RACERS SPLIT SERIES IN CHICAGO TO MOVE BACK
INTO THIRD PLACE
Akron’s bats come alive in 10-3 rout; Racers
edge in Bandits 4-3 in game two
August 8, 2007 - -
Torrential downpour caused an hour and half
delay between the Comcast Chicago Bandits
and the Akron Racers as they tried to make
up their Monday night game.
Chicago’s pitcher Gina Oaks not only had to
battle the Racers’ lineup in the top of the
first but also the driving rain and poor
field conditions, including an area of
quicksand formerly known as the pitching
circle. Akron was able to score six runs off
of six hits including a two run homer by
Kristin Butler and a solo homerun by Caitlin
Benyi.
After three hitless innings, the Racers
connected in the fourth scoring four more
runs. Kristin Butler led off with a double
to leftfield. Sara Zilles was put into pinch
run for Butler. Benyi showed patience at the
plate and took a walk. Both Zilles and Benyi
moved 60 feet closer to home on a wild
pitch. Jenn Poore singled driving Zilles
home to score. A throw at the plate that got
away from the catcher allowed Benyi to dash
home as well. Kristen Johnson followed with
a two run shot to leftfield for their final
runs of the game.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the
Bandits mounted a rally. A single by Kristi
Fox and a walk to Clark were followed by a
two-run triple by Stacy May. Nicole Trimboli
then hit a sharp grounder to first that was
mishandled for an error, allowing Trimboli
to reach second and May to scamper home to
cut the Bandits’ deficit to seven, 10-3.
The
Racers notched their 20th win of
the season moving one full game a head of
Chicago in the standings as they took over
sole possession of third place.
As Wednesday turned into Thursday the
Comcast Chicago Bandits took on the Akron
Racers for game two of the doubleheader.
For the first two innings, both teams were
held scoreless due to the effective pitching
of the Bandits’ Amy Harre and the Racers’
Radara McHugh.
Akron was first on the board in the third
inning scoring three runs. All three of
those runs came off of a homerun by Veronica
Wootson.
Chicago was quick to answer back scoring
three runs of their own in the bottom half
of the inning. Vicky Galindo got things
going with a leadoff triple. Kristie Fox
singled to bring Galindo in to score. Jaime
Clark showed patience at the plate earning
her a walk. Stacy May singled advancing Fox
to third and Clark to second. A fielding
error by the Racers’ third baseman, Norrelle
Dickson, allowed Trimboli to reach first,
Fox and Clark to score.
The Racers were able to squeak out one more
run in the fourth and that proved to be the
difference. Benyi singled and advanced to
second on a throwing error. Poore followed
with a single but Benyi was unable to
advance. Bandit pitcher Jessica Sallinger
came into relieve Harre. Jamee Juarez
exhibited patience at the plate and drew a
walk. With the bases loaded, Tracee McCoy
was issued a walk bringing Benyi in to
score.
The Racers solidify their third place spot
in the NPF standings with their 21st
victory against 15 losses. The loss drops
the Bandits to 19-17 on the season and
slides them down to a fifth place tie with
the New England Riptide.
