Sunday Cardinal Couple -- For Gwen Rucker, the other sport turned out pretty well.

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Rucker will vye for USA A2 Team spot


-Belmont Stakes Day: a recap


Welcome to SUNDAY WITH SONJA! 

Today we look at Gwen Rucker. She'll spend the end of June training and competing with 47 other volleyball players in Columbus, Ohio in the U.S. Women's Volleyball National A2 Team Program. The middle blocker from Lexington makes her second straight trip to compete with the elite. 


These athletes were selected through the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 10-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Players in college who had college eligibility remaining for the 2012 season that were not selected for the Women's National Team were eligible for the A2 program. 

For Gwen, volleyball is one of two sports she has excelled at. Louisville women's basketball fans will remember the freshman who arrived on campus with Becky Burke and Monique Reid and eventually became the starting center for Jeff Walz's National Runner-Up squad during the 2008-09 season. She and Keisha Hines manned the middle during that magical run. 


She was also playing volleyball for Louisville. She continued both her sophomore year, but to compete successfully in two major sports on the collegiate level is a tough task. Gwen decided to concentrate on just one...and Louisville Volleyball is a much richer and successful program because of it. An injury last year slowed the net-menace Rucker down but opponents from the BIG EAST and nationwide knew and respected the skills of the 6'2" spike-stopper.  

How will I best remember Gwen? It was a crucial game for the Cards in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. Against Rutgers...and Gwen was assigned the task of containing the powerful and domineering Kia Vaughn. The Cards were playing their hearts out and emotions were high. Then, the ESPN cameras focused on what we like to refer to as "The Staredown".


Gwen and Kia during a stoppage in play. The picture above says it all. No fear, no backing down and a senior and a freshman taking a moment to see who would blink. 

The Cards went on to win that game in double overtime 87-82. I remember where we were watching it (because of the horrible appetizer I selected and eventually sent back to the kitchen for another choice) and I remember Paul standing up and yelling at the screen something to the effect of "Don't hit her Gwen, we need you out there!" 


Louisville went on to the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament that year, losing to probably the best ever UConn squad Geno ever had. Almost a month later they faced that same UConn team again in the National Championship game.


Gwen Rucker has faced challenges throughout her 16 years of education. She has stared them all down and come out on top.


Cardinal Spirit. No one can beat it.


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Sonja by the lillies in front of the paddock.

Absolutely fabulous day at Churchill yesterday watching live racing and the Belmont Stakes. Enjoyed the day at the Turf Club with good friends Panera managing partner Archie Karel, his lovely wife Tina, their son Andy and a couple of hilarious and great golfing buddies of "the Arch". 

Even though he killed the show pool by not following Paulie's advice (use Brian Hernandez, Jr. on the turf. ALWAYS!) Arch was the congenial, affable and out-going host he is every year we're fortunate enough to spend Belmont with them.  

The "boys" were having a rough 'go of it' early with their handicapping skills and the most common phrase at our table was "Why didn't we have that one?" I was biding my time. The hare may sprint out there, but the tortoise always wins. 


I gave you the exacta and trifecta yesterday in the article for the Belmont. If you followed my (and not Paulie's) advice...you had a good day in the wagering department. As far as Dullahan goes, we hope that the NCIS team is investigating his disappearance.

Paul always goes to talk to Louie at Churchill

Sometimes, you just have to smile and say..."I guess I'm just lucky that way." (Those are great lyrics from Joe Walsh's new CD. Go out and buy it.) 


Our day was a fun one. We always walk a lot at the track and go around and visit our "friends in different places" when Paulie and I are out there. 
And we saw plenty of them. 

Cletus finally got the party
guests to leave by hurling
his shot put and discus at them.

We ended a great Saturday at Cletus's graduation party. Another fun event. Listening to Paulie and Donald discuss sports is like listening to sports talk radio. Donnie with the photographic memory and Paulie with the non-sequiters and brazen commentary. Hey, they're easier to listen to than Domine or Lachlan... 


A big "thank you !" to Chris and Linda for having us over and putting up with "the Big Guy" and his ramblings. How he got on the topic of wet hand towels next to bathroom sinks, I'll never know...


Some days are just good from start to finish and yesterday was one. I hope your Sunday is good from start to finish and I've enjoyed my Sunday with you!


See you next Sunday and thanks for reading CARDINAL COUPLE!
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Friday Cardinal Couple - Cards advance to BIG EAST Softball Semis.

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


CARDS DEFEAT DEPAUL 2-0


More tomorrow...but Louisville gets a two-hit shutout out of torrid Tori Collins and beats DePaul to advance to the Big East finals. Kayla Soles delivers a two run double for the runs. L1C4 !!


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-Softball downs UConn 8-0...DePaul next


-Cardinal Twilight in track and field today


-Cletus qualifies for State in Discus and Shotput


-Twilight racing at Churchill Friday

The University of Louisville softball team improved to 51-3 on the season with a first-round blanking of Connecticut 8-0 in BIG EAST Tournament play at Notre Dame yesterday. The Cards "run-ruled" the Huskies and the game was stopped after five complete innings. 


The win is a testament to the teamwork, motivation and never-say-die attitude this softball team has displayed all year along. Louisville, as they've done most of the season, jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Kristin Austin and Katie Keller scored on hits from Alicja Wolny and Taner Fowler.

In the bottom of the third, Wolny made it 3-0 with a bomb to left-center that bounced off the scoreboard. Let's hope there was no damage and Jurich doesn't get a repair bill. NASA was able to track the moon-shot by the junior first-baseman briefly from Houston. She crushed it ! 


Caralisa Connell got the start and had no trouble with the Huskies through three innings. The top of the fourth, though...found her in a bit of a jam. With one out...a fielder's choice, single and hit batter filled the bases with Huskies. Sandy Pearsall and Courtney Scott decided to go to the bullpen and bring in super-reliever Chelsea Leonard. She donned the cape, stepped inside the circle and got the first batter she faced to weakly pop up to her. She struck the next Husky out to end the inning. Threat over, no runs and the skies over South Bend were safe again. 

Louisville was tired of toying with the Connecticut pups...so they decided to end it early. 


In the bottom of the fifth, the Cards started the game-ending assault with two outs in the inning. Katie Keller drilled a shot back at starting UConn pitcher Kiki Saveriano that was mis-handled and Keller was safe at first...foiling UConn's attempt to get out of the inning unscathed.  Wolny worked Kiki for a walk. UConn's coach had seen enough and went to his bullpen. 


Sometimes, you just shouldn't go there. 

Taner Fowler greeted UConn's new hurler Ali Adelman with a single...scoring Keller. Jordy Trimble singled to load the bases. Kayla Soles drew a walk, scoring Wolny to make it 5-0 Louisville. Maggie Ruckenbrod stepped to the plate and ripped a drive down the right field line that scored Wolny and Trimble. UConn tried to throw out Soles as she went to third on the hit, threw badly and Soles just kept going...getting home safely and ending the game with the Cards fifth run of the inning and eighth of the game. 


Bye-bye Huskies. Thanks for playing. Pick up your parting gifts at customer service. 

Today is DePaul for the Cards. They surprised South Florida by pounding USF ace hurler Sara Nevins for four runs yesterday in a 6-0 win. #5 seed beats #4. 


Another upset later in the day, too...as #3 seed Syracuse fell to #6 seed St. John's 2-1. It's single-elimination...Orange and Bulls. Be safe on the way home and bye-bye, farewell, adios Syracuse. No three-peat for you in the BIG EAST Tournament. Enjoy the ACC. You deserve each other. #2 seed Notre Dame handled #7 Rutgers without any trouble in the night-cap 5-0. 

Back to DePaul...they are the demons that dealt Louisville their only two conference losses of the regular season. It was a out-of-sync weekend for the Cards in Chicago in late March and April Fools Day. They dropped two out of three on that trip to the home of the Bears, Bulls and Cubbies and got pounded for seven runs in their first loss of the year. 

We're guessing the Blue Demons will have to deal with the wrath of Louisville's Tori Collins today...but we guessed wrong on the starting pitcher yesterday...so who knows? 


Collins would probably like to forget March 31st, 2012. 


DePaul rocked her for four runs and four hits in four innings. Blue Demon left fielder Katelyn Braget sent two over the fence against Tori. 


Time to settle old scores today, Cards. It's survive and advance time. 


Louisville plays at 4 p.m. and BIG EAST TV will show it free again today. No TV commercials...gotta love that. 


You can catch it at the link below:


Cards vs. DePaul 4 p.m.


We'll drop in with an update after the game. Be sure to check back tonight and...thank you for reading CARDINAL COUPLE. 


Go Tori
Go Taner
Go Maggie
Get that Banner! 


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Track and field hosts the Cardinal Twilight at Cardinal Park today. It's a last-chance meet for athletes to achieve national qualifying standards and try to get in the NCAA Championships. 


Louisville will have quite a few ladies trying to better their season marks today. The Cardinal throwers will be out in full-force...Amashi Kendall in the shot put, discus and hammer throws. She's going to need a shoulder massage after all that. Khadija Abdullah, Patrice Gates and Hannah Baker will also be out there tossing heavy and flat things around. 


Field events go at 10 a.m. Go CARDS! 


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Speaking of throwers...a big congratulations to our folk hero and all-around good guy Michael "Cletus" Stewart. He competed in the Kentucky Track and Field Class 3-A, Region Four Regionals at North Oldham High School Thursday and won the shot put. He also finished second in the discus (by two inches). 


That gets him into the State Championships in both events that will be held at Cardinal Park next Saturday. 


Michael's tosses were 44-10 in the shot put and 128-06 in the discus. He'll attend the University of Louisville in the fall and be a preferred walk-on with the football team. 

Sounds like UofL head track and field coach Ron Mann might also want to introduce himself to the 6'5", 280 Seneca strongman, too. Stewart has participated in discus and shot for just two years and was "self-taught" in both events. Some recent training, coaching and adjustment on his throwing styles has paid dividends and he's really just beginning to reach his full potential. 


Also, Fern Creek's Billy Reid (Monique's little brother) won the 110 and 300 hurdles at the North Oldham events. Well done, Billy! 


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Churchill Downs offers Twilight Racing today for you thoroughbred fans. First post is 2:45 p.m. Live music in the paddock area and 11 chances to pick winners. We love Henny's Hurricane in the featured 10th. race along with Street Storm for the exacta play of the day. 


We'll try and catch a couple races before heading home to watch Softball on-line. Great weather for today, skip out of work a couple of hours early (it's Friday!) and take advantage of the food and drink specials available during Happy Hour. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and Happy Hour is actually three hours, starting at 4 p.m.


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