WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Dayna Dixon, Chicago Bandits. August 7, 2005: The battle continues today in Chicago as the Chicago Bandits won their second game this weekend against the Juggernaut 3-2 Saturday night in Lisle, Illinois. The two teams have been exchanging the wins since last weekend in New York.
The Banditas Lindsay Chouinard gave up 5 hits but picked up her 8th win of the season in the circle for Chicago. On the other end, Jodie Cox gave up 8 hits and struck out two. Cox took the loss for her third this year.
Both teams welcomed back players who were in Japan this past week playing on the USA National Team. Bandits Jaime Clark and Vicky Galindo along with Juggernaut Natasha Watley returned to play with their NPF team for the rest of the series. In the first inning alone, Watley created two outs defensively.
The game didn’t get rolling until the bottom of the third inning when the Bandits scored the first run of the game.
Bandit Vicky Galindo walked and scored when ex-Naut Gina Oaks recorded her 7th RBI when she drove in Galindo off of her single to deep left. The inning ended on an out from Oaks at first when the officials caught her leaving the bag early.
The Bandits exploded in the fourth inning with their bats, but only came up with one run. Pitcher Jodie Cox gave up three hits in this inning alone.
Jaime Clark hit a blooper that dropped in short center just enough put her on first. Clark was moved around the bases with the next two batters but when Christina Enea pushed the ball to the left field outfielder Kaleo Eldredge gunned the ball to home. Catcher Realmuto tagged Clark a couple feet in front of the plate. Collins made up for the previous play by scoring Enea with her single to bring the Bandits to 2-0.
Kate Varde singled and was replaced by Liz Bouck to run. Next up, Galindo was hit by pitch, although coach Julie Smith would disagree. She appealed the call to the home plate umpire . Oaks hit a line drive down the left field line to bring in Bouck (who re-entered to run), giving the Bandits a 3-0 lead after four. New York switched it up by bring in relief pitcher Auburn Sigurdson to finish off the inning with two outs.
The Juggernaut procrastinated by waiting until the 7th inning to put some runs on the board. Chouinard gave up four hits including a double.
Alicia Smith pinchhit to start the rally, singling to get on. Chelsea Spencer, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning, drove in Smith with her double. Jackie Pasquerella became the potential tying run on first with her single as Spencer crossed the plate, making it 3-2.
After Watley was safe at first, Pasquerella attempted to stretch it to third, but first basemen Enea threw the ball to Galindo who tagged Jackie out at third, ending the game. The loss dropped the Juggernaut 5-1/2 games behind the league-leading Bandits.
The final game between the Chicago Bandits and New York Juggernaut will take place noon Sunday, August 7th at the Bandits’ home field in Lisle, Ill. The loss left the Juggernaut 2-1/2 Games ahead of the Arizona Heat for the 4th and last playoff berth in the NPF.
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| NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH STANDINGS August 7, 2005 |
| Team |
W |
L |
% GB |
| Chicago Bandits |
34 |
5 |
.872 ------ |
| Akron Racers |
31 |
6 |
.838 1-1/2 |
| Texas Thunder |
31 |
8 |
.795 3 |
| New York Juggernaut |
26 |
9 |
.743 5-1/2 |
| Arizona Heat |
24 |
12 |
.667 8-1/2 |
| New England Riptide |
23 |
16 |
.590 11 | | | |
