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By Josh Cook

Things started well for the Louisville Bats on Thursday night, but they didn’t end that way.

The Bats blew an early 4-1 lead as host Indianapolis rallied for a 7-5 win at Victory Field.

The loss dropped Louisville (77-62) 1 1/2 games behind Columbus (79-61), an 8-0 winner over Toledo, in the International League West with only four games remaining in the regular season.

On the brightside the Bats lead Syracuse (74-65), which beat Rochester 7-3 Thursday, by three games in the IL wildcard standings.
Louisville looked good early, though, scoring three runs in the first inning.

Dave Sappelt singled off Indy starter Dana Eveland, then moved to third on Zack Cozart’s 29th double of the season before both came home on Danny Dorn’s three-run homer.

The Indians (69-71) tallied one in the bottom of the inning off Louisville starter Chad Reineke. Kevin Melillo led off with a single, moved to second when Akinori Iwamura walked, took third on Alex Presley’s fly out, then scored on Brandon Moss’ single.

Reineke helped his own cause in the second. He reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second when Cozart walked and scored on Dorn’s single that gave the right-handed pitcher a 4-1 lead.

He lost it in the fourth. Melillo tied the score with a two-out, three-run homer. Then back-to-back doubles by Iwamura and Presley gave Indy a 5-4 lead.

Louisville tied the game in the sixth when Eric Eymann tripled off Indians reliever Justin Thomas, then scored on a throwing error by second baseman Doug Bernier.

However Indy took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Reineke walked Iwamura with two outs, then Presley followed with an RBI-triple.

Reineke (9-9) entered the night ninth in the IL in earned-run average (3.66), but after giving up six earned run on eight hits while walking four and striking out four over six innings his ERA grew to 3.91.

The Indians added an insurance run in the seventh when Mitch Jones led off with a double off new pitcher Micah Owings, stole third, then scored on Pedro Ciriaco’s sacrifice fly.

The Bats tried to rally in the ninth, but to no avail.

Indians closer Jean Machi walked Sappelt to start the inning, then walked Dorn with one out prompting a coaching visit to the mound. Michael Griffin followed that with a single to load the bases. However Louisville catcher Devin Mesoraco grounded into a double play to end the game.

Sappelt, Dorn and Eymann led Louisville’s 10-hit attack with two apiece.

The Bats and Indians meet for the second game of the five-game split set at 7:15 p.m. Friday night.

Australian singer and songwriter Xavier Rudd has been making his own special blend of soulful, funk- and reggae-tinged music since his 2002 debut album To Let. Drawing on aboriginal influences, as well as traditional blues, rock, and folk, his songs are infused with a warm spirituality, often paying homage to the beautiful places of the earth – a love that springs from his close connection to his native country’s rustic beauty and the ocean where he spends a good bit of his time surfing. He and his new band, Izintaba are currently touring behind their recent release, Koonyum Sun.

I spoke to Xavier recently by phone, just as he was kicking off his North American tour on the West Coast, which will eventually wind its way to Louisville, where he will play at Headliner’s Music Hall on September 8.

I asked him first about how he and his new bandmates got together, after his years as a solo act. Until recently, he’s been a multi-instrumentalist, one-man show, playing instruments ranging from his homeland’s native didgeridoos, to an array of drums, guitar, lapsteel, banjo, and harmonica. These days, he’s glad to have a little help on stage.

While playing a music festival in Austria in 2008, he met South African musicians Tio Moloantoa and Andile Nqubezelo. “I felt an immediate connection,” he said and described how important their friendship and support was to him after his wife “called it quits, “ as he put it.

The dissolution of his marriage had taken a toll on his psyche, but his new musical partners helped inspire a renewed energy and fresh sound as they began to perform together and eventually record Koonyum Sun, which refers to a mountain range in New South Wales and the sun that rises to begin the day. Bassist Tio and drummer Andile bring African rhythms and warm vocal harmonies to Rudd’s already-rich palette of global influences for a sound that is reminiscent of Paul Simon’s work on Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints.

Rudd is also one of those musicians who puts his time and efforts into the causes that he believes in, whether its nuclear disarmament, environmental activism, or vegetarianism. An active surfer, Rudd earned the Rock the Boat award, which is an award presented by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to musicians who contribute to Sea Shepherd’s campaigns and help protect the ocean’s wildlife. PETA has named him Sexiest Vegetarian Man of the Year for his support of the vegetarian lifestyle, and he is also a vocal supporter of aboriginal rights in Australia.

Since he is so well-known for activism and songs that highlight environmental concerns, I asked Rudd how he responds to ongoing gloomy climate change forecasts and disasters such as the BP Oil Spill. “I think it’s probably too late to save it for ourselves,” he admitted soberingly, “but the Earth will just cough us off and go on. We’re living in special times,” he added because we still have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful places that are left. And he has particular reason to encourage his listeners to do what they can to put off disaster as long as possible – his two young sons by his ex-wife. In fact, it was his son Joaquin who inspired the title track. According to Rudd, sitting around the fire one evening, his son began singing the refrain, “If you could see /exactly what I could see /it would be a great mystery.” Xavier then worked these lines into a meditation on finding strength and wisdom in the eternal rhythms of the Koonyum Sun.

Touring world-wide and being a popular act at music festivals means Rudd is often away from his beloved country, but he draws inspiration from the places and people of each stop on the road: “I feel blessed to be able to do this and I feel very comfortable on the road.” He says that traveling with his new band mates has also been a great experience, describing them as “strong spirits” as befits their moniker: Izintaba is the Zulu word for “mountains.”

Below is the official video for the single, “Time to Smile.

Xavier Rudd and Izintaba will appear at Headliner’s Music Hall on Wednesday, September 8 at 9:00 p.m. with guest Good Old War. Tickets are available via Ticketweb and at the door, $18.

Thirty years of Afghanistan history provides the backdrop to The Kite Runner, which opens at Actors Theatre on Tuesday.

All performances of The Kite Runner will take place in the Pamela Brown Auditorium at Actors Theatre, located at 316 West Main Street in downtown Louisville. Performances will begin on August 31 and run every day except Mondays until September 25.

Tickets for each performance will vary between $20 and $59, depending on the day and seat. To purchase tickets, go to the Actors Theatre website, box office, or call 502-584-1205 or 1-800-4-ATL-TIX. Due to strong language and content, the show is recommended for audiences 13 years and older.

The Kite Runner looks at the lives of two friends during 30 years in Afghanistan. Amir, a Pushtan and member of a wealthy family, and Hassan, a Hazzara and a servant’s son, become friends during childhood in Kabul. However, a situation arises that will cause Amir to betray Hassan. Amir heads to the United States only to return to Afghanistan years later to look for redemption and face his fears.

Marc Masterson directed The Kite Runner, which is based on Khaled Hosseini’s novel. The cast includes Jose Peru Flores as Young Amir, Matt Pascua as Hassan and Sohrab, and Jos Viramontes as Amir. National and internationally known tabla player Salar Nader is also in the cast.

Besides the play, Hosseini’s novel, which spent half a decade on the New York Times bestseller list, was also turned into a movie in 2007. Marc Foster directed.

The show is part of the Brown Forman Series. More information on The Kite Runner can be found at the Actors Theatre website.

Actors Theatre’s season, meanwhile, will continue after The Kite Runner with performances of Dracula. This show will run from September 17 until Halloween. For more information on Actors Theatre’s season, click here.

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(Image from Actors Theatre)

By Josh Cook

A five-run seventh inning and some solid pitching helped the Louisville Bats maintain their lead in the International League West.

The Bats beat visiting Toledo 8-0 Sunday – their 13th shutout of the season – to keep their 1 1/2-game lead over Columbus intact in the IL West. Both Louisville (76-59) and Columbus (75-61) have eight games remaining in the regular season.

The Bats rang up 13 hits, including three home runs, against a trio of Toledo pitchers. Meanwhile five Louisville hurlers combined to give up only six Mud Hens’ hits as it evened its home record against Toledo this season to 5-5.

Dave Sappelt got the Bats off to a good start. He led off the bottom of the first with a double off Toledo starter Andrew Oliver. Sappelt advanced to third on a passed ball by Mud Hens catcher Robinson Diaz, then scored on Zack Cozart’s sacrifice fly.

Louisville made it 2-0 in the fourth on Devin Mesoraco’s two-out solo home run to left field.

Then came the seventh. Danny Dorn greeted new pitcher Ramon Garcia, who came on after Oliver (2-4) gave up one earned run and five hits while walking three and striking out five, with his 11th homer of the season. Eric Eymann and Michael Griffin followed with back-to-back singles and advanced to third and second, respectively, after a throwing error on Toledo third baseman Shawn Roof.

After Sappelt grounded out, Scot Drucker replaced Ramon Garcia and promptly gave up a two-run single to Cozart. Yonder Alonso followed with a two-run homer to left field to make it 7-0.

The Bats added another run in the eighth when Dorn doubled, then scored on Sappelt’s two-out RBI-single.

That was more than enough for Louisville’s quintet of pitchers. Micah Owings started, allowing two hits and striking out a pair over three innings. Jeremy Horst (1-0) followed with 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief, while he walked one and struck out four, to earn his first Triple-A win. Reliever Jordan Smith, Carlos Fisher and Philippe Valiquette combined to limit the Mud Hens to three hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

Sappelt led Louisville’s 13-hit attack, going 3-for-5. Frazier, Dorn and Eymann added two apiece.

The same two teams meet at 7:05 p.m. Monday in the last game of the split five-game series at Slugger Field. Louisville right-hander Matt Klinker (4-2, 5.91) is scheduled to take on Toledo righty L.J. Gagnier (5-7, 3.75).

It is AAA Discount Night for Kentuckians. AAA Kentucky members can receive $2 off a field reserved ticket when they show their AAA membership cards at the ticket window. Meijer customers can also receive a $2 discount on a field reserved ticket when showing their register receipts at the ticket window.

By Josh Cook

The University of Louisville men’s basketball team has taken a double hit.

Friday UofL announced that neither former Memphis guard Roburt Sallie nor 2010 signee Justin Coleman will be eligible to play for the Cardinals in the 2010-11 season.

According to the announcement Sallie, who had signed a financial aid agreement with UofL in June, won’t play “due to the timing requirements of meeting the matriculation deadline for graduate school.”

“We are disappointed for both Roburt and our program that he could not meet our admission requirements in time,” said Cards coach Rick Pitino, who hasn’t had the best of summers. “We wish him the best in finding an avenue to reach his goals.”

Sallie, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard/small forward, averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds in his last two seasons at Memphis. He was trying to take advantage of a little-used, or known about, NCAA rule intended to help student-athletes pick directions of graduate studies. Sallie would’ve been immediately eligible to play if he would have met requirements.

Meanwhile Coleman did not meet NCAA freshman admission requirements. The 6-5 small forward averaged 20.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a senior at Huntington (W.V.) Prep.

Without either Sallie or Coleman it likely means that UofL’s starting frontcourt for its Nov. 16 season-opener against Butler at new KFC Yum! Center will either be Terrence Jennings, Jared Swopshire and Kyle Kuric or Jennings, Rakeem Buckles and Swopshire.

The Cards’ starting backcourt for that first game will likely be Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva.

It was also learned Thursday that UofL will host archrival Kentucky at noon Dec. 31 at the KFC Yum! Center.

Photo courtesy UofL Sports.com

As we walked up to the house from the car, we hadn’t a care in the world.  The sun was shining, we’d all had a good day according to the post-school report in the car ride home.  Loaded with the typical 100- pound purse, a plethora of lunch boxes and discarded snack wrappers, I turned the key in the door without a thought.  And then our tiny world exploded.  After a nervous look from my dog at the door, I began to take it all in.  Glass shards littered the floor like fallen snow; the contents of every drawer in the house exposed, vulnerable on the floor.  My bed overturned, refrigerator and freezer gaping wide open, and TV MIA.  Then I took a long gasp of air and said it, “We’ve been robbed.”

That’s when I realized I’d been clutching the two tiny hands that flanked my sides.  I quickly followed the path of those hands to the large, startled orbs that were also taking in the devastation to our home.  Our home.  Our home that was now violated, its innards turned inside-out, contaminated with the blood of an intruder.  Drops of blood began at the broken door and ended at my husband’s sock drawer where multiple pairs were used as make-shift compresses.  I had to think.  Call 911, get the kids outside, and for the love of god, don’t cry, don’t cry…

My son immediately started crying as I ushered them to the neighbor’s house, “I hate our house!  I want to move!”  rang out in a cry atypical from his normal dramatic fits.  This cry was real; he was terrified.  My daughter, who is three, didn’t quite understand what was going on, but still managed to evaluate, “Our house is broken, mom.”  As the police came, my son began collecting evidence (hairballs from under the couch that were there long before the thief) and placing Legos at the doors as booby traps.

This episode has made me think a lot about my family’s security.  I’ve made sure to talk about it with them and carry on normal routines, inform their teachers, and put on a smiling, secure face (even though I left work early to check the house prior to picking up my children the following day).  They seem to be sleeping at night, playing without fear, and surprisingly haven’t mentioned the TV once, but how do I know?  When will this resurface or will it ever.  Kids are resilient, I’ve read bazillion articles on line in the past couple of days that has told me so, but then there was that cry.  I heard the fear in it.  The TV can be replaced, but innocence can’t. 

A murder mystery, Shel Silverstein’s works, torch songs, and Amateurs will take to the stage during the Wayward Actors Theatre Company’s 2010-2011 season.

Wayward Actors will persent six shows for the upcoming season, which begins with An Adult Evening of Shel Silversteen (September), followed by Rehearsal for Murder (December), Amateurs (February 2011), and all three parts of Torch Song Trilogy (June-July 2011).

An Adult Evening of Shel Silversteen will open the season in the Mex Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, located at 501 West Main Street in downtown Louisville. The production wil feature unrelated sketches created by Silversteen, including Wash and Dry, about a person realizing the laundry is not done, Going Once, where a person tries to auction herself off, and Thinking Up a New Name for the Act.

Performances will take place on September 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 8 p.m. A matinee show will take place on September 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 per person and can be purchased at the Kentucky Center box office, Kentucky Center website, or by phone at 502-584-7777.

Following Silversteen will be the murder mystery Rehearsal for Murder in December.  Actors look over a production and soon realize connections between it and a murder of the playwright’s fiancee.  Richard Levinson and William Link created the production, and D.D. Brooke adapted it for the stage.  

Amateurs will follow in February 2011.  The production features Dorothy and her husband, after opening night of a musical, hosting friends and actors.  One person gets a heart attack and is sent to the hospital.  He leaves his unfinished review, which panned the show, behind.  

The Torch Song Trilogy will conclude the season, which each part taking place in consecutive weeks in June and July 2011.   Each act features some part of Arnold’s life.  Arnold sees Alan, who has issues with his bisexuality.  The second act deals with Arnold and Alan settling down together and attempting to adopt a child.  The final act shows Arnold as a single father supporting his gay teenager.  

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(Image from Kentucky Center for the Arts)