This is a short Boilermakings to recap the weekend since there wasn't a whole lot of news. I am also working on a larger Robert Marve piece, since this week seems to be the week he finally makes up his mind.
Softball bows out of NCAA Tournament - As I mentioned late Saturday night, building a program takes small steps. Our softball team took one this year by winning two NCAA Tournament games and eliminating a higher seeded team in Louisville. They didn't fare as well in the regional final yesterday. Needing to beat Arizona twice to move on to the Super Regional they fell 4-2 in game one to lose to the #9 national seed Wildcats.
Purdue nearly pulled off another upset in this one. The Boilers were tied 1-1 in the fifth, but gave up a 3-run home run to Lauren Schutzler. Schutzler scored Arisona's first run on a bases loaded walk in the fourth. Dana Alcocer took the loss for Purdue against her home town team in her final game as a Boilermaker. Alcocer graduated from Canyon Del Oro High in Tucson, home of the Wildcats.
Purdue's Candace Curtis also finished her career, but she saved her best for last witha fantastic regional. Curtis was involved heavily in both wins on Saturday, then scored one of Purdue's two runs yesterday. The same is true for Katie Mitchell, who had one of Purdue's two hits yesterday. Mitchell had 3 RBI in Saturday's win over Tennessee-Martin, helping Purdue stay alive.
Purdue's final record was a respectible 31-20, with wins over five ranked teams. They also toppled four teams that finished as national seeds in the NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for what should be a very good year next year.
Men's golf finishes season - Purdue freshman golfer Tyler Duncan finished his season with a 48th place finish in the NCAA Central Regional over the weekend. He was the only Purdue golfer to qualify for the regionals, but his score was not good enough to move on as an individual to the NCAA championships.
Raphael Davis commits for basketball - I didn't say much on this when it happened because I tend to agree with Boilerdowd on these early commitments. Basketball recruiting is getting younger and younger. It is starting to get so out of hand it wouldn't surprise me one bit if something like this did happen. I, too, remember the Robert Vaden committing as an eighth grader saga. The bottom line is that this kid isn't even sixteen yet. My nephew turned 14 yesterday and, while he isn't a basketball player, he isn't even thinking about college yet. Davis and Haden are separated by 18-24 months in their age, but because of a game Davis is being asked to grow up in a hurry. Most kids don't start seriously considering school until they are juniors, yet we are making some kids as young as 13 think about it because they can play basketball a little better than others? Are you serious?
At least this Davis kid appears to have a ton of talent and promise. As young as he is there is still time for him to get bigger as well. If you can be a 6'5" guard with plenty of muscle you can dominate in the game of college basketball. Let's just stick this one on the shelf for awhile and see where it is at in a few years.
Track and Field gets two champions, 4th place team finish at Big Ten meet -- Great article here from the Journal & Courier about Purdue's day at the Big Ten outdoor championships. Eric Sparks and Josh Hembrough won individual titles at the event.
Notre Dame's CFN preview is now posted - Let Jimmy Montana's hype officially begin. I don't think we will beat them, but they will not win 10 games this year.
Finally, spring Commencement was this weekend - Congratluations to all the new Purdue alumni. Now please, go to grad school and stay out my job market for a few years! j/k