Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Softball Dinner and Hoops

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Softball Dinner features Danielle Lawrie

- WBB faces St John's today

The 2013 University of Louisville Bullpen Softball dinner was held Saturday night at the Hyatt in downtown Louisville and featured Olympian and NCAA Championship pitcher Danielle Lawrie from the University of Washington. A capacity crowd packed into the Hyatt Ballroom to hear the evening's events that were emceed by Cardinal public address announcer and all-around good guy Sean Moth.

The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction that featured everything from Cardinal softball gear to bean bag boards and Charlie Strong Makers' Mark bottles.
 
Unfortunately, CARDINAL COUPLE's bid on a UofL Softball windbreaker and visor fell short of winning...but it was good to stand around and talk with the people in attendance...including Shoni Schimmel, Becky Burke and hundreds of Cardinal Softball fans.

Shortly before the crowd moved from the hospitality area to the ballroom tables, we caught up with freshman Jasmine Smithson-Willett and got a quick Q &A in.

She's thrilled to be at Louisville and really loves the city and her teammates. At first, she was a little overwhelmed by the speed and quickness of the college game but has adjusted nicely. She's willing to do anything for the team and mentioned that when Coach Pearsall was looking for left-handed hitters to do the slap hit and beat out throws to first, she jumped right and showed coach her ability to perform the maneuver. Her biggest smile came when we talked about the road trip coming up to Vegas and the chance for her family to come in from California and see her play.

Before we knew it, we were at our table and got to see several great videos about the team's preparation for the upcoming season and hear several players talk about their dedication and commitment to the team. Coach Carol Bruggerman then took over the podium and awards were presented to Tori (Collins) Heyman, Chelsea Leonard (who led the nation in saves) and Taner Fowler (All-American).

Next it was Coach Pearsall to the podium and she was effusive in her praise for her support staff, coaches and players. She recalled the great moments of last season and could hardly contain her enthusiasm when speaking about the current group of Softball Cards and the challenges they lay ahead for them.

"It's tough competition, but the girls that are back are a year older and that means quite a lot in softball" Pearsall informed the crowd.

At the end of her remarks, Coach was presented with an autographed bat from the players who helped her acheive her 500th. win last season.

"I really wasn't that aware of it when number 500 happened, but shortly after the game...my phone started exploding with texts congratualating me on the acheivement, mostly my players....they're a special group of ladies." Pearsall reflected.
 
Featured keynote speaker Danielle Lawrie has had an amazing journey in her young life and kept the crowd captive and hanging on each word as she recounted it. Chosen to play on the Canadian National Team at the age of eighteen...she was the pitcher that recorded Canada's first win ever over Team USA.

As she recalled her collegiate years at the University of Washington, Lawrie made note of the challenges she faced and her drive and desire to conquer them. From a extremely competitive family that includes a brother in Major League Baseball who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays, she recalled how her father would never keep (and toss in the trash) any second place trophy that someone in the family had been awarded and that her brother wouldn't talk to her for three months after she beat him in a game of bean bag toss.

Lawrie was a wonderfully entertaining and inspirational speaker as she took us through her collegiate years and Olympic experience. Her message to the crowd and players was clear...set your goals and stay dedicated to acheiving them. After fielding a few questions from Sean Moth, Lawrie's time on the stage and the evening was over. It hardly seemed that it had started...

A excellent time with a very special group of college athletes, coaches and Cardinal fans last night. We appreciate the opportunity provided to us to cover the event and can tell you that Cardinal Softball is rip-roaring ready to go this year and the players and staff would love to see you support them even more than last year (if that's possible) at Ulmer Stadium.

We'll be there. We hope you join us! You DON'T want to miss it...

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( Quentin Voigt brings us the scout on Louisville WBB's next hardwood opponent today...the St John's Red Storm.)

ROCKIN' WITH THE RED STORM

St. John rolls into the KFC YUM! Center for a 1:30 p.m. match up against the Cards today. If you go, go early...because it's Louie the Cardinal Bird's birthday and free pizza, ice cream and cake will be provided pre-game for the fans. We think you should go. 

Joe Tartanella has been a coach at St John's for nine years but this is his first as the head coach. He took over for Kim Barnes Arico, who accepted the head coaching job at Michigan. She's currently 3-0 in the BIG TEN for the Wolverines. Tartanella is an excellent recruiter and has two players currently on the roster that he pulled away from ACC schools and will play next season. Danaejah Grant is a 5'9" guard who began her career at Clemson and will have three years remaining as a Red Storm. Selena Archer is a 6'4" post who originally signed with Miami and will have two years of eligibility for SJU.

St.John's averages 59.8 ppg and shoots 39% from the floor. They're 27.2% from beyond the arc. They hit 64.7% from the free throw line and average 40.8 rebounds a contest. The Johnnies dish out 11.5 assists a game, commit 14.1 turnovers and create 8.4 steals a game.

SJU is 9-8 on the year and 3-2 in the BIG EAST. Conference wins have come against Rutgers by four, Seton Hall by 28 and Pitt by 29. Losses occurred to Notre Dame by 24 and to Syracuse by three.

Shenneika Smith leads the SJU attack with 16.1 ppg . Nadriah McKenith adds 12.7, Amber Thompson is good for strong offensive and rebounding as well.

I don't see a lot of Red Storm rain dropping on Louie's birthday festivities today and the Lady Cards give him a 10-point birthday gift.

-Quentin Voigt


Smith and McKenith are better guards than any two Coach Walz can put out there and they proved it twice last year in sweeping the Cards. Does that mean they'll win again today? Not necessarily.

Tartanella is a good coach, but he doesn't have the ability that KBA had when she was there to get over 100% out of the Red Storm players.

Sho and Mo show has a command performance at the matinee today and the ever-steady "Need a" Slaughter?" (Of course, we need a Slaughter!) helps the Cards bring this one home in true Cardiac fashion. Louisville by 3 and it may take five extra minutes to do it in...

Quinnipiac beat you? Serioulsy?

Good guards will only get you so far. Rebounding, coaching and hitting free throws wins you games and I expect the Cards to do all three well today....at least well enough to handle the BIG EAST'S 11th. best rebounding defense team, worst free throw shooting team and a rookie coach. They're 9-8. The talent level suggests they could be 14-3. Losses to Qunnipiac and Boston U are puzzling...and they come to the YUM! on a two-game losing streak.

Time to return the favor to a squad that beat UofL twice last year. Time to get out a little "southern in-hosptiality" as we face the Red Storm maybe for the last time. Think about it, do you really want to schedule a non-conference home and away with a school that struggles to get 500 to watch them when they're at home? Beat 'em and wave good-bye as your showing them the door.

Paulie
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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Sunday with Sonja

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Heyman, Collins tie the knot.


- What'll ya have, Charlie? 


-What I said wasn't what I wanted you to read.


-We're thinking again (you've been warned).


Another Cardinal couple on the block...with UofL softball pitcher Tori Collins marrying UofL football linebacker Dexter Heyman. Heyman has been signed to a free agency contract by the Kansas City Chiefs while Collins finishes up her teaching degree. 

No truth to the rumor that Sandy Pearsall and Charlie Strong have already offered scholarships to the first two kids these two have. 


We'll remember the bone crunching hits that Dexter produced for a long time on the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium turf. Same for Collins domination in the pitching circle. 


Wonder what T.J got them for a wedding gift? Season tickets? 


(Deep in the secret laboratories beneath CARDINAL COUPLE Worldwide, Dr. Giggles laughs and pumps his fist. The first step in creating a super-skilled UofL breeding pool has been established. To the spectrometer, Co-Co!)  

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Makers Mark coming out with a Charlie Strong edition.

This one will be a collector's item...just don't set it too close to your John Calipari decanter.  


We said for years that the distiller made a fortune from UofL fans during the Kragthorpe and Cooper years from just sales of regular Makers' products to drown their sorrows. 

We're still waiting for Pitino to name a horse after the dynamic UofL football coach like he did with Angel, Gorgui and Peyton. We'd like Bill Samuels to create a CARDINAL COUPLE collectable bottle. 


(Yeah, like that's gonna happen.) 

Sales will probably go very quickly on this limited edition. We also expect they'll lag a bit in Lexington...


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"Who's throwing me the ball, coach?
Peyton or Edgar? "

Kudos to the C-J for revealing to us that Edgar Sosa is going to be a senior at UofL this fall. In a recent report about the Dominican Republic winning a qualifying Olympic basketball game, the Courier-Journal broke the news that the guard we all figured had graduated still has a year of playing time left. 


We just wonder who is going to break the news to Peyton Siva?


Misprint? We're not so sure. It could be ground-breaking investigatory journalism about Mr. Sosa and the Cards. Or the Courier-Journal can't tell the difference between Siva and Sosa. We've sent Timmy the Intern down to the Belknap Campus to see if Edgar has a room in Minardi Hall. He's also supposed to bring Chinese carryout back.  

Order for Cardinal Couple? 

We can relate. WE never could tell the difference between "Bullet" Justice and Gorgui...or Moo Goo Gai Pan and Cashew Chicken. 


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We're now over a month into our "writer's days" at Cardinal Couple and it's gone really well. Just about all the e-mails we've received have been positive and Jenny, Sandra, David and Mark have come up with very creative and informative columns during their days at bat. We pleased with the results on the 'reader submitted articles' on Fridays also.


Admittedly, the summer months are a little slower for Cardinal womens' sports news...but we pleased to announce that our reader "views" and "hits" count are still growing here at Cardinal Couple. 


(Must be a boring summer for all of you).

The Cardinal Couple staff plays for the Heyman-Collins
wedding reception. 

Seriously, we are fortunate to have such great writers on board and thankful for the readership we have. If you have an idea for an article here at Cardinal Couple or just something you like we're doing

(or not doing)


...feel free to e-mail us or leave it in the comments section. 


We are tossing around some ideas for down the road. CARDINAL COUPLE polo shirts -- available for purchase at our cost, a monthly 'Friends of CARDINAL COUPLE' dinner and a few other activities in conjunction with another popular Louisville Sports  website. 

"Where's the Happy Family combo on this menu?" 

Thanks for checking us out and for all your ideas and comments. Eventually, we may just get the hang of this thing and produce a website worth reading...


Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Time to go turn Bill the Goat loose in Waterfront Park and gather up the staff chimps for their weekly spinning session.


Have a great Sunday and GO CARDS! 


--Sonja
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Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Collins, Fowler named All-Americans

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Tori Collins, Taner Fowler named Softball All-Americans


-"My Favorite Cardinal Womens Sports Moments" -- Arthur Albiero


Congratulations to senior pitcher Tori Collins and sophomore designated player Taner Fowler on their selection to the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association All-American third team. 

A total of 54 players from 33 different schools have earned the honor of being selected to one of the three teams. The selections were made by NFCA member coaches from each region. 


Collins went 25-2 for Louisville this season and had a 1.30 ERA. She fanned 186 batters in 179.1 innings. She finished her career at Louisville third on the schools all-time list for strikeouts (590), wins (86) and saves (10). She also had 23 career shutouts, fourth best in Cardinal softball history.

Fowler batted .366 for the Cards in 60 games and led Louisville with 12 home runs and 52 RBI's. In addition to her designated hitter role, she also spent time at catcher for Sandy Pearsall's squad. 


Louisville finished the season with a 55-5 record, the most wins ever for a Cardinal softball team. They were also the BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions. 

Nevins and USF survived the
Super Regionals

Previous Cardinals selected for All-American honors are Lacy Wood (2006), Kristen Wadwell (2009) and Melissa Roth (2009-2010). 


Other BIG EAST players making the 2012 All-American Teams were Sara Nevins (USF), Amy Buntin (Notre Dame), Kirstin Verdun (DePaul) and Jenna Caira (Syracuse). 


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We are starting a feature called..."My Favorite Cardinal Womens Sports Moments." In it, we'll profile the favorite sports moments from coaches, ex-players, fans and other people connected to the University of Louisville sports programs. 

Arthur (right) with Ron Mann. Jeff Walz and Jan Karzan

We kick this feature off with Arthur Albiero, the head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach at UofL.  Arthur is in his ninth year as the head coach of UofL swimming. The Cards won both men's and women's BIG EAST Championship titles in the 2010-11 season and the women repeated again in 2011-12. 


Here's his favorite Cardinal Womens Sports moment:

"Sophomore swimmer Gisselle Kohoyda (Midland, MI) finishes fourth in the 200 yard breaststroke at the Women's NCAA Championships !!...leads team to NCAA top 25, along with two-peat BIG EAST Championship team title." 


More on her outstanding feat can be found at the link below.


Gisselle gets fourth


Thanks to Arthur for sharing this moment in UofL Womens Sports history!


If you'd like to share your favorite Cardinal Womens Sports Moment with us, e-mail us at:


cardinalcouple@insightbb.com




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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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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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CARDS WIN BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

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LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL WINS BIG EAST TOURNAMENT 4-3 OVER NOTRE DAME


-Jordan Trimble walk off homer in eighth gives UofL a 4-3 win.


-HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! 

Hometown girl makes good. Louisville sophomore Jordan Trimble, from Louisville Manual High School, took Laura Winter's first pitch of the eighth inning over the right-field fence to give Louisville the 2012 BIG EAST Tournament trophy. 


A comeback win for the Cards...who were down 3-0 after three innings. Once again, the never-say-die, play to the final out philosophy of Sandy Pearsall's crew prevails...defeating the Irish on their home field on a cool, cloudy and rainy day in South Bend. 


Tori Collins got the start for Louisville, the first of three Cardinal pitchers to enter the circle Saturday night. Laura Winter was the pitching foe, the Big East Pitcher of the year. 

Not sure if we settled who was the better of the two today...Winter gave up ten hits in seven innings and Collins allowed eight hits in her four innings on the mound. 


Notre Dame put the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Casey O'Conner singling and scoring on a Alexa Maldonado, two-out bloop single to left. 


The Cards couldn't get anything much accomplished early against Winter...just three hits in three innings...and when the Irish's Katey Haus drilled a two-run homer off Collins with two outs in the top of the third inning-- the Cards found themselves down 3-0 to the #2 seed in the BIG EAST. 


It would be the last runs Notre Dame would produce, though. After Collins got the Irish out in the top of the fourth, UofL went to work. 

Taner Fowler started the inning with her 12th home run of the year, a blast to left-center that easily cleared the fence. Trimble followed with a triple to right-center. She scored on a Katelyn Mann sacrifice bunt to get Louisville back within one. Hannah Kiyohara hit into a double play to end the inning, though ...and Notre Dame had a brief reprieve. 


Caralisa Connell replaced Collins in the circle to start the fifth inning and shut the Irish down with just a Haus infield single. The Cards tied it in the home half of the inning...Jennifer Esteban singling to left-center, going to second on a Alicja Wolny walk and scoring on Taner Fowler's second RBI of the game...a sharp single to left. With two outs, Jordan Trimble sent a high fly to center...but Maldonado backed up to the fence and made the catch to end the inning. Trimble was sending deep flies to the outfield each time up. 

Rain greeted the teams as the Cards took the field to start the sixth. Connell set the Irish down in order in the top half of the inning, but Louisville could only manage a Katelyn Mann single to right in the steady downpour in the bottom of the inning.


The Irish threatened in the top of the seventh as the rain eventually stopped. With two walks from Connell, they had runners on second and third with two outs. Sandy Pearsall went to the bullpen and brought in Chelsea "Super Reliever"  Leonard to pitch to Haus and the move paid off...Haus retired on a ground ball to Whitney Arion at short to end the inning and the threat. 


Louisville opened the bottom of the seventh with the top of the order, but Esteban grounded out, Keller took  a called third strike from Winter...who then proceeded to hit the next batter -- Alicja Wolny -- with a pitch. The Cards couldn't capitalize on the baserunner, though...Fowler flied out to center to send the game to extra innings. 

Leonard got the Cards through the top of the eighth, facing four batters and giving up a single before getting the third out. 

That set the stage for Trimble...who took Winter's first pitch of the inning to deep right and over the fence to give the Cards the win and their first tournament title since 2007. 


We figure that distance from plate to the fence where the ball went over is about 210 feet. Jordan's shot went 211. Maybe. 


It was a classic moment and fitting tribute for the sophomore who never seems rattled, is always smiling and overcame a devastating broken ankle last year to return to the lineup and become the anchor of the team in center field. An infielder her first year at UofL, Trimble accepted Coach Pearsall's re-assignment without a grumble or question. It's what leaders and team players do.


Jordie is majoring in Justice Administration. Yesterday, she administered a little justice of her own. 

Had her "Christmas Story" moment after
misjudging a fly ball against the
Cards Saturday. Naughty, naughty! 

Notre Dame. Beaten in their place by the Cards. The arrogant Irish, suggesting that the conference regular-season title might have landed in South Bend if the two had met in the regular BIG EAST schedule. The goof-ball antics of their pitcher and her demeaning display of superiority after getting a strike out. Act like you've been there before, Laura. The f-bomb dropping center fielder Alexa Maldonado.




Here's a thought...when on ESPN 2...remember the cameras just might be on you and there are kids watching. 


Trimble was named  M.O.P. of the tournament. Collins, Fowler, Trimble and Wolny were named to the All-tournament team. 

The NCAA Softball Selection Show will be Sunday at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. One would expect Louisville to get a chance to host one of the sixteen regional sites. 


Nice way to finish the BIG EAST slate. Now, the NCAA awaits. One game at a time, CARDS...one inning at a time. 


YOUR 2012 BIG EAST REGULAR SEASON AND TOURNAMENT CHAMPS: THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS !!


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Happy Mothers Day to all! 


Paul: 

There's not a day that goes by where I don't think of my departed Mom. Although her time on earth was short, her impact on me, my family and those who knew her was large. 


They say that a mother's work is never done and I believe that. I know that my mom is smiling down upon me in heaven...proud of the accomplishments we managed here on earth below. I wear her wedding band on my little finger of my left hand...a reminder of her...and wish all Mom's out there the best. Happy Mother's Day! 


Sonja: 

I am fortunate enough to still have my 'Mutti' with me and able to enjoy the things in life with her. I wish a very happy Mothers Day to each and every Mom out there and thanks for the things you do.


We leave you with this great Mother's Day story.


The flock of ducklings were following their mother right up to the edge of the busy highway. Trusting, obedient and grouped behind her. Traffic, however, was heavy and there seemed no way that they'd get to the other side of the road. 


A station wagon stopped and a lady got out. She motioned for the traffic behind her to stop...and then walked right into the opposing lane of traffic and held up her hand.


4:30 p.m., rush hour traffic. But, the cars stopped. Mama Duck saw the hiatus in car movement and led her brood across the road. 


A frustrated motorist several cars back yelled out the window.


"Hey lady, what do you think you're doing?"


She loudly replied,


"Being a mother. Helping a mother." 


You could hear the cheers and applause from the rest of the cars as the pack scurried to safety. 


Sometimes, it takes a mother to get it done.
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