Sunday Cardinal Couple - Cards lose to Michigan, beat UK to reach finals.

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Cards defeat UK 3-2 to reach regional final


-Cards lose first game of the day to Michigan in extra innings 2-1

Cards hope to play two Sunday

The University of Louisville softball team defeated UK 3-2 Saturday night to reach to finals of the NCAA Regionals at Ulmer Stadium. The win comes following an opening game loss to Michigan 2-1 to put the Cards in the losers bracket of the double elimination tournament. Louisville will face Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m. and must beat the Wolverines twice to advance to the Super Regionals. Here's the action from Saturday


MICHIGAN 2 - LOUISVILLE 1 


Michigan struck early against Caralisa Connell, scoring
their first run in the bottom of the second inning off two Cardinal fielding errors. A throwing error to first, walk and misplayed fielders choice loaded the bases for the Wolverines with one out. A sacrifice fly to right produced the run. Connell fielded a come backer to the mound to end the Michigan threat. 

Wagner gets the win..aided by some Cardinal
errors and a blown call. 

Louisville just couldn't get untracked against freshman Michigan pitcher Haylee Wagner. The Cards got two hits off her in the top of the third and had runners on the corners in the fourth with one out..but couldn't push a run across and remained silent until the top of the seventh after that. 


Louisville, faced with their potential last at-bat, started the seventh with a Alicja Wolny double to center field. Kirsten Straley came in to pinch run, went to third on a wild pitch and scored to tie the game on a Jordan Trimble sacrifice fly to center with one out. 


Tori Collins took the circle in the bottom of the seventh and allowed a single but kept the Wolverines from scoring and the game went into extra innings. 


The Cards went scoreless in the top of the eighth and Chelsea Leonard took the ball in the bottom of the inning and had an apparent second out of the inning on a throw from Kristin Austin to third following a Wolverine single that looked like it got to Katelyn Mann in time to tag out the runner. 

Third base umpire Steve McCrillis called the runner safe, though... a highly controversial call that infuriated the Cardinal fans and dugout. ESPN replays showed the throw and tag in time..but there is no instant replay in women's college softball and the call stood. That set the stage for Michigan to win when a Leonard pitch hit Michigan's Caitlin Blanchard and the runner automatically advanced from third to end the game.


The Cards were now faced with having to play the 8:30 nightcap against the winner of the next game... UK vs Valparaiso...in an elimination game. 


UK defeated the Crusaders 5-4 to advance and the stage was set for the nightcap.


LOUISVILLE 3 - KENTUCKY 2

The Cards batted first in contest and touched UK pitcher Chandra Bell for three first inning runs. After Jennifer Esteban started the game with a single...Alicja Wolny blasted one over the left field fence to give the Cards a 2-0 lead. Louisville added a third run in the inning when Fowler walked, Trimble singled and Maggie Ruckenbrod walked to fill the bases. A wild pitch to Katelyn Mann allowed Fowler to cross the plate and the Cards led 3-0. 


Tori Collins entered the circle for UofL and kept UK scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. Brittany Cervantes singled to start the inning and two outs later UK catcher Joyner Griffin sent one out over the center-field fence to make it 3-2 Louisville. 


Collins and reliever Chelsea Leonard teamed up to keep the Cats scoreless in the final two innings to eliminate UK from the regional and send the Cardinals to the finals. 

Two wins over Michigan Sunday will give the Cards the title. Not impossible, but the Cards will need to find a little more production at the plate. Michigan has given up only three runs in two games behind the pitching of their freshman Wagner. Louisville has scored 10 runs in three games...but only one against the Wolverines. 


Good day for a double-header tomorrow. Sweep 'em Cards! 


We'll have a full recap of (hopefully) both Louisville games and wins tomorrow.


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I'll Have Another wins again

I'll Have Another pulled off another flying finish to nip Bodemeister in the Preakness today. Once again, just like in the Kentucky Derby, "Bode" looked like he was going to hang on to the lead and win...but the rapidly closing style of I'll Have Another prevailed again. 

Bodemeister second best again

A chance for a Triple Crown winner if I'll Have Another can take the Belmont in three weeks. 


The expected challenges from Went the Day Well, Creative Cause and the rest of the field of 11 runners never materialized. Bode and I'll Have Another were eight lengths in front of the rest at the wire...and just a head apart from each other.


WE'D be surprised if Bob Baffert tries the Belmont with Bodemeister. Longer race and Bodemeister just can't seem to hold on in anything over a 1 1/8th. 


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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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Friday Cardinal Couple - Five Cards named to Regional Softball team

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Five Softball Cards named to National FastPitch Coaches 2012 All Great Lakes Region team.


-NCAA Regional starts today at Ulmer with Kentucky vs. Michigan. 


-Preakness picks

Five players from the University of Louisville softball team have been named to the 2012 All Great Lakes Regional team. Tori Collins, Alicja Wolny, Kristin Austin and Taner Fowler were First Team selections and Katie Keller was named to the Second Team. 


They'll take the field tonight with their teammates to face Valparaiso at 7 p.m. in 1st round play of the NCAA Regional Tournament at Ulmer Stadium....the second game of the day.


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The day opens with Michigan and Kentucky doing battle at 4:30 p.m. Today's games will be shown on ESPN2, with Beth Mowins and Jessica Mendoza providing the broadcast dialogue. I guess they wanted to share Jennie Finch with other parts of the nation...


Michigan 

The Wolverines come into the regionals fresh off their fifth straight Big 10 softball title. Amassing a 39-15 record, UM looks for a repeat of last year, when the defeated Kentucky in Ann Arbor to advance to the Super Regionals. 


In the circle, Michigan is led by Haylie Wagner. She has a 29-5 record this season and a 1.55 ERA. When the Wolverines step up to the plate, watch for Amanda Chidester. She lifted nine home runs over the fences this year and had a team best .354 batting average. 


Kentucky

 A bit of a drop off this year for the Wildcats in the extremely competitive world of SEC Softball...UK went 29-28 on the season and finished fourth in the SEC Eastern Division. They also lost twice to Louisville during regular season play. 


Delivering the ball to home plate will most likely Chandra Bell. She's posted a 16-11 record so far this year and checks in with an ERA of 2.72. Or, the Cats could turn to Rachel Riley..who did beat Michigan once last season. 

Stepping into the batter's box and threatening the fences for UK will be Brittany Cervantes. She's said "Goodbye, Mr. Spalding" 13 times this season...tops for the Cats...and has a .319 batting average. Kara Dill leads UK with a .359 average and has scored 37
runs for Big Blue. 


Michigan Blue vs. UK Blue today...for the right to advance in the winners bracket and play either Louisville or Valparaiso. We'll go out on a limb here and predict that it'll be Wolverines vs. Cardinals advancing and playing in the first game Saturday. 


Great weather for softball today. Hope you can either get out and root for the Cards...or at least follow them on "the Deuce". We'll be back Saturday with reports on both games. L1C4, baby ! 


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I'll Have Another won the Derby, but he may not
be the favorite for the Preakness.

The Preakness will be run at 6:20 p.m. Saturday and 11 horses will break from the starting gate in hopes of capturing the second leg of the Triple Crown. Will I'll Have Another repeat his Derby winning performance? Can Bodemeister hang on this time and grab the Black Eyed Susan bouquet? Or is there another of the 3 year olds out there that will lay claim to the winners' circle at Pimlico? 


Here are our predictions for the race. We give them to you a day early, so you'll have plenty of time to scratch them from your picks and come up with the likely winner. Hit it, maestro! 


Paul

Bodemeister will win the Preakness as
the betting favorite. 

" I think we see Bodemeister try to go wire-to-wire again...it's the style he prefers...and with the shorter distance and tighter turns on Pimilco Race Track, I think he'll hit the wire first Saturday. I do expect I'll Have Another to be flying late again and should be a very close second. Went the Day Well also closed well in the Derby and he's my show choice. I'll use Creative Cause to fill out the Superfecta. I'm being Captain Obvious here, but at least it's a promotion from the buck private role I usually play." 


Sonja

Sonja actually liked Derby Trial winner Hierro
but he was not entered for the Preakness

" I'm going 'price' in the Preakness and taking Creative Cause to win. Remember, he had to go eight horses wide in the stretch at the Derby to gain running room and with a smaller field and less early speed that'll be dying as the hit they Pimlico stretch...less trouble for Joel Rosario today and he's my longshot winner. He'll pass Bodemeister on the way to the wire...and ol' Bode hangs on for another second place finish. I'll Have Another will be flying late, as he normally does, but Saturday it'll get him third place. I'll go Teeth of the Dog for fourth. Joe Bravo always rides well in Maryland and wouldn't surprise me at all if he does better."


Good luck, enjoy the race and remember our selections are for entertainment purposes only. 
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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE...CARDS WILL HOST SOFTBALL REGIONALS

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Louisville hosts Valparaiso, KENTUCKY and Michigan in NCAA Softball Regionals


-The Top 16 in NCAA Regionals



-Reid, Gibbs officially eligible for 2012-13 season


The University of Louisville will host one of the regional sites in the upcoming NCAA Softball Regionals that begin Friday, May 18th. Louisville will return to Ulmer Stadium and open play against Valparaiso (42-17) at 7 p.m. Friday evening. 


The other participants in the Regional are the Kentucky Wildcats (29-28) and Michigan (39-15). These two will square off at 4:30 p.m. Friday. 

A bit surprising that Louisville was the #15 seed after compiling a 53-3 record, winning both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles and being ranked in the top 10 most of the year. Nevertheless, a chance for at least two (and most likely more) games in front of the fans in Ulmer. 

Regional play is double elimination. The Cards would play a minimum of three games if they can win each time out. This is the third time in the last four years that Louisville has hosted the NCAA Regionals and ninth consecutive NCAA apperance for Sandy Pearsall's squad. 


All games will be shown on either ESPN 2 or ESPN 3


Louisville Regional


Friday, May 18th
Game 1 - Kentucky vs. Michigan - 4:30 p.m.
Game 2 - Louisville vs. Valparaiso - 7 p.m.


Saturday, May 19th
Game 3 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 6 p.m.


Sunday, May 20th
Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 - 1 p.m.
Game 7 - (if needed) Game 6 teams again - 3:30 p.m


Ticket Information
Adult All-Session $25.00
Child All-Session $15.00
Student/Senior Citizen All-Session $15.00
Adult Single Session $10.00
Child Single Session $7.00
Student/Senior Single Session $7.00
Group and Berm: $5.00 Single Session only


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Here are the top 16 teams, who will host Regionals, out of the field of 64: 


1) California                            9) Missouri
2) Alabama                            10) Georgia
3) Arizona St.                        11) Oregon
4) Oklahoma                         12) UCLA
5) Florida                              13) Arizona
6) Texas                               14) LA-Lafayette
7) Tennessee                        15) Louisville
8) Texas A&M                       16) Washington


From the BIG EAST, four other teams besides Louisville got in. Notre Dame goes to the Arizona regional. USF plays in the Florida regional. DePaul will

travel to the Missouri regional and Syracuse heads to Arizona State's regional. 

Top 16 heavy, of course, with SEC, PAC-12 and BIG 12 teams. Louisville and Louisiana-Lafayette the only two teams to host Regionals that aren't a member of those three conferences.  


If Louisville advances in their region, they would be in the Alabama Super Regional. Teams that are in the Alabama Regional are Alabama, UT Martin, South Alabama and Georgia Tech.

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We knew it all along, but the NCAA, per UofL Sports Information, has cleared UofL women's basketball players Monique Reid and Tia Gibbs to play in the 2012-13 season.

We think the season ahead could be something really special. Having Reid and Gibbs a part of it makes it even more exciting.

Now, who ya gonna start, Jeff? A good problem to have...
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Connell, Leonard combine for two hitter against Cats

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


 GAME REPORT - UofL 2 - UK 1


-Fowler's two RBI's lead Cards in nail-biter against UK.


-Shoni Schimmel, Bria Smith receive awards


-Lacrosse hosts Loyola, MD Thursday

The University of Louisville softball team survived a 90 minute rain delay and scary seventh inning against the University of Kentucky softball team Wednesday night to win 2-1 before 1294 fans at Ulmer Stadium. 


The largest crowd to ever watch softball at UofL got to see an exciting contest tonight -- a game that was in doubt until the final batter of the seventh inning. With the bases full, two out and the Cards clinging to a one run advantage...Caralisa Connell got UK pinch hitter Emily Jolly to fly out to left fielder Jennifer Esteban to give the Cards their 30th. win of the season.


After a 90 minute rain delay postponed the start of the in-state rivalry, the Cards took the field around 7:30 p.m. Sophomore Caralisa Connell started in the pitching circle for Louisville and rewarded those who waited around by retiring the Cats in order in the top of the first. 

Louisville struck early against UK starting pitcher Rachel Riley. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Katie Keller singled up the middle and scored on a Taner Fowler double that landed at the left center field fence. Alicja Wolny followed with a walk, giving Jordan Trimble two runners to plate...but Riley ended the inning by tossing a called third strike to the Manual High School star. 1-0 Cards after one.


Connell remained perfect in the second. After giving up a walk to Riley, Ginny Carroll lined a shot to second baseman Keller who completed the double play. Connell got O'Brien to pop up to end the visiting half of the second.


Louisville threatened in the bottom of the second when Maggie Ruckenbrod laced a one-out single to center. After a Whitney Arion fielder's choice retired Ruckenbrod, Jennifer Esteban singled to give Louisville runners at first and second. Kristin Austin took a called third strike next to get Riley out of the jam. 

UK went down in order in the top of the third to Connell. The Cards responded with a lead-off double from Keller and Fowler's second double of the game, a drive to center...plated Keller for the second time to make it 2-0. Louisville could do no more damage, though...as Wolny, Trimble and Kayla Soles all grounded out to the left side of the infield. 2-0 Cards after three innings. 


The wind had picked up at Ulmer as the fourth inning began, blowing straight in from left center and dropping the temperature into the mid-sixties. Caralisa Connell gave up a bad-hop single to Kara Dill to begin the fourth and Griffin Joiner beat out an infield tapper to give UK runners at first and second. Katie Keller helped get Connell out of the jam by snaring a Brittany Cervantes line drive and stepping on second to complete a double play. Connell got Riley to ground out to short to preserve the shut-out.


Chandra Bell took the pitching circle to face the Cards in the bottom of the fourth. After retiring Ruckenbrod and Arion, Esteban and Austin touched Bell for singles...but the Cards left two on base when Keller popped out to second. 

UK went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth. Louisville threatened again in the home half of the fifth when Jordan Trimble lined a Bell pitch down the right field line for a two out triple but was left stranded when Soles hit a shot directly at Lauren Cumbess at first to end the inning. It was still 2-0 Louisville after five and Cardinal fans were making a ton of racket out in the outfield berm area.


Chelsea Leonard replaced Connell at pitcher to begin the sixth inning and retired UK in order...three infield grounders for putouts. The Cards went down in order for the first time in the game in the bottom of the sixth.


That set up the scary seventh for UK. 


Joiner drew a walk to begin the inning. Cervantes followed suit and Tori Collins started warming up in the Cardinal bullpen. After going 2-0 to Riley, Sandy Pearsall had seen enough and went to the circle with UofL pitching coach Courtney Scott. Instead of bringing in Collins, though...the brain-trust decided to bring Connell back into the game. 

Connell got Riley to raise a lazy fly to right, but Austin misjudged the wind and dropped the ball. Bases full of Cats and no outs. Connell got Carroll to ground to Arion at short and the throw to Ruckenbrod at the plate was in time for the first out of the inning. O'Brien hit a chopper back to Connell and she tossed the orb back to Ruckenbrod for the second out. Emily Gaines waited Connell out and drew a walk which scored pinch runner Alicia Gustafson to cut the Cards lead in half. 


Bases still loaded and Cards desperately needing that final out. If one ever questioned the thrill and excitement of college sports, they needed to be at Ulmer Stadium last night in the seventh inning. the classic ball game scenario...bags full, two out, one run lead for the home team. Fortunately, Connell had an answer.


Emily Jolly lifted a fly to left that Esteban camped under to end the threat, inning and game. 2-1. CARDS WIN, CARDS WIN!


Good pitching (except for the seventh) tonight for the Cards...allowing just two UK hits. Connell struck out four Wildcats in six innings, to get the win. She goes to 10-1 on the season. Chelsea Leonard had a good sixth inning for Louisville but nearly pitched her way into her first loss of the season. Shake it off and come back strong next time "Lenny". 


Louisville got nine hits off the UK hurlers, Esteban, Fowler and Keller with two each. Louisville left seven runners on base...or this one could have been a bigger Cardinal win.


A great night for a ballgame after the rains left and thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE reader Micki G. for the entertainment and beverages out on the outfield berm. 


Louisville returns to action Friday with a doubleheader against Rutgers at Ulmer. First pitch is noon.

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Freshman Bria Smith and sophomore Shoni Schimmel earned postseason honors today for Jeff Walz's Louisville Cardinals. Smith was named a FULL COURT Third team Freshman and Schimmel was selected for the WBCA Region 1 First team. 

Smith is the second Cardinal to make the FULL COURT freshman squad...Shoni getting the honors last season. Bria finished the season third in scoring for UofL with 9.2 ppg and third in rebounding with 4.5 rpg. Her 1.9 steals per contest were second on the Cardinal squad. She was also selected to the All-BIG EAST Freshman team.

Shoni led Louisville in scoring, assists and steals this year. She was a first team All-BIG EAST selection. 


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Louisville lacrosse hosts Loyola, MD at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium Thursday at noon. The Cards (3-6, 1-1) enter the game after defeating Cincinnati on the road last week. 


The Greyhounds (7-3, 3-0) are #15 in the nation and beat Notre Dame last time out.
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Wednesday CARDINAL COUPLE. Congrats Baylor, Cletus and GO CARDS!

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Baylor "grinds" past Notre Dame 80-61


-Cards and Cats in Softball tonight


-Cletus (Michael Stewart) wins shot put

And so ends the 2011-12 NCAA Women's College Basketball season. A blowout in the championship game last night in the second half -- Baylor putting the clamps on the high octane Notre Dame offense, the Irish doing themselves no favors with Devereaux Peters and Skylar Diggins hampered with foul trouble and Natalie Novosel laying bricks all over the Pepsi Center court. 


It was a coronation, of sorts, for the first team to ever go 40-0 in college WBB and the crown goes directly on the head of Brittney Griner...who had 26 points and tons of rebounds and blocks in the dismantling of the Irish. The junior dominated play...Notre Dame had no answers to stop her and Odyssey Sims curtailed Diggins enough to ensure that Waco, TX. is where the championship trophy will reside for 12 months. 

(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

Diggins tried to rally her troops, down by just six at the half and within three early in the final twenty minutes. Her 20 points led UND. It was not nearly enough. 


The question has to come up. Should Griner skip her senior year and go the professional ranks? There's money out there in the WNBA (not a lot for first year players but the down the road potential is there). There's also the lucrative overseas leagues...where Griner could haul down $500,00 to $1 million a year in China, Russia or Turkey. Got to be some endorsement dinero floating out there as well...another $100,000-$200,000 a year?


Or, does she stay for her senior season and try to get her team to 80-0 and another NCAA title? Couldn't hurt the asking price for her services, could it? 

Candace Parker made the jump a few years back...so there is a precedent. Does one make hay while the sun shines? Grab the benjamins or risk a possible career-ending injury while balling for the Bears next year? 


Her recent statements are politically correct and indicate no dalliance planned with the pros. Check back in 10 days and see what tune she's dancing to...just in case.  


UCLA holds the college basketball record with 88 straight wins. Kim Mulkey would have to schedule nine more games for 2012-13 to beat it...something highly improbable and probably impossible under NCAA scheduling guidelines. 


Deep thoughts and ponderings ahead for the 6'8" powerhouse. Down the road...a probable invite to join the USA team in the Olympics. The WNBA Draft is April 16th.

So, the clock ticks. WE here at CARDINAL COUPLE think the "the Grinder" should continue academia and get her degree. 
And, a lot of women's basketball fans in the Lone Star state probably agree. 


Here's one more (hopefully the final) link about Kentucky fans and their rowdy celebration ways. 


Cats tip over west Virginia


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Skies permitting, the University of Louisville softball team will face Kentucky tonight at 6 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium. #12-13 Louisville comes into the game at 29-2, 4-2 BIG EAST after a less than enjoyable weekend in the Windy City...where they dropped two out of three to DePaul. 


The Cats (16-19) followed suit, failing in two out of three against #10 Tennessee in Knoxville. 

The game is a 'PACK THE PARK, RED OUT' promotion. Louisville is trying to break the single game softball attendance record of 1,134. All fans are encouraged to attend Ulmer Stadium tonight and wear red. Tickets are $5 for reserved seating, or you can go the outfield berm route and watch for free. Tickets may be purchased by calling 502.852.5151. 

The contest will be televised by WHAS and can be seen on 11.2 for those of you with the digital capabilities. It will also be on Insight 432 and Comcast 207. Affable Sean Moth will handle the play-by-play and Edward Norton  Patty Norton will provide excellent color commentary. 


Louisville defeated UK last week in Lexington 1-0. The all-time series is in favor of Louisville 15-13. 


GO YOU SOFTBALL CARDS! 


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Congratulations to Seneca senior Michael Stewart (aka Cletus Pancake) for winning the shot put yesterday in a meet at Fern Creek High School. Stewart's first toss of 43'8" was sufficient to beat the field of twelve by over three feet.


Competitors from Seneca, Fern Creek, Manual and Jeffersontown were also scheduled to battle in the discus but no one could find a tape measure long enough to accurately record the throws...so the event was cancelled.
Discus is Stewart's preferred and probably his best event and he was the prohibitive favorite in yesterday's scheduled contest.

"I was a little disappointed that we didn't throw discus today. I was warming up great for the discus and felt like I might have a 160 or 170 in me today. I'm happy with the shot put win, though and also proud of my teammate Ollie who finished fourth in the shot. I think I'll start carrying my own tape measure around with me to meets." Stewart told CARDINAL COUPLE after the event.

Stewart is still weighing several offers from colleges and universities, but a decision could come as early as next week. The football/track and field star is 6'6" and weighs 285. Hunting, watching television, working with grade school football programs and hanging with friends are some of his favorite activities. 


Congratulations to "Big Stu" for the first of what we're certain will be many top finishes in track events this spring and summer! 
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