Bria Smith sighting, Softball Cards blank the Friars, Lacrosse falls at Syracuse, Night of Future Stars.

Collins pitched her first start and
complete game since March 23rd.

THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE!

-Softball shuts out Providence 4-0

-Lacrosse falls to Syracuse 11-10

-Night of the Future Stars review.

-Bria Smith sighting...

Tori Collins is back. Providence wishes she wasn't. The hard-throwing lefty had her way with the Friars last night...scattering four hits and striking out seven en route to the 4-0 Cardinal win.

"Tori Collins pitched well for us tonight and we were able to take advantage of some timely hits." Louisville head softball coach Sandy Pearsall remarked after the contest. "We also has some very nice defensive plays."

The Cards staged a pitcher's duel with the Friars for the first four innings. Although both teams had runners in scoring position, it wasn't until the bottom of the fourth before the scoreboard operator got to flip the 'run scored' toggle switch. Alicja Wolny singled to begin the inning and Maggie Ruckenbrod booming a towering double off the center field fence. Taner Fowler took first when she was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That set the stage for Hannah Kiyohara's run producing single and the Cards added another on a Katie Keller sacrifice fly.

Louisville added two more runs in the sixth...a Keller single scored pinch runner Chelsea Jordan and Chelsea Bemis's deep double brought home Keller for the 4-0 lead.

Collins improves to 11-4 with the win. The teams take today off and will play a doubleheader Saturday at Ulmer...with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. Let's hope the weather co-operates...

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Liz Lovejoy has 13 goals over the last three
games for Louisville

Tough loss on the road for Louisville lacrosse yesterday at Syracuse...falling to the Orange 11-10. The Cards had a 10-7 advantage in the second half before allowing the 'Cuse the final four scores of the match. Louisville was no doubt hurt by the loss of leading scorer Bergan Foley, who received a second yellow card in the second half and had to watch the final 25 minutes from the sidelines.

Liz Lovejoy tried to pick up the slack for the Cards...scoring Louisville's final four goals and giving the Cards the 10-7 advantage...but the Cardinal defense couldn't contain the Syracuse attack at the end.

Louisville enjoyed an early 3-1 lead in the first half...Emily Dashiell providing two scores and led 5-2 after Lovejoy and Colleen O'Malley tossed successfully into the net...but a late 'Cuse first half rally knotted it up 5-5 at the halftime break.

The Cards (10-5, 3-3) head to Connecticut next for a Saturday match up...their final road game of the year.

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The Kentucky Derby Festival 'Night of the Future Stars' took place last night in Knights Gym on the Bellarmine University campus and a near capacity crowd watched some of the nation's best boys' high school seniors compete in two on two competition, three point shooting and slam dunks. WE were impressed with the athleticism of several of the UofL recruits...Chane Behanan will be a very productive post player for UofL. Size, strong body and a powerful inside game. WE like Angel Nunez's hustle, drive ability to the hoop and enthusiasm. The sleeper of the class could be tall Zach Price. He engaged in a several rugged battles during the two on two contests with Behanan and IU signee Cody Zeller and came out as the clear winner..

One of the most comical moments occurred when Baylor prospect Deuce Bello attempted to use Nunez as a prop during the slam dunk contest. He attempted to flush one down the nets while leaping over the 6'7" Nunez. He got clearance over Nunez but missed the slam. Nunez and Bello didn't get a second chance to perform the stunt...a event official guided Angel off the court and out of harm's way. Charlie Springer has the video of the attempt over at http://www.uoflcardgame.com/.

The two on two competition last night was the most
spirited we've seen in the last couple of years.

Other players that impressed in the drills and contests were local star Aaron Cosby, who is headed to Seton Hall and sharp shooting, diminutive guard Austin Etherington.

We have confirmed sightings of Lady Cards Tia Gibbs and Cierra Warren being on hand watching the action and have heard there was a large contingent of players from the UofL  women's basketball team there. Former Cardinal great Candyce Bingham was one of the judges in the slam dunk contest. There is also a report that Louisville target Bria Smith was at the contest, enjoying the activities with the Lady Cards . We also spotted current Cardinal men's hoopsters Peyton Siva and Mike Marra in attendance, former Cards greats Eric Johnson and La Bradford Smith and national championship head coach Scotty Davenport from hosting school Bellarmine.

The Derby Festival Basketball Classic takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at the KFC YUM Center. Hopefully, the P.A. crew does a better job of announcing the activities than they did last night...you couldn't understand half of what they were saying.

A Bria Smith sighting at the Night of
Future Stars (right) She was
in attendance...

WE still hope that the Kentucky Derby Festival folks consider including the girls in the Classic down the road. Last night's crowd at Bellarmine was mostly guys...we feel that there is plenty of local, regional and national talent in girls' high school basketball that would make this event more of a co-ed friendly affair and sell a lot more seats. Other classic type events are including the girls and they've passed the local event here in Louisville in national star player popularity and choice. None of Kentucky head coach John Calipari's recruits are participating in the Derby Classic...opting instead for the more popular McDonald's All-American game in Chicago and the Jordan Brand shootout in Charlotte. Time was, back in the day...the Derby Classic was one of the top two high school All-Star games. Not anymore.

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Ms.Smith enjoys the Night of The Future Stars with Tia,
Cierra and Shawnta. Aren't they lovely young ladies?
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Springer-UofL  Card Game) 

Word is that Bria Smith, UofL women's target for the class of 2011 was still in Louisville watching the Night of the Future Stars Thursday evening. We 've heard she's good friends with Cardinal men's recruit Angel Nunez and we're encouraged that she stayed around to watch her buddy play in the skills section of the Classic. We hope she sticks around for the game tonight in the KFC YUM Center. The Lady Cards are a tight knit, fun and friendly bunch and having her bond with them can only be considered a plus for Walz in his recruiting efforts concerning her. Already ranked with a top ten class coming in for 2011...Smith's addition would push UofL's ranking easily into the top five. The University, of course, cannot comment on such matters in regards to respective recruits. We can, though...and will say that we also have it on very good authority that Smith's game would fit in very well with "Walz Ball"...
.

Lacrosse falls to Georgetown 17-13

Shouldn't wearing a jacket like this get you a free bowl of burgoo? It's Kentucky Derby Festival time again in Louisville. Abandon all hope ye who enter here.

It was a perfect afternoon for the lacrosse match between Louisville and #14 Georgetown on Sunday but the results weren't exactly what the Louisville lacrosse team wanted to acheive. The Cards started out slowly against the Hoyas and found themselves on the short end of a 15-6 score at the end of the first half.

Louisville coach Kellie Young knew that the defense had to pick it up if Louisville was going to get back in the contest and they did respond in the final half...holding the Hoyas to just two goals...but Louisville couldn't get enough shots in the net to catch the Georgetown team at the end.

Liz Lovejoy led the Cards with five goals and Katie Oliverio dished out five assists.

Louisville continues the home stand Saturday against Jacksonville. Game time is 1 p.m.

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Cardinal women's tennis wrapped up the regular season on the road against Miami, OH. and brought back a 5-2 win against the Redhawks. Mandy Brown won in both singles and doubles matches for Louisville, who evened their record to 10-10. The tennis team is idle until April 22nd. They'll travel to South Bend to participate in the Big East Championships.

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With the recent low attendance at the Derby Classic and Night of the Future Stars...events held this weekend for high school boys basketball...isn't it time to include the best senior high school girls in the area and around the nation in the event?

This debate surfaced again as several friends, Sonja and I sat with the 6200 Saturday night and watched the action in Freedom Hall. It's the lowest amount of people I've seen at the game and we've been going since the inception. The talent level was slightly down from past years..but there were still 3 Cardinal signees, 1 UK signee, and 1 IU signee playing. The UofL fans turnout was particulary disappointing. I attended the Night of the Future Stars Friday, and there were plenty of empty seats for the slam dunk, two on two and three point shooting contests over at Bellarmine.

With the low attendance for both events as a lead-in, we discussed and debated another question that surfaced about holding the Friday night event at Bellarmine University's cozy but antiquated Knights Gym instead of Cardinal Arena or the Yum Center. Bellarmine hasn't had a participant in this event as far back as I can remember...but each year they play the Friday night contests in a place with poor accoustics. You could not understand one word of the player introductions...being hyped up by a local radio station rap DJ. No problem with the revved up, hip hop player intros, mind you...but they should at least give the emcee decent accoustics so it's enjoyable and not nerve grating.

With the advent of the downtown SONJA arena, it is high time to get the girls involved in this thing. The committe also needs to lower ticket prices (preferred seating at $17 for this thing is too high for what you're receiving) and make the Friday night events free for all, instead of having to have a ticket for the Saturday night game to gain admittance on Friday. Especially in a tough economy...where the idea is to make this affordable and attended instead of holding the gun to the potential consumers' head. Group pricing, senior citizen discounts...c'mon use a little imagination here.

Getting people in to watch the Friday night festivities free just might spur them to purchase a Saturday seat, especially if you've got the girls from around the area involved in the two on two and three point contests. Attendance for Louisville, Kentucky, Northern Ky and Bellarmine women's basketball has never been higher and the McDonald's All-Star classic did the smart thing and involved the girls several years ago.

Of course...we are dealing with the Kentucky Derby Festival Committee here. New and exciting ideas are like castor oil to this bunch. At least they toned down the gaudy and garish colors of the "official Ky. Derby Festival sports coat" this year. Still think they look like a bunch of misplaced fraternal lodge convention attendees. Much is made of the countless hours of hard work that festival organizers put in each year for the Derby activities...so, in return...they have to dress like lounge singers when they make appereances at these events? Do they really need the attention that badly? Being snobby and aristocratic is one thing (and a manuever they've got down to a "t")...but looking foolish while doing it...it just makes you wonder. Derby Festival should rightly be a time for Louisville to showcase the activities surrounding Derby...not the time for a bizarre fashion show by pompous promoters of the annual event. Get matching polo shirts or maybe a logo on white dress shirt...gang.

OK, Monday Morning Arm Chair Quarterback endeth...Go in peace and be nice out there today.

Written by Paul (who isn't wearing a Derby Festival jacket and never will.)
4/12/10