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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Softball goes to 17-0 with Saturday wins


-Manual holds off Marion County 58-54 to win Kentucky Girls State Tournament title.


-Congratulations to Louisville men's hoops...the BIG EAST Tournament winner. 


-Look what we've done now...and other tidbits.


Louisville softball went to 17-0 on the season with two wins Saturday in the Red and Black Tournament at Ulmer Stadium. 

Alicja Wolny's two run homer in the 5th inning ended the
first game. (Photo @howielindsey)

The first victim was the St. Louis Billikens, who fell 9-0 to the Cards in five innings. Louisville jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With one out, Kristin Austin drew a walk, Katie Keller doubled and Taner Fowler drove in Austin with a sharply hit single. Another single from Alicja Wolny filled the bases. Jordy Trimble's single scored Keller and Hannah Kiyohara singled to drive in Fowler and Trimble. Whitney Arion took it from 4-0 to 6-0 with a single that brought in Wolny and Trimble to close the inning's run production.


Louisville added another run in the second when Austin led off with a triple and scored on Fowler's second single of the day. 


The Cards won the game in the bottom of the fifth with the mercy rule...Taner Fowler collecting her second single of the day and coming home on Wolny's  fence clearing blast which made it 9-0 and ended the game.  


Caralisa Connell picked up her fifth win of the year, going all five innings and allowing two hits while striking out three Billiken batters. 


Michigan was next and Louisville got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Whitney Arion's single to left scored Katelyn Mann, who had reached on a fielder's choice. 


The Cards went up 2-0 in the fourth when Trimble doubled to open the inning and got to the plate on a Mann sacrifice fly. 


Tori Collins started for Louisville at pitcher and gave up the lone Michigan run in the top of the fifth. She went five innings, getting eight strikeouts, allowing a run and scattered four hits. Kristin Austin made the fielding play of the day in the fifth inning...chasing down a deep fly to right-center with runners at first and third and two outs. Her catch got the Cards out of the inning. 

Caralisa Connell won today (Photo @howielindsey)

Chelsea Leonard came in for the final two innings, striking out three, allowing two hits and issuing two walks....getting her first save of the year. The Wolverines threatened in the top of the seventh with one out...a walk, then an interference call on a grounder had runners on first and second. Leonard struck out the next batter, though and got the final UM batter to ground out to Keller. 


This Cardinal softball team is something special. The stands were full yesterday to watch them play. I estimated the crowd to be around 800 or so. This group delivers on the mound and at bat...as well in the field. I think Sandy Pearsall "slow played" me earlier this year when she told me that the team's youth and inexperience was going to be a worrying point. Here's how a couple of those "youth" are doing...


--Whitney Arion, FR, .333 average and 3 home runs.
-- Katie Keller, SO, .333 average and 3 home runs.
--Taner Fowler, SO, .440 average and 5 home runs.


Pearsall has 18 players on the roster, 4 freshmen, 7 sophomore, 4 juniors and 3 seniors. Pearsall starts two freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and a senior. 
The Cards get a rematch with St. Louis Sunday at 3 p.m.


(Does anyone know how to rotate pictures? Obviously, we don't.) 


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Manual High School is the 2012 Kentucky Girls High School Basketball State Tournament champions defeating Marion County 58-54 Saturday night. 

Manual celebrates the win. (AP photo)

Manual got to the finals with a semifinal win over Paul Dunbar 84-55. Marion County punched their ticket by defeating Lincoln County 61-40. 


April Wilson had 23 for the winners and LeAsia Wright added 21. For Marion County, Makayla Epps had 23 and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers finished with nine points and nine rebounds. 


At the half it was Manual 30-23. Marion County rallied to take a 41-40 lead in the third quarter and drew within one at 52-51 with 1:51 left in the contest but Manual scored six of the final nine points of the game. 


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Congratulations to the Louisville men's basketball squad winning the BIG EAST Tournament 50-44. A defensive struggle and low scoring affair, it is the lowest point total in the final game in BIG EAST Tournament history. Peyton Siva was named MVP.


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Don't forget about the CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA Women's Basketball Bracket Challenge! You can enter by clicking on the computer in the picture at the top, left corner of the site. 


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You can now access CARDINAL COUPLE as a straight dot.com site. That's right...we are now available at www.cardinalcouple.com . No need to type blogspot in there anymore. 


You can still access it that way if you want, but...hey, save eight keystrokes if you wish. 


www.cardinalcouple.com
www.cardinalcouple.blogspot.com


Two ways to get here, but the same outstanding journalism we hope to achieve someday no matter how you type it. 


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The University of Louisville women's basketball team will have a Selection Viewing and Party Monday night at the PNC Plaza in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium from 6-8 p.m. Season ticket holders were sent letters about it. Meet the Lady Cards, eat, drink and do the funky chicken and watch with Walz to see where the team gets sent and seeded. WE'LL have one or more of the intrepid CARDINAL COUPLE writers there and several readers have indicated that they're attending..so storm the gates and capture the flag, troops! 


Due to previously scheduled commitments, Sonja and I cannot attend, but we'll be watching the process on ESPN and hope for a favorable seed, close location and beatable opponent. Are we asking too much here? Nashville sounds pretty good to us, eh?
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Manual, Marion County advance in KHSAA Girls Tourney

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SATURDAY with the COUPLE:


-Semifinals set for KY. Girls Basketball Tournament


-Softball kicks off Red and Black Classic today


-Pitino's guys knock off Notre Dame advance to title game


-CARDINAL COUPLE "Pick Em" NCAA WBB Challenge


-Time to Spring forward...


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Marion County rolled past Hopkinsville in the quarterfinals yesterday in Bowling Green 67-30 to advance to the Kentucky High School Girls State Tournament semi-finals. Makayla Epps and Patrice Tonge had 18 each in the win. The Lady Knights finished the first half on a 10-0 run and the rout was on. They led by 40 early in the final quarter and are now on a 14 game win streak. Marion County gets Lincoln County today for a chance to go to the finals tonight. 


--Lincoln County earned their shot at the semi-finals with a 72-59 win over Magoffin County. They led by 10 in the first quarter but Magoffin County rallied to make it 40-36. Magoffin's leading scorer Jamie Castle had a shot blocked with a chance to cut it to two and hit the floor hard, spraining an ankle. She had to be carried off the court, finishing with 18 points. Emily Fox led Lincoln with 21.


Player to keep track of: 8th. grader Jazzy Howard had 21 points for Magoffin County in the loss.

--Louisville Manual demolished Montgomery County 71-33 in  quarterfinal action. Balanced scoring for the Crimsons...Kara Wright was one of three in double figures with 13 points. The Crimsons led by 14 at half and by 40 with a minute left in the game. They advance to play Lexington Paul Dunbar today...who ruined the chances for an all-Louisville semi-final match-up by knocking off Louisville Butler 70-52.


--Lexington Paul Dunbar took control early in this quarter-final contest and got 21 points from Morgan McEldowney (16 in the first half) in their win over the Bearettes. Louisville Butler could only manage 32.1% from the floor in their 10th. loss of the season. Danielle Lawrence finished with 16 in a losing effort. 


They wrap it up today in Bowling Green with two morning sessions (Marion County vs Lincoln County and Manual vs. Paul Dunbar) and the final tonight. Marion County defeated Lincoln 63-35 in regular season play. We'd love to see a Marion County vs. Manual rematch...they faced off back in January and the Lady Knights escaped with a 63-61 win over Manual...Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers had 16 each for Marion County in the two-point thriller. 


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Cardinal softball hosts the Red and Black Tournament starting today at Ulmer Stadium. The Louisville sluggers will play four games in three days...starting with an 11:00 a.m. first pitch against St. Louis this morning.


Sandy Pearsall's diamond dwellers are 15-0 on the season and are 16/17 in the polls. Kristin Austin leads the team with a .469 batting average. The senior outfielder had five triple and three doubles on the season. She's followed closely by sophomore Taner Fowler at .440. Fowler has launched five over the fence this year -- a team high -- and driven in 16 runs. 

Louisville pitching this year just may be the best in Pearsall's 12 years as Cardinal skipper. The combined staff of Torrid Tory Collins, Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard have an ERA of 1.23, seven shutouts, 140 strikeouts an a no-hitter to their credit. 


St. Louis (11-9) comes into today's game after going 1-3 in the Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. They lost to Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State by a combined score of 21-2. They did manage a win over SEMO 5-4 in eight innings. 


First pitch at 11 a.m. The Cards play again at 1 p.m. against Michigan (15-5). The Wolverines are 15-1 lifetime against Louisville and won in Ulmer last year 2-0. Time for a little payback, ladies! 


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NO! Not the Pitino again! 

WE don't normally go here, but...


Congratulations to the University of Louisville men's basketball team and their win over Notre Dame last night! The men advance to the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament to play arch-rival Cincinnati tonight. 


Are we back in Conference USA? 


UC defeated #2 in the nation Syracuse to reach the final...in overtime. UC head coach was a Pitino assistant before landing his first head coaching job at Murray State. WE always like to refer to him as Rick's "mini-me". 

Mick and wife appear interested in something.
Maybe an Austin Powers movie? 

"It's a hard, hard life..."

Cronin came to Louisville after serving as Bobby Huggins assistant at UC. From Cincinnati, Mick's dad Mutt Cronin was a legendary and successful high school and AAU coach in the area for years. The Cronin move to Louisville raised a few eyebrows, but Cronin claims he and "Hugs" are still good friends. Cronin finally made it back home when he accepted the head coaching position (I almost typed 'head job' in here but...hey, I did anyway!) and this is UC's first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament title game. The Bearcats did defeat Louisville earlier in the season at Cincinnati 60-56. 

Good luck CARDS! 


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Selection Monday will provide us with the match-ups in the NCAA Women's College Basketball Tournament. That doesn't mean that you have to wait until then to sign up for the CARDINAL COUPLE Pick 'Em Challenge, though! 


YAHOO! Sports is where our group's bracket (CARDINAL COUPLE) is...and it's really quite easy to sign up and be a part of it. You can even register with your Facebook, Google or Yahoo information automatically, if you want.


When you do, keep in mind that our Group ID is 814 and our password is ladycards. 

Can you predict the future of NCAA WBB hoops? 

Under the auspices of Commissioner Schneider, blessings of Paul & Sonja and supervision of Bill the Goat, we feel that you'll revel in excitement as the rounds progress and you are locked in friendly competition with other CARDINAL COUPLE readers and foreign dignitaries. 


Link to get you there below. Whaddya waiting for? Get over there, pronto...amigos! 


CARDINAL COUPLE WBB Challenge


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Just a friendly reminder from your insomniac friends here at  CARDINAL COUPLE. Remember to set you clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed. It's that time of year again. Or do it next week, in a month or so...whatever. They're your clocks, your call. We have the staff Chimps busily at work as we type this...identifying clock locations, accuracy and ownership throughout the entire CARDINAL COUPLE complex and auxiliary facilities area. (At least that's what we sent them out to do...results may vary).
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Ky. High School girls down to eight teams

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Manual, Butler, Marion County advance in play


-Meet UofL renaissance man -- Jared Stillman


-Michelle Clark-Heard in running for WKU job 


The Houchens Industries Kentucky Girls Basketball state tournament goes into its third day of action this afternoon with eight teams still alive and taking the court for another full slate of games on the Western Kentucky campus at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green. 


From yesterday:


--Hopkinsville 56 - Marshall County 52
--Lincoln County 56 - Clay County 50
--Magoffin County 63 - Ashland Blazer 59
--Marion County 56 - Walton-Verona 49

Louisville 2013 verbals Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers had big games for MCHS in their seven point triumph over Walton-Verona. Kyvin with 15 points an 12 rebound and Makayla totaling 14 points. The 32-4 Marion County squad advances to face Hopkinsville today. Jason Frakes of The Courier-Journal has an excellent article on the game. View it by clicking the link below.

Marion County advances to quarterfinals

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Meet Jared Stillman, man of many hats down on the UofL campus. One day he might be sitting at the end of the Lady Cards basketball bench, taking care of duties as a student manager. Or, you might find him doing interviews with Cardinal athletes for CARDS TV. 
That's him up in the press box at Ulmer Stadium-- handling the public address announcer duties for Cardinal softball. It wouldn't surprise us if he rakes the infield in between innings and hawks a few programs out by the front gate. 


The senior from Nashville is one of many college students across the nation that combines studies with full time duties assisting the athletic programs on campus. It's prep for the world after college and Jared fully intends of pursuing a career in the sports field upon graduation in May. 


"I think I can do this, and do it well. I listen to a lot of sports commentators and broadcasters out there and say to myself...'That's something I could handle and be good at.'" the affable Stillman told CARDINAL COUPLES Paul Sykes at a recent Louisville softball practice. 

"J-Bone" getting a framed acknowledgement of his
4 years of hard work at the Senior Day
ceremonies for UofL WBB.  (Photo courtesy of
Howie Lindsey. Louisville Sports Report)

To watch him prepping a player for an interview showed Paul that he has a casual, easy-going style and congeniality with the student-athletes. Louisville's Jordan Trimble rates him at "a 101" in a scale of 1-100 when it comes to professionalism and popularity with the players.


"Jared does so many things to help and assist me in my duties." UofL assistant sports information director Lori Korte insists. "He's always ready and willing to do whatever needs to be done." 


Softball star Taner Fowler sees it this way. 'We don't want him to leave us after he graduates. I can't imagine playing softball here and not having him around." 


The future is bright, indeed, for the "J-Bone". Whether it's assisting Coach Walz with duties in Hartford or making off-the-cuff hilarious comments, quips and impersonations between innings at a UofL home softball game, Mr.Stillman has the bases covered.


He's a "solid" fixture around the Belknap Campus and we hope he can stay connected with the UofL sports programs well past receiving his diploma. Wherever he ends up, he'll do well and be successful.


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Mary Taylor Cowles was relieved of her head coaching duties at Western Kentucky University Thursday. She was the Hilltoppers had coach for 10 years and complied a record of 199-119. She headed the team to six straight 20+ win seasons early in her career but reached that plateau only once in the last four years. 


Ross Bjork, AD at Western, says he's "looking to restore confidence, public support and energy back into the women's basketball program and will begin the process of finding a replacement immediately". 


(Sounds like he needs to try some 5 Hour Energy)


One name that has surfaced as a potential candidate is Lady Cards assistant head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. She's no stranger to Hilltoppers hoops, having played there from 1987-1991 for Paul Sanderford and leading the team to four straight NCAA appearances and two Sun Belt titles. Heard also coached with Sanderford and Jeff Walz at Nebraska and was the head women's basketball coach at Kentucky State for two years. 

Michelle leaving Louisville for WKU? 

During her second season at KSU, her 2007 squad was the second most improved team in NCAA D II women's basketball with a record of 19-9. She was named SIAC Coach of the Year honors that year, too. 


She re-joined Jeff Walz as a member of his first coaching staff when Walz took the Louisville job prior to the start of the 2007-08 season. A Louisville Atherton graduate, Michelle earned Kentucky High School State Player of the Year honors in 1986. 


We hate to see good assistants leave. Michelle is definitely one of those and her coaching skills are a valuable part of the Louisville women's basketball program. If chosen, though, Western will be getting one of the best in the business in Michelle. 
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Lacrosse falls to Northwestern

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


SIGN UP FOR THE CARDINAL COUPLE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT CHALLENGE! 


-Lacrosse battles Northwestern


-What's up with Monny


-KY Girls high school basketball tournament


That's right, readers! CARDINAL COUPLE is having a NCAA Women's Tournament Challenge!! Amaze your friends, baffle your enemies and impress the in-laws with your knowledge of women's college basketball! Or, just enter for the fun of it and, hey...it's free!


Hosted by Yahoo and with commissioner Mark Schneider, a regular CARDINAL COUPLE reader and all about man-around-town, you can win a 
$25 Panera Card if your bracket is the best! Click the link below to get started and registered.


 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvLINKvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv


Cardinal Couple NCAA Women's Tourney Challenge


^^^^^^^^^^^^^LINK^^^^^^^^^^^^^^




A couple of things you'll need to get started:


OUR GROUP ID# is:   814
OUR PASSWORD is:   ladycards


You can sign in with Facebook, Google or 
Yahoo! accounts if you want and it easy to check your results and standings. WE'LL also provide regular updates. You DON'T have to use these if you don't want to...but they make it pretty easy to get started.


E-mail us if you have any difficulties and we'll forward them to our Commish (who is monitoring the massive "L" spotlight shining atop the KFC YUM! Center over the fair Louisville skies).


Have fun, choose wisely and always use your turn signals when changing lanes. 


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The University of Louisville Lacrosse squad hosted last year's national champions Northwestern on a windy Wednesday at the Lacrosse Stadium on the UofL campus but came up on the short end of a 16-7 score. 


Kellie Young's young squad got off to a good start against the Wildcats, battling them to a 4-2 score before a late first half 7-0 run gave Northwestern a 11-2 edge at halftime. 

The Cards battled strongly against the Wildcats in the final half of action...playing them to a 5-5 tie in the second half. 


Eleni Kozas led Louisville with three goals. Jamie Redding added two for the Cards. 


With the loss, Louisville is now 1-3 on the season, with losses to Ohio State and Old Dominion and a win over Longwood. Louisville departs on a five-game road trip next, starting with a match against Presbyterian on Saturday.


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Point guard from France having a
impressive season for Lindsey Wilson

CARDINAL COUPLE writer Jenny sends this link about UofL WBB target Monny Niamke, who is playing her freshman season at Lindsey Wilson. WE don't like the fact that she had to sit out the first half of a game because of a violation of team rules...but we can't say much more on that because we don't know exactly what she did. The article doesn't portray her as a "lock" to show up on the UofL campus this fall, either...but a source down on the Belknap Campus assures us that she'll be in Cardinal Red and Black.


Monny producing for Lindsey Wilson


Also, in Lady Cards related info, Monique Reid reports that her knee is at 70%. A cause for celebration. 



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Action began today in Bowling Green, KY in the Kentucky Girls High School Basketball Tournament. 

--Louisville Butler had a rougher time than expected against Glasgow but eventually won 54-49.


--Lexington Paul Dunbar pulled the upset over Boone County 72-70 in overtime. Boone's Sydney Moss had 41 in the loss. 


--Louisville Manual knocked off Perry County Central 50-41. 


-- Montgomery County knocked off Muhlenberg County 60-43. Macie Spencer had 18 for the winners. 

Louisville 2013 commits Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers play tomorrow in first round action in the annual Sweet Sixteen. They face Walton-Verona at 1:30 Thursday. 


Thanks to CARDINAL COUPLE "detective" Mark Schneider for the live broadcast link below...


Girls High School Basketball Tournament

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Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, Makayla Epps verbal to UofL Women's basketball

SPECIAL EDITION: TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Epps, Goodin-Rogers verbal to Lady Cards

They may just be finishing their sophomore years, but Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers have

Kyvin Goodin-Rogers had 95 blocked
shots as a sophomore at Marion County.

a pretty firm grasp of the future. They announced verbals to the University of Louisville women's basketball team. The talented duo from Marion County High School in Lebanon, KY. are widely considered two of the best in the Class of 2013 basketball nationwide... not to mention Kentucky...and it looks like UofL head coach Jeff Walz has cleared the bases again with another recruiting triumph.

Epps is a steady, play-making
guard for Marion County.





Both have already played four years of high school basketball, beginning as 7th graders, and have shown interest in the Cardinals since freshmen. They've made visits to the UofL campus, played in AAU events there and are a part of the Kentucky Premier Select team...where they played on the same team as Cardinal signee Sara Hammond last summer.

Makayla is a 5'10" guard and the daughter of former UK men's basketball player Anthony Epps. She averaged over 16 points a game in both her freshman and sophomore years and she's been selected for the Courier-Journal Kentucky girls All-State team the last two years.

Kyvin is a 6'1" front line player who is the daughter of former UofL men's basketball player Tick Rogers. She averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as a sophomore and 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds as a freshman. She's also a two-time Courier-Journal Kentucky girls All-State team  selection.

The continued success story of Walz on the national and local recruiting scenes is unheralded in the history of UofL women's basketball. "Walz Ball" was a big factor in the girls' early verbals to the Cardinals, according to their head coach at M.C.H.S. Trent Milby:

"The system fits them both," Milby told the Courier-Journal. "They fell in love with Walz from day one. We went up there in November of their freshman year and I think from that day on they knew they wanted to go there." 

Louisville coaches cannot comment on verbal commitments until letters of intent are received and both Epps and Goodin-Rogers won't be able to sign those until November 2012.   

WE have been telling our readers here at CARDINAL COUPLE about these two since our inception of the site...and over at UofL Card Game before that. WE felt early on that the commitment level and interest levels in the Lady Cardinal basketball program was high and that both would eventually end up as Walz players. The nature of verbal commitments, being what they are, sometimes change...but WE feel these two are solid and you'll see both in UofL uniforms in the 2013-14 season.

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Girls Sweet Sixteen, Softball plays 2 today

saturday AT cardinal couple....

-Hammond, Rockcastle Co. advance to semis.

-Louisville softball today

-McCarty gets third in weight toss.

-The Sweet Sixteen of Sideline reporter marches on.

-Watson reviews Cards vs. Notre Dame

-Springer invades the BIG APPLE.

Wow...a busy day here at CARDINAL COUPLE...let's get right to it!

-Sara Hammond (pic above) had 15 points and 13 boards as Rockcastle County claimed a berth in the Kentucky Girls' High School Basketbal Tournament. Rockin' Rockcastle sent Clay County home with a 47-30 decision. Angie Lawrence added 13 for Rockcastle (34-1)...who gets Calloway County in the semifinals this morning.

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-Calloway County (32-1) overcame a Sheldon Clark 28-26 halftime lead to earn an entry to the Final four...winning 62-51. Averee Fields stays on fire with 22 points for the Mountaineer signee.

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-Louisville Manual (32-4) started the fourth quarter with an 8-1 run to pull away from Bowling Green and make the semifinals. They beat B.G. 48-36. Another balanced team effort for the Crimsons. They get Marion County in the semis for their efforts.

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-Marion County (27-6) kept Louisville Butler from hanging around for Saturday hoops with a 41-26 drubbing of the Bearettes. University of Louisville targets Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (12 points and nine boards) and Makayla Epps (10 points) led the way for the Lebanon, KY hoopsters.

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Manual, Marion County, Rockcastle County and Calloway County. This is going to be an exciting day of hoops. Almost 8000 watched the quarterfinals yesterday in Western Kentucky University's E.A. Diddle Arena. Probably could have doubled that if they'd moved it to the KFC YUM Center. Are ya listening KHSAA?

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Cardinal Softball in action at the Ulmer today...Louisville Softball Classic. Three games scheduled....starting with (12-6) Louisville vs. (22-0) Michigan. The Cards play again at 4 p.m. against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University. Keep bringing those big bats...Bemis, Wolny and Esteban. All three are hovering around the .400 mark at the plate. Admission is free..get out and enjoy the sunshine and take in the action on the UofL campus. We'll have reports for you, as always, here at CARDINAL COUPLE.

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D'Ana McCarty grabbed third in the weight toss at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Texas A&M's Gillam Indoor Stadium. McCarty's toss of 22.28m was just behind the winning throw of 22.69m of Indiana State's Felicia Johnson and Southern Illinois' Jeneva McCall's toss of 22.46.

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Khadija Abdullah and McCarty compete in the finals of the shot put today for the Cards. The University of Louisville...we have girls who can throw things a long way...

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Allison Williams obliterated Jeanine Edwards in the Sideline reporters round of sixteen yesterday...sponsored by the fine folks at CARDINAL COUPLE. Edwards garnered only two votes in the whitewash. Probably Billy Gillespie and Ron Franklin. Today's match-up pits Alex Flanagan (left) versus Bonnie Bernstein (right). Flanagan was a part of the four letter network until she sashayed over to the NFL Network. Bernstein still prowls the sidelines for CBS. We think this one is too close to call...Paul and Sonja going with Flanny and David Watson choosing "double B's". You can vote in the comments section here or at cardinalcouple@insightbb.com. Remember, 'neither of the two' is NOT a valid vote...

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DAVID WATSON with a few selected comments on Louisville's win over Notre Dame last night in the men's semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament:

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I don't know how they do it, these current birds in Pitino's nest. Seemingly out-played, out-shot, out-rebounded and out-coached. Pitino pulls another rabbit out of the hat and conjures up a win over these #4 in the nation Irish. Siva on the bench, everyone but assistant coach Steve Masiello with 3 or 4 fouls. And, all three bozo announcers ready to suit up and play for Notre Dame. Can we just give Preston Knowles the 'inspirational player of the year' title now?

(Cardinals mug it up with former President Bill Clinton after defeating the Irish)

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I love this team. Not because they're winning right now or because they're unselfish. They remind me of the little boy in the back yard, trying vainly to make the first basket of his life. Shot after shot falls short, doesn't quite get there and then one finally drops. The smile on his face, the un-describable joy pumping through the youngster. You never forget that first basket you make. I'll never forget this 2010-11 UofL basketball team. Bring on the Huskies!!

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(David Watson is out in the backyard right now...trying to drain threes like Kyle Kuric. So far, he's 0 for morning...)

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.Steve Springer and the family got to see a classic last night in Madison Square Garden . The Biggest Fan of the BIG EAST and his wife & kids are guests of Volvo for the tournament. They left Louiville yesterday and everything is "on the house" for the Springer's. New York during BIG EAST basketball tournament time is a exciting place to be and you can follow the Springer's trip over at http://www.uoflcardgame.com/. Attempts to get Paul in the luggage or introduce him as a long lost Uncle failed. Have a big time in the BIG APPLE, Steve and hit the Carnegie Deli and try a 'Woody Allen'. You won't be able to finish half of it..but you'll love every minute of trying.

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1st round Girls Sweet Sixteen, Softball today

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CARDINAL COUPLE : The Thursday Report


-Ist round Kentucky Girls Sweet Sixteen


-Softball at the Ulmer today


-Lovejoy selected BIG EAST Player of Week


-The Sideline Reporter Sweet Sixteen Continues.


-Pitino's Cards go tonight...referees blow it last night.
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-Where did WE fail?


Makayla Epps (pictured above) joined teammates Bre Edler and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers with 14 points each in a 55-41 win over Montgomery County in the Kentucky Girls Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament in Bowling Green, KY. yesterday. The Knights jumped out early on Montgomery Co. and led 32-20 at the half. They withstood an early second half run that cut it to 32-26 and led 47-31 after three quarters.
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Louisville Butler snuck by Perry County Central 42-40. The Bearettes trailed PCC late 40-39 after having a 10 point lead in the third quarter. PCC had a chance to beat or tie Butler with 7 seconds remaining but missed two shots in the paint.
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Louisville Manual blew Crittenden County out of the gym 78-40. This one was never close...the Crimsons led 22-8 after one and 57-25 after three quarters. Manual forced Crittenden into 12 first half turnovers...and played their bench most of the second half in the lopsided win.
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Bowling Green had an easy time with Walton-Verona...breezing to a 58-32 victory in the first game of the day. This one was still close at halftime...BG up 25-21...but Walton-Verona could only manage two 3rd quarter points and trailed 41-23 after three quarters.
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Four first round games scheduled today, including Rockcastle County and UofL signee Sara Hammond.
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UofL Softball plays Morehead State today at 4 p.m. over at Ulmer Stadium. The Cards will have the elements to contend with...mid 40's and a chance of rain...after two days of steady rain already. Would be a good day for the retractable dome that Sandy Pearsall teases about wanting for Softball. Dome closed today, of course.
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Liz Lovejoy has been selected BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week in lacrosse. She drove home five goals against Oregon and one against Old Dominion last week.
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Lovejoy, Emily Dashiell and Bergan Foley are three prolific scorers for Louisville Lacrosse and the Cards are undefeated this year in three games. The Cards travel to Georgia to play against Jacksonville next.
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Heather Cox survived a late charge from Shelly Smith and advances to the next round in CARDINAL COUPLE'S Sweet Sixteen Sideline Announcers Tournament. The willowly Cox will face odds on favorite Erin Andrews next.


The GOOSE. We think that he played football just as well as he handles sideline duties. We're pretty sure that he handles media buffets better than most. He goes up against the wily and sassy Kolber, who also trolls the football sidelines and may be best known for denying the advances of a drunk Joe Namath during a broadcast a couple of years ago. Kolber's reports always seem to have a cocky, self assured nature to them. Siragusa rambles on about anything that happens to cross his mind. It'll be interesting to see how this guy versus gal contest goes. One thing is for certain...you'd want Siragusa walking down a dangerous. dark alley with you and Kolber sidled up next to you while doing shots at your local tavern. You can vote in the comments section of today's edition or send your vote to cardinalcouple@insightbb.com

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Pitino's Cardinals get things underway tonight in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST men's tournament. The foe is Marquette, who beat WVU last night 67-61. The Golden Eagles trailed the Mountaineers by ten in the second half before staging the rally. WE think both Marquette and Bob Huggins' WVU squad are in the BIG DANCE. WE also think that the Cards will have their hands full with Marquette. Louisville was one and done in Madison Square Garden last year, losing to upstart Cincinnati and the Cards never seem to play all that great in New York, NY. Here's hoping they can plant Marquette in the Garden tonight. Game time is 9 p.m.
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How about that major screw up by the officials last night in the St. John's vs Rutgers game? The Johnnies clinging to a 2 point lead...get the ball back with a couple of seconds to go...and then Brownlee travels and steps out of bounds with time left on the clock. Then Brownlee the hurls the ball into the stands with time left on the clock. Three refs miss all three violations and allow the game clock to run out with no call. Really? If I were a Rutgers fan, and I kinda am...at least of the Lady Scarlet Knights, I'd be incensed. The sequence wasn't reviewable, either, according to NCAA Rules, because no violation was called to review. Deplorable.

(Update @ 11:49 A.M. The three referees involved in the snafu have voluntarily pulled out of any futher BIG EAST Tournament games. LOL. Means they'll send them to another conference...probably.)
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My personal "no call" best memory. Was playing in a JV game years ago when our guy is trying to inbounds a pass under our basket and gets frustrated and hurls the ball overhanded directly into the "midsection" of the guy defending him. Technical foul, right? Nope...our guy steps in bounds, picks the ball up, steps over the defender...who is now laying on the court...groaning and holding his "midsection"...and calmly takes and sinks a jumper. The other eight of us on the court are just standing there in bewilderment or double over in laughter. He then turns to run down court and steps directly on the guy's "midsection" again. No call, but they did have to stop the game, get the guy off the court and clean up a rather nasty puddle of vomit the dude produced. I still cringe when I think of that image...guy with his hands up trying to guard against an inbounds pass and gets a basketball hurled full force right directly in the "ol jewels". Ugh...
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An apology to our FaceBook friends...they are not currently accepting our link hookup articles and commentary lately under CARDINAL COUPLE or Paul's accounts. We're going to try under Sonja's. Not sure what we did wrong. Probably because we ignore all Farmville or Friend requests from bots and people we haven't heard of.


Update...LOL...and it worked. We'll post CARDINAL COUPLE articles under Sonja's facebook account until they block that one. Then...we'll create accounts for Bill the Goat, Co-Co and the staff Chimps if we have to.
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Cardinal Couple 1 - Facebook 0. Sonja gets the shutout win. Leggggoooooo!!!
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Softball sweeps two...Seton Hall in for hoops today

SATURDAY @ THE COUPLE:

-Softball takes two on Friday

-Seton Hall visits for final home game

-No Lacrosse today...

-Girls high school hoops.

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The University of Louisville softball team got off to a roaring start in the first day of the Red & Black Tournament with two wins...defeating SIUE 10-0 and Boston University 5-0. Tori Collins (photo above by Terry Jackson) tossed a one hitter in the Cards first home game. A smallish and rowdy crowd braved chilly weather to see the second and third games of the four games played yesterday at Ulmer Stadium.

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Louisville began the attack on SIUE in the second inning, keyed by a three run homer by Jordan Trimble to right field...part of a five run Cardinal effort. The Cards tacked on two more in the third when Taner Fowler smashed a base clearing double deep to left field, scoring Alicja Wolny and Maggie Ruckenbrod. In the fourth, Louisville added three more runs...highlighted by doubles from Chelsea Bemis and Wolny to make it 10-0.

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Collins was masterful in the win...striking out five while allowing just one hit. She worked her way out of potential Cougar scoring situations in the second and third. Trimble had three runs batted in for Louisville.

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In the second game...Caralisa Connell took the mound and got the shutout by allowing just four hits and striking out three BU batters. Louisville gained the lead early when Bemis poled a two run homer high over the left field fence in the first inning...scoring Trimble. The Cards added two more in the fifth when Jennifer Esteban singled and scored on a Trimble triple. Trimble touched the plate a few minutes later on a wild pitch. The Cards put an insurance run on the board in the sixth with back to back doubles from Wolny and Ruckenbrod.

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Early start for Louisville in today's game...Wright State at noon.

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The fact that Seton Hall is 1-13 in BIG EAST Womens Basketball play would lead one to assume that the Cards will romp by a bunch today in the KFC YUM Center and fans attending the 2 p.m.

game should expect nothing else...unless Walz empties the bench early and the Cardinal Bird ends up as Louisiville's only three point threat.

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Talk all you want about respecting each and every BIG EAST opponent, anyone can beat anyone on any given day and whatever other cliches and non-sequitors you want: the pure and basics facts of the situation are that Seton Hall is the worst team in the BIG EAST and Louisville smells the blood in the water.

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SONJA SEES IT:

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If Louisville will do the things today that led them to the upset victory over DePaul earlier this week, then they'll have no trouble sinking the Pirates ship down by the Ohio River today. Defense, defense and defense. It's the blueprint for success and good defense creates good offense. I fully anticipate a romp of monumental proportions today in the YUM...and hope to see extended playing time for Harrington, Story, Tay and the rest of the Cardinal second stringers.

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The Cards are in a great position to secure 4th place in the BIG EAST by winning today and capturing one on the road at Providence on Monday. This earns them a double bye in the BIG EAST Tournament and would effectively take them off the bubble and put them in the NCAA Tournament. It's all about desire and motivation this afternoon. If the Lady Cards want it bad enough, it's there for the taking. I compare it to the cake on the table scenario. You're in your lazy boy, the cake is on the table...do you have the desire and motivation to stand up, walk over and cut a slice? Today, Louisville has their cake and eats it, too...

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CARDINAL COUPLE will have full game and post game coverage here later today.

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Marion County romped in the 20th. district final last night over Taylor County 73-51 to gain entrance in the Fifth Region playoffs. Here locally, the fighting Tigers of Fern Creek got a pass for the Seventh Regional by upending Assumption 54-39 in the 26th district final. Butler embarrassed Doss 76-10 in the 22nd. district final to make the Sixth Region playoffs. Holy Cross had no trouble with PRP in the 21st...60-35.

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The scheduled lacrosse game with Old Dominion today has been postponed because of inclement weather cancelling travel plans for the Monarchs..

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Soggy Softball Starts today...

FRIDAY as seen through the eyes of CARDINAL COUPLE:


-Red and Black Softball Tournament today


-Catching up on Girls H.S. hoops.


-Seton Hall set to visit LADY CARDS Saturday


Take off those soggy tennis shoes and have a cup of cocoa (bring two!) coz' it's time for the Friday edition of Cardinal Couple! (insert applause...)

Day One of softball's RED and BLACK Classic is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. this morning with four games on tap (weather permitting). The events today at Ulmer Stadium:

11 a.m. Boston University vs. SIUE
1 p.m. Louisville vs. SIUE
3 p.m. Louisville vs. Boston University
5 p.m. Miami (OH) vs. Wright State


The Cards roll into the three day event with a 5-5 record. This is Louisville's home opener...having spent the last two weekends on the road. The Cards participated in tournaments in Texas and Alabama...facing stiff competition in both from the host schools, Syracuse and Tulsa...among others. The Cards will play five games over the weekend...giving Sandy Pearsall's young pitching staff another tough test. We think Connell, Leonard and Collins will come through just fine...Chelsea Bemis (pictured above) should have a big weekend swinging the aluminum...


The Cards will open against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE). The Cougars are 3-6 on the year and have been playing some very tough competition in UCLA, Tennessee and Long Beach State. They play in the Ohio Valley Conference and this is the first time the Cards and Cougars have ever met. Senior pitcher Erika Taylor is 1-4 on the year and shortshop Kasey Schlafke leads the team in home runs and runs scored.


Next, the Cards face Boston University. The Terriers haven't played yet this season but they have won the America East Conference two years running...so they'll be a good test for Pearsall's players. They're picked to finish first again and boast April Setterlund...who is on the National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. The senior outfielder set six school records in 2010 and was the AEC Player of the Year. First ever meeting between the Cards and Terriers.


The rain is supposed to be gone by game time and Ulmer is a great place to watch softball, so grab the coat and hat and head on out for a fun afternoon of pitcher versus batter. Admission is free and they sell coffee and hot chocolate. CARDINAL COUPLE will be there and will provide our readers will all the activities over the three day event.
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We've gotten a little backed up in high school girls basketball coverage but tonight is a big night in district play. Both Manual and Mercy have advanced to the Seventh Region playoffs and Manual's Mechael Guess has been named Seventh Region Player of the Year. Guess, a senior, is headed to Pittsburgh to play college volleyball for the Panthers.
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Manual beat Mercy in 25th district action 74-68 but both move on to the regionals. We're glad to report that Rockcastle County and Sara Hammond won the 47th. district finals and will advance to the regionals, too. Makayla Epps, Kyvin Goodin-Rogers and Bre Elder lead Marion County into the 20th district finals tonight. Other local district action:
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21st - Holy Cross vs PRP tonite for the title
22nd - Doss and Butler tonite in the finals
23rd - Central 59- Presentation 41 (both advance)
24th - Bullitt East 57 - Bullitt Central 43
26th - Fern Creek vs. Assumption (GO CREEK!)
27th - Sacred Heart 53 - Ballard 51
28th - Christian Academy 49 - J'Town 40
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Good luck to all!

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Louisville plays their final home basketball game of the year against Seton Hall Saturday and it will be Senior day for Keisha Hines and Laura Terry. Terry no longer suits up for the Cards (knee injuries) but has been a valuable and hard working assistant student manager for Jeff Walz and the 'Ville'. We'll always remember Terry's saving defense in the final seconds of the Louisville win against Rutgers in the BIG EAST tournament in the 2007-08 season. (Laura and the beautiful smile pictured here.)
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Hines is the other Cardinal that was brought in by former coach Tom Collen. Jeff Walz calls her a "survivor" and is the only Cardinal on roster to have played four years at Louisville. Hines came in as a backup to Chauntise Wright during her freshman year and impressed Cardinal fans right away with 25 points against Florida in only her sixth game as a Card. She moved into the starting position her sophomore year and has patrolled the post for the Cards ever since. Hines has been a blue collar, behind the scenes foundation for Louisville teams since she's been here. Never flashy of flamboyant...she's worked the paint against some of the best post players in college basketball over four years and always battled gamely and physically against them. Her play in the 2009 run to the Final Four was outstanding...despite the fact her grandmother passed away...she had a career game a day later against Oklahoma. Keisha has been like so many of us out here...gets up each day, goes out and does the job without any headlines or superlatives and does it well. (Keisha pictured on the job here.)
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We know that Anne Donovan hasn't has the kind of season to go running down the Jersey Shore yelling and celebrating about..but Seton Hall must be respected Saturday. A win over Louisville would be the high point of their season and they are fighting to stay out of the cellar in the BIG EAST. We hope the Cards have practiced well for this one and that Mo's ankle has held up. WE think the Cards win rather handily in this one and give the Louisville fans in the KFC YUM Center plenty of fond memories of playing and being in the YUM Center to carry over to next season.
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Certainly no pressure here, but if the Cards win, Rutgers falls to WVU, UConn beats Georgetown and Marquette loses to DePaul...Louisville would be alone in 4th place at 10-5 with one game to go. 4th place means a double bye in the BIG EAST TOURNAMENT. Make it so, Cards.
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