Monday Cardinal Couple - The Sandy Pearsall Interview

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Interview with Softball's Sandy Pearsall

(CARDINAL COUPLE'S exclusive interview with head UofL softball coach Sandy Pearsall. We hope you like it!)

CARDINAL COUPLE: Looking at this veteran team you have returning...do you have one team leader?

Coach Pearsall: We actually have multiple leaders on this team. We do develop a group of players to lead this team and we start them off in their sophomore year...so we've built this leadership group over a period of time. We have Jordy Trimble involved in that, Chrisanna Roberts..our senior leaders. Also some one who has come on the field and has been involved with leadership is senior Alicia Wolny. We'll miss leadership that we had from Kristin Austin, Chelsea Leonard, Tesha Paysen. Those three were instrumental is leadership, but I think these three are definitely headed in that direction.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Any chance at all of Leonard coming back to pitch at all?

Coach Pearsall: No. The knee won't allow it. She'll graduate this year. She'd have eligibility left, if she wanted to go somewhere else and play...she could...but to get this to work out we had to career end her here. Basically, we couldn't have gone on this year without a replacement pitcher. We wish she could have had four years playing for us.

CARDINAL COUPLE: So, that leaves Caralisa Connell as your main pitcher. Some Cardinal fans are wondering...if there is a weakness on this team this year, it is pitching?

Coach Pearsall: It is our unknown, that is for sure. This is the year we'll expect Caralisa to step up, just like Tori Collins stepped up a few years ago when we weren't getting what we expected out of Kristen Wadwell. Seeing what "Carl", our nickname for Caralisa, did at the end of last year for us...she's done the work for us. I think she's going to have a great year for us. She's our strength on the pitching staff.

We did add Rachel Le Coq, who transferred from Colgate. She's embraced her role here and we've seen a lot of good things from her. Can she carry us? No, not now. Maybe a year from now...but she will give us a lot of innings of support...hopefully

CARDINAL COUPLE: Any truth to the rumor that you've reached a deal to bring Katie Petrino back to pitch...and promised to lend Connell to Coach Trimble on the golf team?

Coach Pearsall: (laughing) I don't know! I'll have to ask Carl how her golf game is! (Laughing). We'd take Katie back any day she wanted to come back because she is just the greatest competitor. I'm not sure that Carl's golf game is going to be strong enough to help the golf team but I'll check with Carl on that...(laughing).

CARDINAL COUPLE: Remember you drive for show and putt for dough.  You've been ranked third in the BIG EAST. How do feel about that? I mean, you only lose five games all year and you win the BIG EAST and third?

Coach Pearsall: Actually, it's probably because of the way the voters are looking at our returning pitching. South Florida had a great NCAA Tournament run, they return a powerhouse team and a great pitcher, so I can see where they deserve the top spot. Same for Notre Dame, they get back a lot of power, speed and good pitching also...so were comfortable with third. And, it's just pre-season stuff. The important thing is where you are at the end of the season .
 

DePaul returns a great team. Syracuse loses Jenna Caira, a great pitcher, but has a good pitcher to replace her that is a senior. You also have to watch out for Rutgers and Pitt, they're very capable teams. It's not a simple conference, it not an easy conference...and it's a case of where we still don't play everybody. We don't play South Florida in the regular season. Good and bad maybe? I'd rather play them in the regular season just to know what we might be facing come tournament time. We don't play DePaul in conference play, but we will go up against them in Vegas. Verdun, their big hitter and pitcher is back for them.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Talk a little about the season opener. You're headed to Las Vegas for three games.

Coach Pearsall: It's a great opportunity for us to see what we've got early on....obviously. Some great teams out there and we're looking forward to the tests. Just to get the season started.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Looking at the non-conference schedule, it looks to be the strongest I've ever seen for UofL softball...

Coach Pearsall: It's definitely going to be a big challenge for us. We schedule over a year out, so you're anticipating what you might have. If I'd known I was going to lose Leonard, I might have had some different thoughts in my scheduling but with that said...we do have a veteran team back and we need to be challenged. Carl needs to be challenged and we need to show we can step up to that next level, that next spot in our toughness. You have schools on there...LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, North Carolina...these are always extremely good programs. Oklahoma being the cream of the crop. They come back very intact and have actually added even more power. It's a great challenge for us. You're not going to get better playing the teams you can easily beat. If you can go out there and beat teams like this, that's a real accomplishment.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Basketball coaches talk about their players either having or lacking a "basketball IQ". Does that apply to softball as well?

COACH PEARSALL: Definitely. Like all coaches, we have kids who have played the game but not learned the game. They're directed, like in youth ball and club or high school, so they're told what to do but they are not learning the game. We work with them on situational things, like what to expect when they are batting and there is a certain count...like 2-1 or 0-2. They have to be able to learn the game to be able to play it at the highest level. Basketball coaches talk about wanting their kids to be "gym rats" and that apply to our players as well. They have to want to go do things on their own like going to the batting cages and working on hitting because the amount of time we are allowed to work with them is very limited.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Who is the hardest worker on your team?

Coach Pearsall: Wow. That's a tough one. There are kids who have really matured from their freshman year, like Hannah Kiyohara. Alicja Wolny. Taner Fowler and Maggie Ruckenbrod. Katie Keller. They go and they do a lot extra on their own. Our pitchers do a lot of work on their own. I have some kids that don't put in as much work on their own like I would like to see, but I'd say 80% of them do the extra work.

CARDINAL COUPLE: There has been talk about some additions and improvements over at Ulmer Stadium. Please go over those.

Coach Pearsall: Expansion is scheduled to take place at the end of this season. Some dugout improvements, like getting some bathrooms in there. In the stadium, there will be about another 100 seats added and a terrace on the top, so fans can walk from one side to the other. An expanded press box, too. And a covering over part of our stands, too that will provide some protection during bad weather or sunny days when people want to get out of the sun. We're also going to be building a new locker room and club house. This is really needed, this is greatly needed. The current one is a tight fit. We actually don't have enough lockers for our players. It'll be where the concession area and restrooms are now, right across from Ulmer.

CARDINAL COUPLE: Any final words for our readers?

Coach Pearsall: Just to thank them for their support and continued support. I hope we can continue to have that great fan support by putting a great product and program out there for them to cheer for and support.
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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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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE...CARDS WILL HOST SOFTBALL REGIONALS

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


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


-The Top 16 in NCAA Regionals



-Reid, Gibbs officially eligible for 2012-13 season


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


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

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

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


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


Louisville Regional


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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


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

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

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

Now, who ya gonna start, Jeff? A good problem to have...
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LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL TEAM:SEASON WINDING DOWN

Truth be told...Paul would rather have
Moonlight barbecue instead of hot dogs

Today the Louisville Softball Team plays a doubleheader in South Orange, N.J. against Seton Hall . Game times are Noon and 2pm.   Tomorrow the two teams meet at 11am.   Then, on Wednesday 4/25 the team travels to Bloomington to play Indiana at 2pm before returning home  for their final 3 home games next weekend.

The team is Nationally ranked (9th) and is currently in first place in the Big East. Their record is 40-2 (11-2 Big East).

So hurry!  Time is running out and the regular season is winding down.  Last chance to catch the Louisville Cardinal Softball  team at home during the regular season. Only 3 home games left-- A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday 4/28 against Georgetown at 2pm and 4pm.  On Sunday 4/29 the teams square off at 1pm.

Why go?  Well, the price is right.  A ticket will cost $0.  Actually--you don't need a ticket.  Just walk in Ulmer Stadium and sit where you like--- except for the press box. That spot is reserved for Co-Owner & senile Senior Columnist of Cardinal Couple Paul Sykes.  Yes, if you  are lucky you just might see Paul aimlessly wandering around the stadium asking patrons if they could buy him a cup of coffee and a couple hot dogs.  Don't be surprised as  you walk to the concession stand to fulfill his request you hear him enthusiastically exclaim:  "Don't worry about the condiments!!".... (As he pulls out 50 mustard packets he's collected from various fast food restaurants and a 64oz bottle of Heinz ketchup from his back pocket). And if by chance he forgets how to get back to the press box he would appreciate any of our faithful readers to point him in the right direction. 
And if you are lucky, you just might see a couple players from the Women's Basketball team supporting the team.  Becky, Jude, and Shoni have been known to attend many of the games. (Don't buy them any hot dogs---that would be an NCAA violation).  So take in a softball game next weekend.  The games are fast moving, exciting, and best of all free.


Commish Mark