Bring On The Diamond Magic
Could it happen again, the magic engulfing the University of Louisville baseball team in another bid for NCAA glory?
Fresh from a three-game sweep of Georgetown University, U of L now has 31 wins. Nine more and the chances of returning to the NCAA tournament are all but assured. Coach Dan McDonnell said last week that he believed 40 wins would go a long way toward nailing down a tournament invitation.
The Cards romped past the Hoyas 9-2 Sunday afternoon, on the strength of seven innings of two-hit pitching by freshman Bob Revesz. They have now won seven games in a row.
The Cards have nine games remaining, including a couple of three-game series against Big East teams — next weekend at West Virginia and the following weekend to close out the season against Rutgers at Jim Patterson Stadium. The double-elimination Big East Tournament will be held in Clearwater, Fla., May 20-24.
Big East Standings
Conference Overall St. John’s 16 5 35 10 Notre Dame 15 6 32 13 Cincinnati 14 7 29 18 Louisville 13 8 31 16 Seton Hall 13 8 27 17 West Virginia 11 10 32 14 South Florida 10 11 25 21 Rutgers 9 12 20 25 Villanova 9 12 25 22 Connecticut 8 16 23 27 Pittsburgh 6 15 15 28 Georgetown 5 19 16 20
Big East Tourney In Louisville? Coach McDonnell also revealed last week that Louisville this season had missed out on hosting the Big East baseball tournament. He added, however, that the University will again submit a proposal next year to host the event here following the 2009 season. The games would be played at the Louisville Bats’ Slugger Field where the seating capacity is 13,200.
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Missing Credit — Maybe it’s a small thing in the overall picture, but it’s a big thing with this observer. Did you notice that the track announcer at Churchill Downs did not give the name of the band playing “My Old Kentucky Home”? It was the University of Louisville band, thank you. The band was on camera less than two seconds before switching over to the Barnstable look-alikes, the former feline cheerleaders. Out of 150,000 people at the track, why them? Got to stay on top of these issues at all times, it seems.
About the Author: Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, as well as a public affairs consultant and a UofL grad and longtime fan.
Linda | May 4, 2008 | Reply
Go Cards ! Wow, cool to sweep Georgetown. We are so proud of our U of L Cardinals win or lose but it would be sweet to return to the tourney and yeah baby, the World Series….looks like we are getting hot just in time. It would be so neat to host the tourney too. Louisville is the perfect venue for it. Thanks for the info, Charlie.
Sonja | May 5, 2008 | Reply
PATRICK HENRY HUGHES SHINES AGAIN.
It was time for the traditional “call to the post”..when Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttleman blares out the short melody that signals the horses are coming on to the track. But, wait…who was that standing next to him? None other than UofL Marching Band, Extreme Makeover Star and Crusade for Children star Patrick Henry Hughes! The duo harmonized on the tune, and neither missed a note. Let’s get our man Patrick involved in some more stuff around Central Avenue. How about a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at Patterson Stadium? Hughes is an accomplished keyboardist as well. Way to represent, Patrick!