Tagged: Jim Patterson Stadium

Cards take on Catamounts

Louisville Cardinals vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (NCAA)

Jim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  It’s that time of year again, when college baseball fans can rejoice because baseball for us starts so much sooner than the pros.  This can make for some rough game weather wise in February and March, but for us we had a perfect day in the ‘Ville for our first game of the season.

The Cards were hosting the Western Carolina Catamounts for a non-conference series, and were looking to stay undefeated.  Leading the charge offensively for Louisville was second baseman Devin Mann, who went 1-3 with an RBI and a run, and Danny Oriente who also went 1-3 with an RBI.  On the mound, Liam Jenkins started the game, throwing three innings while giving up one run on one hit, and striking out six.  Reid Detmers earned the win in relief, throwing three scoreless innings and striking out seven.  Final:  Cardinals 3, Catamounts 2.

The weather has turned cold and nasty again, so we haven’t been to any more games.  We have lots to look forward to this summer, though, and Brian has already started his Little League practices, so more to come.

Photos property of Minoring In Baseball

It Begins

Louisville Cardinals vs. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (NCAA)

32276979124_49f7940432_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  It officially begins, the 2017 baseball season.  As it was, Saturday was the coldest day here in Louisville, so obviously, that’s the only game we were able to make.   A little cold weather isn’t enough to ruin our baseball fun, however, (even though Brian looks miserable in the photo).  With Papa down visiting from Michigan, we were all happy to be at Jim Patterson Stadium for our first ballgame of the year.

32798958550_bfc5fcac05_z33139473066_f7070bbdba_zOn the hill for the Cards, Kade McClure earned the win, pitching six innings while striking out nine.  He only gave up one hit and walked only three.  In relief, Sam Bordner and Shay Smiddy preserved the shutout for Louisville.

32276979194_20dc8558e0_z32276979804_2dabf476b3_zOn the offensive side, Louisville was led by Colby Fitch, who went 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Also, Brendan McKay was being Brendan McKay, going 2-2 with a run and an RBI, while Drew Ellis went 2-3 with a run and RBI, also.  Nebraska-Omaha didn’t do themselves any favors, either, committing four errors.  In the end, it was a blowout and a shutout for the Cardinals.  Final: Cardinals 10, Mavericks 0.

33139450046_495b43306d_zDespite the cool temperatures, it was a fun day of baseball, and it wasn’t over with the Cards. We had to rush back to the OC, so Brian could take part in his Little League evaluation, as the draft was on Sunday.  Here’s a photo below from his eval.  Not sure when we’ll see Louisville at home next, but have plans to visit Lexington in a couple of weeks.  As for me, I’m just glad the baseball season has begun.

33080271966_397d24d0b9_zPhotos property of Minoring In Baseball

2016 Pizza Bowl

Straders’s Raiders vs. Vrable’s Vikings

29745559314_de046287b6_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  I’m still learning some of the traditions of Cardinal baseball, and a new one I’ve discovered is the Pizza Bowl. The Louisville baseball team splits into two squads for a five game series, with the losers serving pizza to the winners. This years series featured Strader’s Raiders against the Vrable’s Vikings.  The Vikings took the first two game of the series, and we were in attendance for game three.

30311183871_ee8495c0c7_z30397340275_17d56c1ea1_zGame three really looked like the Raiders were going to break into the win column, as they carried a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning. They were lead by catcher Zeke Pinkham, who hit a single, walked twice, and scored a run.  Outfielder Ryan Summers and infielder Justin Levy each had one hit and one RBI.  Freshman outfielder Ethan Stringer hit a solo home run, and Brian was able to snag that ball.

29765580493_a9c8dbaede_z30376205575_7f6895e28e_zThe Vikings made their comeback in the eighth inning on three unearned runs.  Outfielder Logan Taylor had an RBI single and scored a run to lead the Vikes offense.  Colin Lyman and Danny Oriente each added and an RBI, also, with Oriente hitting and RBI single in the seventh as well.

30100272180_e77afd2756_z29765591453_6218b86259_zStarting on the hill for the Raiders, Michael McAvene earned a no-decision although he struck out six, walked one, and pitched six no-hit innings.  For the Vikings, Nick Bennett giving up just two runs on two hits while striking out four. FINAL:  Raiders 5, Vikings 4.

Trevor snagged a foul ball, and found a UofL stress ball

Trevor snagged a foul ball, and found a UofL stress ball

This was a fun day for the boys and I. We also had a productive day, as Trevor got a foul ball and a stress ball.  Brian was able to snag Stinger’s home run ball! This was our last ballgame of the fall, as the team split the last two games of the series, with the Raiders winning four games to one. We look forward to the spring and more Cardinal baseball!  Also exciting news I learned from my buddy the Baseball Bloggess, is that Louisville will be hosting the ACC Baseball tourney next season, also, so I’m looking to get some vacation time for that!

30280806732_c0b9a041e3_zPhotos property of Minoring In Baseball

 

 

Cards tame Bearcats

Louisville Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bearcats (NCAA)

26779565196_91ca67bc00_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  Brian had to make his first appearance at a Cardinals game sooner or later, so we just decided sooner.  Louisville hosted the Cincinnati Bearcats in a non-conference game, and this was a good chance to see our top-10 team in action.  Brian loved the façade of the ballpark, with the arc and the big bats (we haven’t made it to the Slugger museum yet).  We found seats for a little while, but migrated to the outfield so he could play on the playground.

26275622193_a2c336989d_zI could still watch the game, and got a solid panoramic which is always good!

26846029716_6c690a129a_kIt was a decent vantage point to watch the game, and the Cardinals were playing solid ball against the Bearcats.  The home team had their Louisville Slugger warmed up for the game, scoring seven run.  The Cards were led by Will Smith, who went 2-4 with a home run.  Colby Finch pitched in going 2-2 with two runs scored, while Blake Tiberi went 2-4 with 2 RBI.

26845988556_3a228b147d_z26880234915_0e2efd4e9b_zOn the mound, Kade McClure picked up the win, pitching seven innings, while striking out four. FINAL: Cardinals 7, Bearcats 1.

26880247215_54ec3027a4_z26607063630_7e9ebbfffc_zTo top the game off, Brian even got a foul ball, our first at a Louisville Cardinals game!

26737047711_7cb80d9373_zAnd here is a YouTube video I finally remembered to make:

 

Photos and video property of Minoring In Baseball

 

The first of many in the ‘Ville

Louisville Cardinals vs Princeton Tigers (NCAA)

25514363015_174ff8645f_zJim Patterson Stadium-Louisville, KY:  While down in Louisville doing some business, we had time to take in our first Cardinals baseball game.  The weather didn’t feel a whole lot different than Michigan, in the high 30’s and cool, but I’m definitely not going to complain if I’m able to watch baseball in March.  Jim Patterson Stadium is a great college facility, and I honestly can’t believe that the games are free here. We settled in behind the Louisville dugout, and watched about half of the game from there.  The netting extends to the end of the dugout, so it was hard to get any great pics from this vantage point. We moved to the other side of the stadium, and I was able to get a few from that angle. I’m not a huge fan of too much netting, but that’s another story altogether.  Despite the cold (which I’m used to) it was a fun game to watch and a good distraction from everything else that’s going on in my life right now.

25146811109_700a2b519c_z25564981115_2d63506efa_z25472218281_4634f251e1_zOn to the game itself, I was happy to see that Kyle Funkhouser was on the bump for the Cards.  He ended up with the win, and tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts on the afternoon. He allowed two runs on four hits, and only walked one batter. Funkhouser also retired the last 11 batters that he faced. In relief, Lincoln Henzman came into the game and pitched two shutouts innings to earn the save.  Louisville was led offensively by sophomore third-baseman Blake Tiberi, who was 2-4 with an RBI.  Sophomore DH Brendan McKay pitched in with a double and a pair of RBI’s himself, while junior second-baseman Nick Solak had a single, RBI, and two walks.  It was a fun afternoon, and good to get our first game in.  I’m sure there will be plenty more that we’ll attend with the quality of baseball and free admission. I’m hoping to make at least one game in Michigan before we get down here and settled, but the next couple of months will be crazy for us, for sure. Final score: Louisville 4, Princeton 2.

24934439204_cb2064ba58_z25514369065_1e2e3a2ac9_z25538777426_1380bfdbd7_z25538769836_154fc5fa44_zPhotos property of Minoring In Baseball