Softball Season is Underway
January 08, 2019 | Softball
Cards take the field for the first practice of the 2019 campaign
As the 2019 spring semester begins, the University of Louisville softball team took the field for their first official practice of the season Tuesday afternoon.
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After nearly a month off between semesters, the players and coaches were eager to take advantage the 60-degree temperatures and sunny weather to practice at Ulmer Stadium.
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"We communicated well and we did a good job of working together," said head coach Holly Aprile. "It was a beautiful day and we had lots of great energy and focus. It was a really good start."
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Preseason practice will continue throughout the month of January as the Cardinals prepare for their opening weekend, February 8-10. Louisville will spend its first three weekends on the road, staring with a trip to the West Coast for Cal State Fullerton's Titan Classic, where the Cards will take on Idaho State, Fullerton, Buffalo, Northwestern and Utah State.
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The 2019 campaign marks Louisville's 20th season as a program and first under new head coach Holly Aprile's tutelage. The 20-player roster features a balance of veterans and newcomers who completed a successful fall season that included scrimmage wins against Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Morehead State, Western Kentucky and Kentucky.
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The Cards are coming off of a 33-20 campaign in 2018. Back from that team are 14 letterwinners and six starters as well as five pitchers. Louisville also welcomes the addition of five freshmen to the 2019 roster.
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Among the returners are National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region selections junior Caitlin Ferguson (Versailles, Ky.) and senior Megan Hensley (Ashland, Ky.) as well as all-ACC honoree senior Sidney Melton (Columbus, Ohio) and sophomore Maddy Newman (Osceola, Ind.) who earned all-ACC freshman team honors last year. Junior Celene Funke (Carmel, Ind.) also returns after leading the team with a .355 batting average along with sophomore Danielle Watson (Osceola, Ind.) who posted 14 wins in the circle during her freshman campaign.
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The Aprile Era
This marks the first season under new head coach Holly Aprile. The 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament.
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Fans can follow Louisville Softball on Twitter (@UofLSoftball) at https://twitter.com/UofLSoftball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleSoftball
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After nearly a month off between semesters, the players and coaches were eager to take advantage the 60-degree temperatures and sunny weather to practice at Ulmer Stadium.
Â
"We communicated well and we did a good job of working together," said head coach Holly Aprile. "It was a beautiful day and we had lots of great energy and focus. It was a really good start."
Â
Preseason practice will continue throughout the month of January as the Cardinals prepare for their opening weekend, February 8-10. Louisville will spend its first three weekends on the road, staring with a trip to the West Coast for Cal State Fullerton's Titan Classic, where the Cards will take on Idaho State, Fullerton, Buffalo, Northwestern and Utah State.
Â
The 2019 campaign marks Louisville's 20th season as a program and first under new head coach Holly Aprile's tutelage. The 20-player roster features a balance of veterans and newcomers who completed a successful fall season that included scrimmage wins against Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Morehead State, Western Kentucky and Kentucky.
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The Cards are coming off of a 33-20 campaign in 2018. Back from that team are 14 letterwinners and six starters as well as five pitchers. Louisville also welcomes the addition of five freshmen to the 2019 roster.
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Among the returners are National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region selections junior Caitlin Ferguson (Versailles, Ky.) and senior Megan Hensley (Ashland, Ky.) as well as all-ACC honoree senior Sidney Melton (Columbus, Ohio) and sophomore Maddy Newman (Osceola, Ind.) who earned all-ACC freshman team honors last year. Junior Celene Funke (Carmel, Ind.) also returns after leading the team with a .355 batting average along with sophomore Danielle Watson (Osceola, Ind.) who posted 14 wins in the circle during her freshman campaign.
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The Aprile Era
This marks the first season under new head coach Holly Aprile. The 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament.
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Fans can follow Louisville Softball on Twitter (@UofLSoftball) at https://twitter.com/UofLSoftball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleSoftball
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Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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INF
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
RHP
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