The Cardinals will take on three Dominican Winter League franchises in addition to community service opportunities.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball program hits the international circuit this weekend, as the Cardinals travel south to the Dominican Republic for a trio of games in addition to community service opportunities.
The program’s second international trip starts with an early departure Friday morning and an afternoon arrival in Santo Domingo. The Cardinals will immediately get to work with a youth baseball clinic that evening as part of the community service outreach. The Louisville players and coaches will also visit an orphanage Saturday and spend time helping feed a village on Sunday.
Louisville’s first game will take place Saturday evening against Estrellas Orientales at the 8,000-seat Estadio Tetelo Vargas in San Pedro de Macorís. The Estrellas Orientales franchise is the reigning champion of the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) and managed by former MLB player Fernando Tatis. Estrellas Orientales defeated the Cardinals 5-3 during the Cardinals’ trip to the Dominican Republic in 2015.
Sunday, the Cardinals will travel to the Kansas City Royals Academy in Guerra to take on Leones del Escogido. A member of the Dominican Winter League, the Leones del Escogido franchise owns 16 league championships and has captured four Caribbean Series titles. The Cardinals lost 10-8 against Leones del Escogido in 2015.
The final game of the trip will take place Monday, as Louisville heads to La Romana for a contest against Toros del Este in the 10,000-seat Estadio Francisco Micheli. The Toros del Este franchise owns a pair of LIDOM titles, winning most recently in the 2010-11 season.
The five-day trip for Louisville, which coincides with the university’s mid-term break, will conclude on Tuesday with the team’s return home. The Cardinals are partnering with SCORE International for its housing, transportation and community service work while on the ground in the Dominican Republic. SCORE International is a short-term mission organization with extensive experience providing all-inclusive trips.
Louisville entered this fall coming off its fifth NCAA College World Series appearance in 2019. The Cardinals finished the season 51-18 overall and made their deepest postseason run in program history, reaching the bracket final in Omaha.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
GAME SCHEDULE
Matchup: Louisville vs. Estrellas Orientales
Date/Time: Saturday | 4 p.m., ET
Venue: Estadio Tetelo Vargas
City: San Pedro de Macorís
Matchup: Louisville vs. Leones del Escogido
Date/Time: Sunday | 10:30 a.m., ET
Venue: Kansas City Royals Academy
City: Guerra
Matchup: Louisville vs. Toros del Este
Date/Time: Monday | 11:30 a.m., ET
Venue: Estadio Francisco Micheli
City: La Romana
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