stadium.

We'll be there. We hope you join us! You DON'T want to miss it...

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( Quentin Voigt brings us the scout on Louisville WBB's next hardwood opponent today...the St John's Red Storm.)

ROCKIN' WITH THE RED STORM

St. John rolls into the KFC YUM! Center for a 1:30 p.m. match up against the Cards today. If you go, go early...because it's Louie the Cardinal Bird's birthday and free pizza, ice cream and cake will be provided pre-game for the fans. We think you should go. 

Joe Tartanella has been a coach at St John's for nine years but this is his first as the head coach. He took over for Kim Barnes Arico, who accepted the head coaching job at Michigan. She's currently 3-0 in the BIG TEN for the Wolverines. Tartanella is an excellent recruiter and has two players currently on the roster that he pulled away from ACC schools and will play next season. Danaejah Grant is a 5'9" guard who began her career at Clemson and will have three years remaining as a Red Storm. Selena Archer is a 6'4" post who originally signed with Miami and will have two years of eligibility for SJU.

St.John's averages 59.8 ppg and shoots 39% from the floor. They're 27.2% from beyond the arc. They hit 64.7% from the free throw line and average 40.8 rebounds a contest. The Johnnies dish out 11.5 assists a game, commit 14.1 turnovers and create 8.4 steals a game.

SJU is 9-8 on the year and 3-2 in the BIG EAST. Conference wins have come against Rutgers by four, Seton Hall by 28 and Pitt by 29. Losses occurred to Notre Dame by 24 and to Syracuse by three.

Shenneika Smith leads the SJU attack with 16.1 ppg . Nadriah McKenith adds 12.7, Amber Thompson is good for strong offensive and rebounding as well.

I don't see a lot of Red Storm rain dropping on Louie's birthday festivities today and the Lady Cards give him a 10-point birthday gift.

-Quentin Voigt


Smith and McKenith are better guards than any two Coach Walz can put out there and they proved it twice last year in sweeping the Cards. Does that mean they'll win again today? Not necessarily.

Tartanella is a good coach, but he doesn't have the ability that KBA had when she was there to get over 100% out of the Red Storm players.

Sho and Mo show has a command performance at the matinee today and the ever-steady "Need a" Slaughter?" (Of course, we need a Slaughter!) helps the Cards bring this one home in true Cardiac fashion. Louisville by 3 and it may take five extra minutes to do it in...

Quinnipiac beat you? Serioulsy?

Good guards will only get you so far. Rebounding, coaching and hitting free throws wins you games and I expect the Cards to do all three well today....at least well enough to handle the BIG EAST'S 11th. best rebounding defense team, worst free throw shooting team and a rookie coach. They're 9-8. The talent level suggests they could be 14-3. Losses to Qunnipiac and Boston U are puzzling...and they come to the YUM! on a two-game losing streak.

Time to return the favor to a squad that beat UofL twice last year. Time to get out a little "southern in-hosptiality" as we face the Red Storm maybe for the last time. Think about it, do you really want to schedule a non-conference home and away with a school that struggles to get 500 to watch them when they're at home? Beat 'em and wave good-bye as your showing them the door.

Paulie
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Thursday Cardinal Couple

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Featured columnist Jeff McAdams looks at WBB Hoops, Lacrosse and softball today. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that he is out on the recruiting trails helping Coach Walz find a 6'7" center or in the secret CARDINAL COUPLE laboratories assisting Anne Kordes in engineering a Lola Arslanbeckova clone...)

 

A Quick Look at the Standings

Things are starting to look...well...normal...in the Big East standings.

Notre Dame still undefeated in conference putting them on top.  UConn, Syracuse and Villanova tied for second at 4-1...ok, we're not really used to seeing 'Nova that far up the rankings.  Louisville and DePaul tied for fifth at 4-2.  St. Johns seventh at 3-2.  USF, Rutgers, and Marquette all vying for eighth with a 2-3 record.  Georgetown and Seton Hall checking in at 2-4 for the eleventh spot.  Providence has the 13th spot at 1-4.  Pitt and Cincinnati still in the basement at 0-5.

Lacrosse Preseason Conference picks

We're starting to see some spring sports news.  Preseason conference picks for Lacrosse were released, and Louisville was picked in a tie for sixth with UConn.  There are 9 teams that compete in Big East Lacrosse, including Loyola Maryland, who competes in the Big East only in Lacrosse. Syracuse was essentially the consensus pick for the number one position with 8 of the 9 first place votes.  The voting is done by the coaches of the teams, and coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team, so essentially this is a unanimous pick for the first place spot.  The rest of the preseason rankings are Loyola (MD) in second, followed by Notre Dame, and Georgetown in very close voting. Rutgers came in fifth.  Louisville and UConn tied in the voting for the sixth place position.  Villanova and Cincinnati had very close vote totals for eighth and ninth place.

Louisville's Nikki Boltja, out of Medina, OH, was selected for the Preseason All Big-East team.  Her position is listed as "M"...and I think that stands for "Midfield".  We here at Cardinal Couple are just starting to crack the Lacrosse study guides, and hope to have more insightful commentary as the season progresses.

The first game is Feb. 10th at noon, versus Canisius at the Louisville Lacrosse field, which is next door to the Yum! Center, on campus...not the basketball arena downtown.  If you're not familiar with this location, its on Floyd St. north of Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium, just across the railroad tracks towards campus.

Softball Preseason Rankings

The USA Today/NFCA (National Fast-pitch Coaches Association) preseason rankings were released and Louisville is in the 18th spot, after coming off of a great season last year.  The other ranking, the ESPN/USA Softball has not (yet?) released a preseason poll.

The Softball team kicks off their season with five games in Las Vegas from Feb. 8th through 10th. They then have five more in Jacksonville FL the next week.  The first home games are four games Feb. 22nd through 24th.

I think my biggest disappointment is that Chelsea Leonard is not returning. She was my favorite pitcher to watch but bad knees have put an end to her career.

The Louisville Softball Preseason Banquet is this Saturday at the Hyatt Downtown. This gala event will showcase the 2013 team, there is a cash bar and silent auction that features many collectibles and items from all the UofL sports teams. .

I enjoy attending softball games at Ulmer Stadium and hope you will join me this season to watch the defending BIG EAST champs do battle.

We'll provide you the most coverage you will find on the internet on Cardinal Softball this season.

Rumor is that Timmy the Intern has called Coach Pearsall on her yacht (pictured above) to try and commit Sonja to pre-season training in an effort to replace Torrid Tori Collins as one of the pitchers. There are also rumors that she's supervising the construction of the domed stadium that Softball hopes to have someday. The SonjaDome.

Believe it and you can achieve it.

 

LADY CARDS TO FACE ST. JOHN'S IN WBB SHOWDOWN

Calling all fans, calling all fans! The 16-4 Louisville Cardinal womens' basketball team will host St John's Sunday, 1:30 p.m. at the KFC YUM! Center. This promises to be a very tough and exciting matchup in BIG EAST play. SJU returns Cardinal nemeses Shenneika Smith, Nadirah McKenith, Mary Nwachukwu, Briana Brown and a very talented freshman in Aliyyah Handford.

Former SJU Coach Kim Barnes Arico may be gone to Michigan...but the Red Storm doesn't seem to be faltering as a result of it.

Jeff Walz and his team want you there. Please honor this request.



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Game report - Michigan blanks softball Cards 4-0 to win Regional

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GAME REPORT: Cards fall 4-0 to Wagner, Michigan


MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Louisville with opportunities but no runs in Sunday final.


Pitching her third complete game in three days, Michigan freshman pitcher Haylie Wagner shut out Louisville on Sunday...allowing seven hits. 

It seemed like every time Louisville would mount a challenge, a spectacular Michigan fielding play would get them out of danger. The Wolverines turned three double plays against the Cards in the first four innings.


Michigan did all the damage they would need offensively in the top of the first inning. Tori Collins drew the start for Louisville on the mound, but it wasn't her day early on. After retiring the first UM batter, Collins allowed a walk, a single, another walk and Ashley Lane's single to center scored two Wolverines. 

Sandy Pearsall went to the circle to make a change and brought in Caralisa Connell to replace the struggling Collins. Connell got Louisville out out the inning with no further damage...but the Cards were down 2-0 and hadn't been to bat yet. 


Louisville threatened in the bottom of the first. Jennifer Esteban beat out an infield hit and a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Austin left both runners safe. Katie Keller bunted to try and advance the runners, but Esteban was thrown out at third for the first out. Alicja Wolny followed with a grounder to short and Austin was retired at second. A grounder by Jordan Trimble to second got Michigan out of the jam. 


Michigan added a run in the top of the second when Sara Driesenga's two-out single brought Lyndsay Doyle to the plate. 

The Cards menaced again in the bottom of the second. Taner Fowler started the inning with a single to left. Maggie Ruckenbrod hit into a double play at second though to clear the bases for Wagner. Katelyn Mann punched a single to center but Whitney Arion's shot back to Wagner was fielded and Arion was thrown out at first to end the Cards threat. 


Connell retired the Wolverines in order in the top of the third. Louisville got a one-out single from Austin in the bottom of the third..but a hard hit shot by Keller was deflected by Michigan short-stop Amy Knapp to second baseman Lane..who touched the bag an then threw Keller out at first for another Wolverine double play to end the inning. 


Michigan added a fourth run in the top of the fourth. Amanda Chidester's two-out single to center brought Bree Evans to the plate and the Cards were looking at a 4-0 Michigan lead after three and a half innings.


Wolny drew a walk to start the Cards half of the fourth but a line shot by Trimble was fielded by Wagner who then threw to first to double up Wolny. It was the third double play of the game for UM. Fowler's fly to center ended the Cardinal fourth. 

Pearsall went with Chelsea Leonard as pitcher to start the fifth She got the first two Wolverines out but appeared to re-injure her knee when facing Steph Kirpatrick. Leonard left the field in obvious pain and Tori Collins re-entered the game as pitcher. She got Kirpatrick to fly out to center and finish the inning. 


The Cards were starting to get cold at the plate despite the warm day at Ulmer. Three up, three down for Louisville in the bottom of the fifth. Meanwhile Collins pitched herself into a sixth inning jam..two walks and a bunt single had the bases full of Wolverines with just one out...but she got both Driesenga and Lane to return to the dugout with strike outs swinging. 


Once again, the Cards hit three hard shots in the bottom of the sixth...but right at Michigan players and after six innings...Louisville was still down 4-0. 


Collins kept the Wolverine's quiet in the seventh. A long fly to deep left by pinch hitter Mandy Gardner mercifully fell into foul territory after clearing Esteban's range. The Cards were down to their last at-bat and needed some help. 

The inning started auspiciously, with Wolny and Trimble getting back-to-back singles to start the inning. The Cardinal faithful were up and cheering..but Fowler popped up to second, Ruckenbrod grounded out to short and Mann flew out to left to end the inning, the game and the Cards season. 


Collins took the loss...going 2.2 innings and allowing two runs and four hits. Connell saw 3.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits. Leonard faced three batters in .2 innings...surrendering a hit that could have been ruled as error just as easily. 


Austin had two of the Cards seven hits. Esteban, Trimble, Wolny, Fowler and Mann contributed one each. 

A great season, despite the two losses in two days...the first two losses of the season for Louisville in Ulmer Stadium. The Cards handled the Cats and Valparaiso during the regional..but had no answers for Wagner's pitching. 


With all but three seniors returning next year, Louisville looks like they could be a powerhouse again. Losing Collins, the pitching ace, will hurt some..but her tournament performance was a little less spectacular than her regular season exploits. 


Kristin Austin's hitting and Tesha Paysen's leadership and defensive skills will be missed as well...but the Cards should be "stacked" again for 2013. 


55-5 might be in danger next year. Advancement to a Super Regional would be great. The Cardinal fans that flocked to Ulmer over the last three days deserve nothing less in 2013. 
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Saturday Cardinal Couple - Cards defeat Valparaiso 6-4

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GAME REPORT: WOLNY'S WHACK
VAPORIZES VALPO 6-4


-Walk off 7th inning homer lifts Cards to win.


-Today's schedule for softball


-Preakness poses possibilities for closers 

Sandy Pearsall is all grins after  Alicja
Wolny's game-winning blast
(Photo by Sir Eats-A-Lot)

For a minute, it looked like it might be Louisville vs. Kentucky in Saturday action in the NCAA Regional.


In the losers bracket in the NCAA Regional.


Down to their final out of the game, the Louisville Softball Cardinals pull out a 6-4 win over the Crusaders with a three-run, game ending home run to right by junior Louisville first baseman Alicja Wolny. 


The blast left a capacity crowd at Ulmer Stadium exhilarated after some nervous moments in the nightcap. Valparaiso simply wouldn't go away and took a 4-3 lead over the Cards in the top of the fifth. 

The Valparaiso Crusader gets the fans fired up

Tori Collins drew the start against the Crusaders but struggled early against the Horizon League opponent. Three first inning singles and a based loaded walk gave Valparaiso a 1-0 lead over the normally untouchable Collins before she got Crusaders first baseman Kelsey Phalen to fly out to center to end the threat. 

Cards Care and Parrish House hero Erv makes sure I
get in the game safely. Say "Hi!" to Erv if you see him
at the game today or tomorrow.

Louisville responded in fine fashion, though, in the bottom of the first...rocking Valpo pitcher Alex Lagesse for four hits...the key blow a one out single by Taner Fowler that drove in Jennifer Esteban and Katie Keller. Even though Fowler was thrown out trying to advance to second...Jordan Trimble followed with a deep double to center that scored Alicja Wolny and gave the Cards a 3-1 lead. 


Louisville threatened again in the bottom of the third. They filled the bases with singles from Wolny, Fowler and Trimble reaching on a error with two outs. Maggie Ruckenbrod's shot down the third base line was fielded by Joylin Ichiyama-Drewry, though...to end the Cardinal threat. 

Cardinal Volleyball star Gwen Rucker takes in the action

After Jordan Rutkowski doubled to start the fourth, Pearsall went with righty Caralisa Connell in the circle.  A single by Ichiyama-Drewry put runners at the corners but a spectacular double play started by Cardinal catcher Maggie Ruckenbrod picked off Ichiyama-Drewry at second and then short shop Whitney Arion's throw back to the plate nailed Rutkowski trying to score to get Louisville out of the inning and out of danger again. 


Louisville got a double from Esteban in the bottom of the fourth but couldn't get her home. After the early success against Lagesse, the Cards couldn't get the ball into the air against her and were clinging on to the 3-1 lead....not putting the Crusaders away.


Valpo had no intentions of going away quietly and began the fifth with a walk and a single. Connell retired the next two batters but two straight walks brought a Crusader runner to the plate and it was 3-2. Pearsall went to the bullpen again and brought closer Chelsea Leonard in to pitch. Unfortunately, Rutkowski greeted her with her second hit of the game, a single that scored two runs and put Valpo ahead 4-3. 

Cards lining up for pre-game introductions

The Cards couldn't produce against Lagesse in the fifth and sixth...grounding out six straight times and getting just one hit. After Leonard shut down Valparaiso in the top of the seventh....it was do or die time for Pearsall's players. The crowd at Ulmer was doing all it could to inspire the Cards but hits and runs were needed. 

Valparaiso celebrates taking the lead
(Photo by Lindsey Howard) 

Whitney Arion got Cards fans on their feet with a lead-off single to right and Esteban laid down a perfect bunt next that advanced Arion to second. Esteban beat the throw to first to give Louisville two on and no outs. Kristin Austin followed with a grounder to short that was fielded and tossed to third to retire Arion. Katie Keller raised the tension level with a foul pop up that was caught by Ichiyama-Drewry for out number two. 


That set the stage for Wolny, who parked a Lagesse change-up deep to right field and over the fence into the screaming outfield crowd to give the Cards the game 6-4. 


CARDS WIN, CARDS WIN !!


Louisville had 11 hits in the game -- three from Wolny and Esteban. Taner Fowler contributed two singles and Trimble, Ruckenbrod and Arion were 1-3 from the plate. 

Valparaiso gets Kentucky Saturday
(Photo by Stasia's husband) 

Leonard gets the win, improving her record to 11-1, with 2.1 innings of two hit, shutout pitching. Collins went 3 innings...allowing one run on four hits and Connell's numbers were three earned runs on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. 


Louisville played tonight before a crowd of 1645. Good job, Cardinal fans..of getting out and getting crazy! 


The Cards advance to play Michigan Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN. 




Other great reads on the win: 
Creighton catches the blast


Howie Lindsey left the press box minutes before the Wolny blast and was down on the field for the momentous occasion. Here's his "take" on the game:
Wolny "knew it all along".


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Michigan created their own excitement in the first game, getting a two-out double from designated-hitter Sara Driesenga in the bottom of the seventh to  defeat UK 3-2. The teams went through 3 1/2 scoreless innings before the Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on two singles off Kentucky pitcher Chandra Bell.

Press box view from Friday's games

The Cats came back to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh but couldn't pull off the win. They'll face Valparaiso at 5:30 Saturday in a elimination game. 


Memorable quotes department:


(Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson, after the loss)


"First, I want to thank Louisville for hosting this event. I normally don't like to thank Louisville for anything but they are doing such a good job, which is pretty cool." 


All righty then. Uh, Rachel...they earned the right to host it. They were 53-3 this year and...what? They beat you twice this year? Try to do better than 4th in the East Division of the SEC next year. Maybe you'll get a shot at hosting someday..SMH.


WE'LL have full reports on today's action in Sunday's CARDINAL COUPLE...plus some possible commentary from the Cardinal Couple staff on the games later on today. 


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The KHSAA State Track meet is also going on down at the UofL Campus...right next to the Ulmer Stadium at Cardinal Park...so traffic congestion and big crowds are the scenario for today. 

Go Cards GO! (Photo by Howlin' Wardsey)

Your best bet for softball parking is to leave your car at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and take the shuttle to Ulmer Stadium. Reports are that the parking garage across the street from Ulmer was full one hour before the softball games started yesterday. 


Today's games:


GAME 3 @ 3 p.m. -- Louisville vs. Michigan
GAME 4 @ 5:30 p.m. -- Kentucky vs. Valparaiso
GAME 5 @ 8 p.m. -- loser of Game 3 plays winner of Game 4.


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Speed didn't seem to be holding up well at Pimilico yesterday in races on the dirt...so it could be a good day for closing horses on today's card...especially in the Preakness. The tight turns and short stretch at the Maryland track sometimes tend to show favoritism to horses that can get out and go early...but several distances races yesterday saw off-the-pace closers coming flying down the 330 yd. stretch and overtake early pace-setters.


Conditions could change today...but in the Preakness...if the closers do well in earlier races -- watch out for I'll Have Another, Creative Cause and Went the Day Well. 


Not much is being said about contestant Teeth of the Dog in the Preakness. He came flying late in his last race..the Wood Memorial...to finish third behind Derby Runners Gemologist and Alpha. 


Neither of those two are in the Preakness. Neither ran that great in the Kentucky Derby, either...so, let the toteboard be your guide on "Teeth". 


Post time is 6:20. 
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CARDS WIN BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

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LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL WINS BIG EAST TOURNAMENT 4-3 OVER NOTRE DAME


-Jordan Trimble walk off homer in eighth gives UofL a 4-3 win.


-HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! 

Hometown girl makes good. Louisville sophomore Jordan Trimble, from Louisville Manual High School, took Laura Winter's first pitch of the eighth inning over the right-field fence to give Louisville the 2012 BIG EAST Tournament trophy. 


A comeback win for the Cards...who were down 3-0 after three innings. Once again, the never-say-die, play to the final out philosophy of Sandy Pearsall's crew prevails...defeating the Irish on their home field on a cool, cloudy and rainy day in South Bend. 


Tori Collins got the start for Louisville, the first of three Cardinal pitchers to enter the circle Saturday night. Laura Winter was the pitching foe, the Big East Pitcher of the year. 

Not sure if we settled who was the better of the two today...Winter gave up ten hits in seven innings and Collins allowed eight hits in her four innings on the mound. 


Notre Dame put the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Casey O'Conner singling and scoring on a Alexa Maldonado, two-out bloop single to left. 


The Cards couldn't get anything much accomplished early against Winter...just three hits in three innings...and when the Irish's Katey Haus drilled a two-run homer off Collins with two outs in the top of the third inning-- the Cards found themselves down 3-0 to the #2 seed in the BIG EAST. 


It would be the last runs Notre Dame would produce, though. After Collins got the Irish out in the top of the fourth, UofL went to work. 

Taner Fowler started the inning with her 12th home run of the year, a blast to left-center that easily cleared the fence. Trimble followed with a triple to right-center. She scored on a Katelyn Mann sacrifice bunt to get Louisville back within one. Hannah Kiyohara hit into a double play to end the inning, though ...and Notre Dame had a brief reprieve. 


Caralisa Connell replaced Collins in the circle to start the fifth inning and shut the Irish down with just a Haus infield single. The Cards tied it in the home half of the inning...Jennifer Esteban singling to left-center, going to second on a Alicja Wolny walk and scoring on Taner Fowler's second RBI of the game...a sharp single to left. With two outs, Jordan Trimble sent a high fly to center...but Maldonado backed up to the fence and made the catch to end the inning. Trimble was sending deep flies to the outfield each time up. 

Rain greeted the teams as the Cards took the field to start the sixth. Connell set the Irish down in order in the top half of the inning, but Louisville could only manage a Katelyn Mann single to right in the steady downpour in the bottom of the inning.


The Irish threatened in the top of the seventh as the rain eventually stopped. With two walks from Connell, they had runners on second and third with two outs. Sandy Pearsall went to the bullpen and brought in Chelsea "Super Reliever"  Leonard to pitch to Haus and the move paid off...Haus retired on a ground ball to Whitney Arion at short to end the inning and the threat. 


Louisville opened the bottom of the seventh with the top of the order, but Esteban grounded out, Keller took  a called third strike from Winter...who then proceeded to hit the next batter -- Alicja Wolny -- with a pitch. The Cards couldn't capitalize on the baserunner, though...Fowler flied out to center to send the game to extra innings. 

Leonard got the Cards through the top of the eighth, facing four batters and giving up a single before getting the third out. 

That set the stage for Trimble...who took Winter's first pitch of the inning to deep right and over the fence to give the Cards the win and their first tournament title since 2007. 


We figure that distance from plate to the fence where the ball went over is about 210 feet. Jordan's shot went 211. Maybe. 


It was a classic moment and fitting tribute for the sophomore who never seems rattled, is always smiling and overcame a devastating broken ankle last year to return to the lineup and become the anchor of the team in center field. An infielder her first year at UofL, Trimble accepted Coach Pearsall's re-assignment without a grumble or question. It's what leaders and team players do.


Jordie is majoring in Justice Administration. Yesterday, she administered a little justice of her own. 

Had her "Christmas Story" moment after
misjudging a fly ball against the
Cards Saturday. Naughty, naughty! 

Notre Dame. Beaten in their place by the Cards. The arrogant Irish, suggesting that the conference regular-season title might have landed in South Bend if the two had met in the regular BIG EAST schedule. The goof-ball antics of their pitcher and her demeaning display of superiority after getting a strike out. Act like you've been there before, Laura. The f-bomb dropping center fielder Alexa Maldonado.




Here's a thought...when on ESPN 2...remember the cameras just might be on you and there are kids watching. 


Trimble was named  M.O.P. of the tournament. Collins, Fowler, Trimble and Wolny were named to the All-tournament team. 

The NCAA Softball Selection Show will be Sunday at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. One would expect Louisville to get a chance to host one of the sixteen regional sites. 


Nice way to finish the BIG EAST slate. Now, the NCAA awaits. One game at a time, CARDS...one inning at a time. 


YOUR 2012 BIG EAST REGULAR SEASON AND TOURNAMENT CHAMPS: THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS !!


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Happy Mothers Day to all! 


Paul: 

There's not a day that goes by where I don't think of my departed Mom. Although her time on earth was short, her impact on me, my family and those who knew her was large. 


They say that a mother's work is never done and I believe that. I know that my mom is smiling down upon me in heaven...proud of the accomplishments we managed here on earth below. I wear her wedding band on my little finger of my left hand...a reminder of her...and wish all Mom's out there the best. Happy Mother's Day! 


Sonja: 

I am fortunate enough to still have my 'Mutti' with me and able to enjoy the things in life with her. I wish a very happy Mothers Day to each and every Mom out there and thanks for the things you do.


We leave you with this great Mother's Day story.


The flock of ducklings were following their mother right up to the edge of the busy highway. Trusting, obedient and grouped behind her. Traffic, however, was heavy and there seemed no way that they'd get to the other side of the road. 


A station wagon stopped and a lady got out. She motioned for the traffic behind her to stop...and then walked right into the opposing lane of traffic and held up her hand.


4:30 p.m., rush hour traffic. But, the cars stopped. Mama Duck saw the hiatus in car movement and led her brood across the road. 


A frustrated motorist several cars back yelled out the window.


"Hey lady, what do you think you're doing?"


She loudly replied,


"Being a mother. Helping a mother." 


You could hear the cheers and applause from the rest of the cars as the pack scurried to safety. 


Sometimes, it takes a mother to get it done.
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Softball wins doubleheader to go to 26-0...L1C (final) 4 !!!

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball takes two from Pitt to go to 26-0


-L1C(final)4. Cards headed to New Orleans! 


-"Three" has a different meaning around Cards softball.


-Lacrosse loses narrowly to undefeated Irish.


Louisville softball rallied from deficits in both games today to sweep the double-header and go to 26-0 on the season. 3-1 and 4-3 were the final scores.


GAME ONE

Banner over left field fence

Took a different approach to game viewing today. Instead of hanging in the press box, I brought a folding lawn chair and took in the action from left-center field behind the fence. The outfielders probably would have disapproved if I'd made camp on the field in left-center in front of the fence. Seated over to the right of me was Cards basketball star Becky Burke, enjoying the afternoon from the grassy berm with a couple of friends.


Arriving in the second inning of game one, it was obvious that the Cards were waiting for me to get there before getting the action started...trailing 1-0.


In the bottom of the fourth, Louisville struck for their three runs...getting a lead-off double from Taner Fowler and Kirsten Straley came in to pinch-run for her. She got to third on a Alicja Wolny single and scored on Jordan Trimble's infield single. Maggie Ruckenbrod drove a double to the base of the fence (and right in front of me in left-center) to score Wolny and Trimble to make it 3-1.


Pitt threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs...but Chelsea Leonard struck out Pitt left-fielder Carissa Throckmorton to get out of the jam and end the game.

Cloudy skies over Ulmer Stadium grandstands

By then, I had temporarily moved to the press box to pick up  lineup and information sheets. I also kidded public address announcer Jared (J-Bone) Stillman about being up there in shorts and sandals. He offered a well-thought out and lucid response. 


While walking to the press box I noticed Shoni, Tia and Sherrone in attendance cheering on the squad. We've been told that Shoni's a pretty good softball player, in addition to her hoop skills. Wonder what kind of eye-popping, incredible moves she has on the diamond? No-look throws to first base after fielding grounders? Picture perfect tosses to home plate from way beyond the outfield warning track? 


Earlier, I had jokingly yelled out to Pitt's Chrissa Throckmorton to 'take it easy on us' when she was standing in front of me in left field....we wanted to stay undefeated. She obviously takes direction and commands well by striking out with the bags loaded...but she is a talented freshman for the Panthers and will prosper against ACC competition down the road. 


Tori Collins got the start and the win for Louisville, going four innings...striking out five, allowing one run and five hits. Chelsea Leonard earned the save...going three innings and giving up one hit while fanning four.   


GAME TWO


I returned to the outfield for the start of game two and Louisville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Kristin Austin scored after reaching first on a error, stole second and came home on a Taner Fowler's fielders' choice.

Bill Hancock was in attendance at three different UofL
sporting venues Saturday. Looks like that plan to get
him out of the house is working, Barb...

I also ran into buddy Bill Hancock on the path that circles the outfield. Talk about a busy Saturday...he had already been to watch football practice, the baseball game and was planning on heading home in time to watch the men's basketball game. 


Wonder if he caught a jet and flew up to South Bend to take in a little lacrosse? Bill's a great guy and does a lot of things with the Central Cardinal Club. His wife Barbara is an avid Cardinal fan as well and we sat with them at many UofL women's and men's basketball games for years. They also help organize and run road trips each year for women's basketball and baseball. 


Pitt took the lead with two runs in the top of the third but Louisville once again used the fourth inning to explode. Trimble drew a walk, Ruckenbrod reached on a fielders' choice...Trimble safe at second and Whitney Arion lifted a deep fly to (you guessed it) left-center that landed about 10 feet behind me and rolled across Arthur Street for the three-run homer. I joyously jumped up to retrieve the blast and returned it one of the Cards Care yellow shirt attendants. 4-2 Cards.

Friendly Cards Care attendants who were on the berm
with me.

I thought about hanging on to it and getting it autographed after the game...but I found out that a player who parks one out of the stadium gets the option of keeping the ball...so I gladly turned Arion's fourth home run ball of the season back over to Yellow Shirt custody. Send me a autographed practice ball, Coach Pearsall. 


Pitt made it 4-3 in the fifth when Maggie Sevilla blasted a shot over the (could it be??) no...it was to center field fence...the blast nearly landing in Cardinal WBB star Sara Hammond's lap. Her group returned the blast over the fence but was chastised for doing so by the yellow-shirt authority. As explained to me, what if the return throw hit a player on the head or interfered with play?


Always give the ball to a yellow-shirt, fans.


After the blast, Caralisa Connell gave way to Leonard...who finished the game for her second save of the day...holding Pitt score-less over 2.2 innings. Connell got the win, going to 9-0.


26-0. Game Sunday at noon. Head out for the sweep. 


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Glory, hallelujah! We're headed to New Orleans! 

The Cards are headed to New Orleans!! The improbable win, after being down by 11 after Erving Walker hit four free throws after a Rick Pitino technical, puts the Cards in the FINAL FOUR. 72-68...Louisville ending the game on a 23-8 run...Chane Behanan hitting the winner with 1:06 on the clock. 


Fitting that Louisville wins. All five commentators on CBS picked against them on Thursday night to lose to Michigan State before that game and then to lose to Florida after Louisville beat the Spartans. Keep choosing the opposition, Barkley and boys. 

Regional trophy (Courtesy @howielindsey)

Pitino is now 7-0 against former assistant and player Billy Donovan. That's gotta hurt. Even though some of those were Kentucky wins against Marshall...it's a whitewash. Donovan and Pitino are close, as evidenced in Billy the Kid's and Rick's post-game interviews, but only one survives and advances in this case. 

And...Louisville is in the FINAL FOUR! 




They'll face the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday. Time for revenge on the earlier season loss to them...


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Cardinal basketball fans delight in hearing public address announcer Sean Moth boom out "Threeeeeee Kyle !" or "Threeeeeee Becky !"when one of the UofL men's or women's basketball players hit one from beyond the arc. Over at Ulmer Stadium, though, "three" has a different connotation. 

Connell got a win in the
second game vs. Pitt.

For many softball fans, it's a description of the three pitchers on the current softball roster. The "three" have combined for some pretty amazing numbers so far this season inside the pitching circle. 


The Cardinal pitching staff of Tori Collins, Chelsea Leonard and Caralisa Connell have combined for 1.05 ERA and are holding opponents to a .166 batting average thru 24 games. They have tossed 12 shutouts and recorded 195 strikeouts in 159.1 innings of work. Through 26 games, Collins is 12-0, Connell is 9-0 and Leonard 5-0. All three have been named to the BIG EAST Softball honor this year for outstanding performances and Collins was chosen BIG EAST Player of the Week back on Feb 13th.

Tori Collins, a lefty, got the win
in the first game vs. Pitt.

Collins is a senior from Lafayette, IN. She wears #25 and is the tallest of the three at 5'10". Connell is a sophomore and stands 5'8". She's out of Murfreesboro, TN and has #13 on the back of her jersey. Leonard wears #10 and is a 5'8" red-shirt sophomore from Lexington, NC. They're three of four tallest on the softball roster...junior Alicja Wolny stands 5'9". 

Chelsea Leonard picked
up two saves vs. Pitt.

The pitching staff is a far cry from last season...when injuries had head coach Sandy Pearsall down to just freshman Connell and walk-on Katie Petrino from the women's golf team to choose from for a significant stretch during the season. 


A popular adage notes that "hitting fills the bleachers but pitching wins games" and it seems to be true for the Louisville softball team this year. 


The crowds are the largest in recent memory and the team is undefeated. Plus, UofL representatives toss out free peanuts and stuffed Cardinal Birds to the fans. All they're missing is Louie the Cardinal Bird and radio broadcasts. They will be on 11.1 WHAS TV locally for Sunday's game. Haven't tried to find that channel yet. 


Be sure to catch the Louisville Softball team in action as the spring progresses. They have 11 home games left...including today's noon first pitch against Pitt. In-state rival Kentucky visits on April 4th, and BIG EAST foes Rutgers, USF and Georgetown will be making visits to Ulmer Stadium. 


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Louisville Lacrosse lost a close one to Notre Dame yesterday in South Bend 13-11. The Cards led early 5-1 but couldn't prevent the Irish comeback.


Louisville is 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in the BIG EAST. The Irish improved to 7-0 and are 1-0 in the BIG EAST. Louisville has never defeated UND in lacrosse.


Rebuilding season for Coach Kellie Young. Have to go through those from time to time. The lacrosse team is in the midst of a five game road trip swing that ends Tuesday with a match against the Cincinnati Bearcats. 
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