Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Six UofL Womens Track & Field Athletes qualify for NCAA Championships

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Abdullah, Okoro headline list of UofL women headed to NCAA Championships


-Softball: Elite Eight almost set


Six UofL womens track and field athletes have qualified for the NCAA Championships that will be held June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA. 


Here's the list:


Khadija Abdullah - Shot Put
Chinwe Okoro - Shot Put
Holly Knight - 10,000 meter run
Michelle Theophille - High Jump
Maggie Gilbertson - High Jump
Charachesicia Lockhart - Long Jump, Triple Jump

Lockhart will participate in two
events in the NCAA Championships

The Cards won the BIG EAST Championships earlier this month and almost had another athlete qualify yesterday for the NCAA Championship...Amashi Kendall just falling short of a qualifying throw in the hammer. 


The athletes who participate in track and field events at UofL, as well as other Universities, rarely get the recognition and coverage that players in football and basketball do. Their efforts, though, are just as dedicated and the practice hours they spend equal those of the hardwood and gridiron performers. 


Best of luck to the UofL participants in the NCAA. Six entries! Keep up the great work, Ron Mann! 


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Now that Louisville's softball season has ended, interest in the sport on the college level has dropped off somewhat locally...but 16 teams advanced to the Super Regionals and have made or are making their bid to be one of the eight that get to the Womens College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK. 

Bulls advance to Okla. City

From the BIG EAST, South Florida has punched their ticket to the "elite eight"...eliminating Hofstra in the Super Regionals two games to one. All three games had the same score...2-1. Sara Nevins, who had trouble against the Cards in the regular season and in the BIG EAST Tournament, back to her old form inside the circle.


Other schools who have made reservations for rooms so far in Oklahoma City:


Alabama (knocked off Michigan, who beat Louisville)
Arizona State
Oklahoma
Oregon


Three more could qualify today. Cal needs to beat Washington to advance. Same for LSU, who plays Missouri and Tennessee could secure a slot by beating Georgia today. If LSU, Cal and UT lose, it goes to game three in the best-of-three format. 

Haylie Wagner's pitching stymied Louisville
but couldn't get Michigan past Alabama.

Three PAC 12 schools, a possible three SEC schools, one from the BIG 12 and one from the BIG EAST. Those who clamor for a Cardinal move to the BIG 12 can't help but believe that the overall competition would be stronger, year in and year out...but for this season...each school has a representative in the final dance. 
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Softball End of Season Thoughts

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Sandy Walker commentary on softball season


-Reader submitted articles begins on Fridays in June ! 

(Our columnist Sandy Walker takes the wheel today to discuss Louisville softball. Enjoy!)


Softball fans who I joined on the “berm” this weekend can testify to the great environment and sociability of the relaxed environment.   Outfielder fans willingly trade the conveniences of adjacent concession stands, restrooms and seating which doesn’t need to be carried in on our backs for the feel of a casual and festive picnic atmosphere which includes kids and dogs.

 Our only request is for a scoreboard, even a teeny tiny one which Timmy the Intern can maintain. Maybe like the one the women had for basketball not that long ago where a team manager would flip over the numbers after each score.  The Cadillac version would give us the score, the inning, pitch count and maybe even the player at bats name.  We are not asking for much, just enough to know the status of the game.

With the addition of a couple of additional wins against Michigan and 10 less degrees of heat, this weekend would have been absolutely perfect.  Coach Pearsall

 made it very clear in Sunday’s post game press conference that the remaining squad has a deeply engrained memory of this weekend’s outcome which will carry forward and through to next year’s super regionals. 

Those of you who either watched the games from home (isn’t it wild that ESPN is televising a Louisville team outside of football or basketball which also happens to be a woman’s sport) or totally missed seeing them absolutely need to make a commitment to not only attend next year but bring at least one friend and be a part of breaking the new attendance record of > 3500 fans.

Officer Stacey's many duties of this weekend was to protect Coach Pearsall's dog Summitt so coach could focus on the game while knowing that her pup was safe and well cared for while she was needing doggy day care.

A visibly upset Senior Pitcher Tori Collins answered reporter’s questions after Sunday’s loss.    During the tournament she battled physical adversity and as she had promised, did what a senior does, which was to go out giving the team and school all that she had.

Tori could very well be the softball equivalent of what Angel was to basketball and may later become recognized as the ambassador who served as a springboard for new fans taking note of the sport as a record number of spectators attended last weekend’s games.

A rule change which was first in effect this year played a significant role in the outcome of Saturday’s Michigan loss. Until this year a batter must make an effort to move out of the way from a ball which is pitched.  This year no such effort is required.  Louisville’s first tournament loss came as the result of a batter who not only did not make an effort to move out of the way of the ball but who was hit as she actually slightly jutted her arm and shoulder towards the ball.  What would have been a called ball last year resulted this  year in a walk forced score which ended the game.  Someone needs to take another look at how that change is working out for others as it hasn’t been too great for U of L as later a 2^nd batter again not only did not move out of the way but actually  moved into a pitch for a called walk.

Speaking of rule changes:

Coach Pearsall handled her post game media response to a clearly bad game changing call, in the expected professional manner.  She responded to inquiries by indicating that things even out but after an ESPN replay clearly showed a Michigan runner sliding into third as out but called safe, one has to question the need for some form of instant replay coming to softball.  

Before naysayers dismiss the thought:

How about replays only being available during end of season tournaments and only to be used a maximum of 2 times per game per team, by specific request of the coach.  As with basketball and football, the evidence would have to be clear and convincing.  Think back to past years when folks said replay had no place in football or basketball games where now we see the benefits.   As technology continues to improve and to cost less, the prospect of replays coming to additional sports is inevitable.  Otherwise the seasons of some teams will continue to end earlier than they should have and others will continue on beyond the placement they earned.  Thoughts anyone?

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Say, have you always wanted to write for a major, relevant website? Well, look somewhere else...because we're certainly not that. But, if you'd like to submit a commentary, article or just a few sophomoric sentences for FRIDAY READERS TAKE OVER CARDINAL COUPLE...well, we'd be pleased as punch to have you on board, bucko! 

Waxous debates the conundrum
of scheduling strength vs. easy
wins. 

We're starting the melee on Friday, June 4th. Just send your stuff to us at cardinalcouple@insightbb.com


You can even go the anonymous route if you like. We don't want you to blow your new identity and protection from the mob bosses, after all. 


(Great, now we'll get 25 e-mails a day from our staff chimps full of banana recipes...) 

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

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


MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Louisville with opportunities but no runs in Sunday final.


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

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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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


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

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Know the foe: Valparaiso Crusaders 


-Preakness Stakes Saturday


-Another ATayy episode

The University of Louisville Softball team will face the Valparaiso Crusaders in the first round of the NCAA Regional Softball tournament at Ulmer Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday evening. Valparaiso is a member of the Horizon League conference and went 42-17 during the regular season and conference tournament. They finished first in regular season play with a 19-5 conference record and won the Horizon Tournament. 

Alex Lagesse has a 1.98 ERA in
35 starts for Valpo

They captured the tournament after losing in first round play. Unlike the BIG EAST Conference Tournament, the Horizon League is double elimination...like the NCAA Regionals. Held at Valparaiso Stadium, the Crusaders lost to Butler 6-1 in their first game...but advanced through the losers bracket and met Loyola-Chicago in the finals. They had to win twice...and did, beating Loyola with successive 2-1 scores on Sunday, May 13th. 


The northern Indiana school has played one common BIG EAST opponent with the Cards...losing at Notre Dame before their conference play began. 

Sam McGee had a 2.81 ERA
in 23 starts for Valpo

In the pitching circle for Valpo, Alex Lagesse and Sam McGee share the duties. Lagesse, a senior from Beecher, IL. had a 22-9 record for the Crusaders, appearing in 42 games and starting 35 of them. She fanned 162 batters and was the starter and winning pitcher in the Horizon League Conference championship game. McGee is also a senior and was 15-5 for Valparaiso this year. She hails from Bloomington, MN and had 23 starts and 26 appearances this season. She struck out 79 opponents and was the starting pitcher in the Crusaders first game Sunday. 

Rutkowski has 14
home runs this year

When Valparaiso goes to the plate, Jordan Rutkowski does the most damage against opposing pitchers. She is batting .428 this season and had a team-high 14 home runs and 60 RBI's. The senior catcher is from Alden, NY.


Brittany Duncan is Valpo's designated hitter and also plays infield. She was second on the team with a .388 batting average and had 9 home runs and 51 RBI's...good for second place in all three stats. Duncan is just a freshman and calls Fairborn, OH her hometown. Jessica Marinec hits .331 for the Crusaders and plays second base. She led the squad with 44 runs scored and is a junior out of Alsip, IL. 

Stevens has Valpo on a
upward swing 

This will be Valparaiso's first-ever apperance in the NCAA Tournament and some of the credit goes to second year head coach Jordan Stevens. Stevens came from D III school Union (NY) College and has 76 wins in his two years as the Valpo skipper. 

Will Cards leading hitter Kristin
Austin be in the starting lineup?

No small task for the Crusaders, having to face the BIG EAST regular season and conference champs at their home field to start the NCAA Tournament. Louisville certainly cannot afford to overlook Valparaiso, though...and the Cards will need to get out the bats early and set the pace in this one. Not sure how right-fielder Kristin Austin is doing with the hamstring injury...but it wouldn't be a bad thing to have a .400 hitter out there against Valpo. 


We won't try to guess who Coach Pearsall will start in the circle for this one...but we'd like to see torrid Tori Collins out there. Means she'll probably go with Caralisa Connell...either is capable of ending the Crusaders conquest. 


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The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown for 3 year olds...will take place Saturday at Pimlico Race Track in Maryland. Bodemeister has been confirmed as an entry and will try to turn the tables on Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another. 


Much ado each year about changing the format of the Triple Crown. Dropping Maryland and Pimlico and going to California or Chicago for the second leg. Fagettaboutit. Unless you've been to the Preakness at Pimlico, you can't really understand the pride, the tradition and historical value of this leg of the Triple Crown. We've had the fortune of going twice. We'll go again, someday.  


11 horses will contest the mile and 3/16ths course. Post positions:


1. Tiger Walk                         7. Bodemeister
2. Teeth of the Dog               8. Daddy Nose Best
3. Pretension                         9. I'll Have Another
4. Zetterholm                       10. Optimizer
5. Went the Day Well            11. Cozzetti
6. Creative Cause




There's also some pretty good racing out there on Friday. A 13 race card with eight stakes races. Their version of Kentucky Oaks Day for the fillies. The Miss Preakness S stakes, Black Eyed Susan and Pimlico Special headline the card. 


Churchill Downs is running both days as well and it's a great opportunity for you to get out and watch the best in live racing and simulcasting.

If you go, stop by and say "Hi!" to Jo-An at the paddock bar on the first floor inside next to the bricks where they saddle the horses . She'll be mixing up Black-Eyed Susans both days and they're not bad at all. Just ask Sonja. She'll want to know how you knew her name. Point to her name-tag first and then tell her Paul and Sonja sent you. Maybe she'll still serve you. It's a souvenir glass...can't beat that.  


We'll have our Preakness picks for you tomorrow. Read them at your own risk. David Watson, always one step ahead, has already sent his to us. He likes:


1) Optimizer - Gotta stay with D.Wayne Lukas
2) Creative Cause - Wasn't that bad in Derby
3) I'll Have Another - Not enough distance to close
4) Bodemeister - Speed won't hold like at Churchill

Great. Now we got Watson thinking he's a handicapper. With comments even. Pretty soon, he'll be forecasting BIG EAST Football and analyzing NASCAR races. 


Just another sign that the Apocalypse isn't too far away... 


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Finally, ATayy is back with another episode. This time she gets in front of the camera to do a Cardinal flavored version of MTV Cribs. The highlight is when she picks up a British accent and invades Sherrone Vails' room for a surprise visit to see how she is "in her natural habitat." Nita Slaughter co-stars in the latest video. Funny stuff! 


We fear she'll show up at our secret lair deep beneath the Parrish House one day for a expose on how CARDINAL COUPLE is written. WE have the staff chimps and Bill the Goat on 24/7 DEFCON 5 alert status for her. Poobah has been instructed to run a diversion if it happens and show her and the film crew 80 Under 80 instead...along with serving snacks and Snapple. No Bud Select for these girls. 


Link below:


A-Tayy's Cribs

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