Like a Monica Abbott fastball, the Chicago Bandits Examiner hereby serves up a softball-themed review of the Bandits’ best, not-so-good, and most memorable moments in 2011 for fans to chew on:
- Called third strike: The 15-3 loss to the USSSA Pride July 22 in Florida. The Bandits gave up nine walks, a couple stolen bases, two hit batsmen, a passed ball and an error in a debacle of a game.
- Going down swinging: Catcher Rachel Folden’s injuring her left hand in a cycling accident and disappearing from the line-up after a July 7 victory over the Akron Racers. Folden’s injury led to her being released from the squad on Aug. 2 to make way for Jenna Grim.
- Passed ball: Francesca Enea’s walk-off home run in the eighth inning that gave the Pride a 3-1 victory in Florida July 21. Cat Osterman allowed only three Bandits to reach base after the second inning.
- Base-on-balls: The Bandits finishing third in the 2011 NPF regular season with a 20-20 record after topping the league in 2010.
- Infield out: The Racers nailing Bandits Coach Darrick Brown for illegal substitutions in more than one game. “Weird things happen whenever we play Akron,” Brown admitted.
- Infield hit: Chicago’s 1-0 victory over the Pride in their first NPF regular season game at Rosemont Stadium June 16. Pinch-hitter Caitlin Lever drove Megan Wiggins home from third with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
- Extra bases: Nikki Nemitz’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth in Game 2 of the NPF Championship Series preliminary round. The 7-4 victory over the Racers on Aug. 19 put the Bandits into the finals against the Pride.
- Single: Taylor Swift Night, Pink in the Park, Mascot Day, Faith Day and the other creative promotions dreamed up by the Bandits’ front office.
- Double: Alexis Jager hitting the first home run in Rosemont Stadium June 4 against the Bloomington Lady Hearts and getting engaged on the field following the game.
- Triple: The June 4 grand opening of Rosemont Stadium. Each member of the 2011 Chicago Bandits squad was escorted onto the field astride a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
- Double play: Stacy May-Johnson coming out of retirement Aug. 11 as the Bandits prepare for the 2011 NPF Championship Series. The Bandits defeat the Pride in her first game back in uniform, 6-5.
- Home run: Monica Abbott’s perfect game against the Racers Aug. 4 at Rosemont Stadium. The Bandits won the game, 5-0.
- Hit for the cycle: Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano’s June 30 visit to Rosemont Stadium to throw out the first pitch. It generated oceans of publicity for the Bandits because Zambrano had withdrawn from his MLB game earlier in the day, citing lower back pains. He was then nearly hit by a foul tip during the game while being interviewed in the stands for TV. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Joe Cowley ruffled the Bandits’ feathers a few days later when he expressed surprise that a professional women’s softball team even existed in Chicago. Cowley eventually accepted a challenge to visit Rosemont Stadium Aug. 14 and bat against veteran pitcher Jamee Juarez, resulting in another column and more publicity for the Bandits. (Juarez struck Cowley out on five pitches.)
- Grand slam: The Chicago Bandits sweep the NPF Diamonds and the defending champion USSSA Pride in Sulphur, La., in August to claim their second NPF Championship Series title in four years.
Bandits fans, players and staff, what would you add to or subtract from this list? The Chicago Bandits Examiner would enjoy hearing from you. Feel free to comment below and keep the discussion going. You’ve got plenty of time to ruminate – Opening Day is still five months away.
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