JULY 6 2010 UPDATE
NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH
Bandits
Jennie Finch to play Thursday in Elgin, pitch Friday in Joliet
ELGIN – Chicago Bandits GM Aaron M. Moore announced today that Olympic softball pitcher Jennie Finch will be in uniform for the Bandits on Thursday, July 8 in Elgin, Ill. and Friday, July 9 in Joliet, Ill.
Fresh from a stint with the Women�s National Team, in which Team USA destroyed the international competition en route to a 2010 ISF Women’s World Championship, Finch will join fellow National Team members Eileen Canney, Ashley Holcombe and Vicky Galindo on the Bandits roster.
Thursday�s game will feature the Bandits against the Akron Racers at the Bandits home field on the campus of Judson University in Elgin, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and Finch will see action at the plate and is slated for relief pitcher duties.
The July 8 matchup falls on Business Appreciation Night, a promotional night which allows any business to purchase Bandits tickets at a buy one, get one price. All non-businesses can earn a ticket discount of three dollars off the �advanced price� by donating an old pair of eye glasses for the Lions Club, making tickets just $5.75 for outfield seating and $7.75 for first baseline seating.
For tickets to the July 8 game, call 877-722-6348. For more information on the promotional specials or group packages at the Bandits, contact Ian Kalanges at ian.kalanges@chicagobandits.com.
On Friday the Bandits head to Joliet for a home away from home game against the Akron Racers at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Ill. Pitcher Jennie Finch has been named the starting pitcher for the Bandits on Friday and first pitch will be thrown at 7:05 p.m. For tickets to the Joliet game, call (815) 726-2255. Excellent suite packages are available for the Bandits vs Racers at Silver Cross Field. For more information on the best way to enjoy Friday�s game, contact Jim Rice at jim@jackhammerbaseball.com.
Both Thursday and Friday games feature a post-game autograph session. For more information about the Bandits visit www.chicagobandits.com or call 877-7BANDIT.
PRIDE
Pride Rebound, Thump Racers 10-3 in the Series Finale
Willis and Duran Go Yard to Push the Pride Past the Racers
AKRON, Ohio (July 5, 2010) - The USSSA Pride came out swinging from the onset, clubbing 11 hits, including two homers en route to a 10-3 victory over the Akron Racers in today’s series finale at Firestone Stadium.
The Akron Racers (11-6) dropped just their second game of the series to the USSSA Pride (11-6) after earning the series win with a 6-3 decision on Saturday.
Starter Jamee Juarez (3-4) could not find her rhythm against the Pride as the visitors banged out 10 runs on 11 hits to tie the Racers atop the NPF standings. Conversely, Sarah Pauly (4-2) earned her second win of the series and moved through the Racers lineup with relative ease, giving up three runs–just one earned, on four scattered hits while striking out five. Pauly did not issue a walk in seven complete frames.
In the top half of the opening stanza, the Pride caught the Racers’ defense off guard, dropping down a suicide-squeeze bunt to move in front 1-0. Megan Willis put the visitors ahead in convincing fashion, when she drove a grand slam home run over the left field fence to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Racers made a run of things in the home half of the second when Trena Peel collected a RBI single to plate Juarez, who led off with a single. Two outs later, Jackie Pasquerella hustled on a misfielded ball by Pride third baseman Andrea Duran, which enabled Samantha Ricketts to score. Lisa Modglin then roped a single to left, driving in Peel to make it a 5-3 affair. Unfortunately for the Racers, the offensive output would end there, while the Pride capped off the day by scoring five additional runs.
In third, Kelly Kretschman’s RBI double plated Jessica Mendoza who registered a lead-off walk.
The Pride tallied two more runs in the fourth, with two outs as Kretschman delivered for her team once more, driving in Natasha Watley and Melissa Roth who each singled, giving the visitors an 8-3 advantage.
The Pride pounded the final nail in the coffin atop the seventh on Duran’s two-out two-run home run to left that barely hung inside the foul pole, accounting for today’s final, 10-3.
Akron travels to Chicago July 8th for a four game series against the Bandits before returning to Firestone Stadium, July 14th for their final five-game homestand against the USSSA Pride. For more information or tickets, please visit www.akronracers.org.
RACERS
Racers Blitz Pride 6-3 in Game Four
Racers Get Back On Track Thanks To Mackenzie Vandergeest Homer
AKRON, Ohio (July 4, 2010)- The Akron Racers reclaimed sole possession of first place in the NPF standings behind another complete-game pitching performance from Lisa Norris as Akron defeated the USSSA Pride, 6-3 in game four at Firestone Stadium and clinch their fourth consecutive series win.
Akron (11-5) used timely hitting, while taking advantage of an early error, to defeat the Pride (10-6) who fall into second place with today’s loss.
Norris’ (7-0) brilliance this season continued as she scattered seven hits throughout the evening, giving up three runs (one earned) en route to striking out eight to earn the win. The Racers offense worked Katie Burkhart (2-2) for nine hits and six runs (three earned). The starter issued four walks and struck out seven in her second-consecutive loss of the season.
Norris found herself in trouble early after allowing a one-out Caitlin Lowe single and a walk to Jessica Mendoza. A costly error on third baseman Clare Burnum followed and enabled both runners to score as Alissa Haber moved to second, giving the Pride a short-lived 2-0 edge.
The Racers fought back in the home half of the first to claim a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish. Akron loaded the bases when Lisa Modglin and Jess Valis notched back-to-back singles before Crystl Bustos walked. Samantha Ricketts brought the home team within one on sac-fly RBI to right to tack a run on the board. A costly throwing error from Burkhart enabled Kelley Montalvo to reach second while Valis and Bustos each scored to put Akron ahead, 3-2.
A scoreless battle ensued over the next three frames until the bottom of the fifth when Akron catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest uncorked her second home run of the year-a three run shot to left to give the Racers the 6-2 lead.
The Pride refused to go quietly as the team collected a pair of two-out hits atop the seventh. Natasha Watley singled and then scored on Lowe’s double to left but Norris shut the door, getting Mendoza to ground out unassisted to first base to preserve her perfect record on the season.
Valis led the Akron hit parade with a pair of singles and a double while Watley led the Pride with three singles.
CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH
First day of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship got underway today, July 5 with Futures and Showcase games at Softball City, the first pre-Team Canada game activities, including face painting and other interactive kids’ activities, then Team Canada played Washington Absolute Blast with the final score of 9 – 0 Team Canada. Great day at the ballpark under beautiful sunny skies!
Tomorrow (July 6) the Futures and Showcase tournaments continue with games starting at 8am at Cloverdale Athletic Park and 10:30am at Softball City, Surrey, BC. Pre-Team Canada game activities get underway at 4:30pm then Team Canada again plays Washington Absolute Blast at 7pm, both at Softball City!
Starting Thursday, July 8, the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will feature a marquee game series with Team Canada vs. Team USA at Softball City running to Sunday July 11 with a game per day. Game time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is 7pm with Sunday’s game slated for 3:30pm.
Call 604.536.9287 for further information or check www.canadianopenfastpitch.com for tournament scores and more information including ticket prices. Tickets are available at the gate.
COMMITMENTS
Ciara Clampitt, 2011, LHP, Burkburnett, TX, Texas Glory Gold (Shelton) has verbally committed to Arkansas
SPY’S JULY CALENDAR
JULY
1-4 TVL Showcase/Pony National Qualifier, Virginia Beach
2-4 TVL Carolina Cardinals East Fireworks 16-18-23U, Raleigh
2-4 TVL USA/ASA 18u National Qualifier, Raleigh
3-4 INT Canada Cup Special Olympics, Surrey BC
3-11 INT Canada Cup International Women’s division, Surrey BC
5 HS NFCA regional All Americans announced
5-11 INT Canada Cup Junior Women’s division, Surrey
5-11 INT Canada Cup 16U fastpitch showcase, Surrey
8-12 TVL Champions Cup 16U, Irvine
9-11 TVL Stop DWI Tournament of Champions, Binghamton
12 HS NFCA All Americans announced
14-18 TVL Champions Cup 18U, Irvine
15-18 TVL Tennessee summer tournament, Murfreesboro
15-8 TVL First Annual DeMarini Invitational Showcase, Glen Ellyn, IL*
16-18 ASA Women’s 23U Fastpitch, Spokane WA
16-18 TVL Rising Stars summer showcase, Davie FL
16-18 TVL Premier Northeast Qualifier, Edison NJ
16-18 TVL Carolina Cardinals Classic, Raleigh
17-01 INT XXI Central American/Caribbean games, Mayaguez
22-25 TVL Elite NFCA showcase, Plano TX
23-25 TVL Midland Magic Summer Showcase, Springfield IL
23-25 TVL Bluechip Ringor Showcase, Sarasota FL
23-25 TVL Midwest Summer Signature showcase, Ohio
25 TVL ASA A Nationals
26 HS Iowa HS championships
* The tournament in Glen Ellyn is new; 32 teams by invitation; 100 D1 coaches registered
If we left something out, please advise asap and we will reprint the July calendar.
ISF CALENDAR
| Country | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 17-07-2010 01-08-2010 |
XXI Central American & Caribbean Games (Men’s & Women’s Softball) | Mayaguez | Puerto Rico |
| 22-07-2010 26-07-2010 |
World Cup of Softball 5 | Oklahoma City | USA |
| 31-07-2010 02-08-2010 |
7th Japan Cup | Sendai City, Miyagi | Japan |
| 01-08-2010 10-08-2010 |
7th Micronesian Games | Koror | Palau |
| 21-08-2010 29-08-2010 |
11th World Firefighters Games | Daegu | Korea |
| 29-08-2010 05-09-2010 |
III World University Softball Championship | Macerata | Italy |
| 12-11-2010 27-11-2010 |
16th Asian Games (Women’s Softball) | Guangzhou | China |
| 30-12-2010 06-01-2011 |
ISF Youth World Cup (16-and-under girls) | Plant City, Florida | USA |
Regional
| Dates | Activity/Event | City | Country |
| 2010 | |||
| 06-07-2010 10-07-2010 |
7th European Coed Slowpitch Championship | Prague | Czech Republic |
| 06-07-2010 10-07-2010 |
5th Minime Girls European Championship | Ankara | Turkey |
| 25-07-2010 31-07-2010 |
XI European Championship Jr. Girls | Vienna | Austria |
| 25-07-2010 31-07-2010 |
X European Championship Men | Havlickuv Brod | Czech Republic |
| 29-07-2010 01-08-2010 |
9th South East Asia Women’s Softball Championship | Jakarta | Indonesia |
| 02-08-2010 07-08-2010 |
II Under-22 Girls European Championship | Prague | Czech Republic |
| 06-08-2010 15-08-2010 |
III Pan American Softball Championship (18-and-under, girls) | Bogota | Colombia |
| 19-11-2010 27-11-2010 |
VIII Pan American Softball Championship for Men | Guatemala City | Guatemala |
| 12-12-2010 16-12-2010 |
4th Asian Junior Men’s Softball Championship (19-and-under) | Mumbai | India |
