Chicago Bandits
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Bandits are a women's professional softball team based in Rosemont, Illinois
. Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch
(NPF). The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington Glory
in the final game of the championship series. The team won their second NPF championship following the 2011 season when they won the championship series two games to none over the USSSA Pride
. They play their home games at Rosemont Stadium in Rosemont, Illinois
.
in the championship.
in the championship series.
Jessica Sallinger and Kristina Thorson each won 12 games and were Chicago's first duo to record double-digit victories since Jennie Finch and Amy Harre in 2005. After moving to their new stadium, the Bandits recorded 61 home runs in 2008, which was more home runs than in the franchise's first three years combined. The team's home run leaders were Stacy May (13), Rachel Folden (11), and Jamie Clark (11).
The Bandits completed their season sweeping the Akron Racers, New England Riptide
and Rockford Thunder to finish the regular season 32-16 and on a 12 game winning streak, earning the highest seed in the 2008 Championship Series.
In the Championship Series, Chicago won all three games and earned the franchise's first NPF Championship with a victory over the Washington Glory in the title game.
, Vicky Galindo
, and Caitlin Lever
. Chicago finished the regular season with a 27-12 record, ranking first in the National Pro Fastpitch
standings and earning the top seed for the playoffs in Akron
, Ohio
.
Despite having the best record in the NPF in 2009, Chicago was upset in the NPF playoffs by the USSSA Pride two games to one, and lost the opportunity to repeat as league champions.
ended the Bandits championship hopes, winning their first Cowles Cup title.
After the season, standouts Stacy May-Johnson and Jennie Finch
announced their retirements from professional softball.
. Caitlin Lever
drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th.
Unlike the previous three years, the Bandits did not win the regular season title. They finished third in the four-team NPF with a 20-20 record, after losing six of their final eight games at home to close out the regular season.
The Bandits opened the playoffs in Sulphur, LA against the second-seeded Akron Racers
and swept the Racers with two straight victories, capped off by a three-run walk-off home run in extra innings by Nikki Nemitz to advance to the finals.
In the finals, they once again met the Pride. In the first game, the Pride took an early 2-0 lead, but rookie Megan Wiggins hit a three-run double off Pride starter Cat Osterman
. Two pitches later, Osterman went down with an arm injury, but the Pride came back to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 7th. In the 8th, Bandits right-fielder Amber Patton drove in the go-ahead run and NPF Co-Pitcher of the Year Monica Abbott
made it stand up for a one game lead in the best-of-three series.
The next afternoon, Chicago got on the board early and often, scoring five times in the bottom of the first. The Pride got two back, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the day, as the Bandits cruised to their second Cowles Cup championship with a 10-3 victory. They became the first NPF team to win multiple Cowles Cup championships.
|2005 || 30 || 12 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch || Regular Season Champions, Lost to Akron Racers
in NPF Championship
|-
|2006 || 41 || 7 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to Connecticut Brakettes
in NPF Championship
|-
|2007 || 23 || 21 || 0 || 6th place National Pro Fastpitch || Did not qualify
|-
|2008 || 32 || 16 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
|| Won National Pro Fastpitch Championship (Defeated Washington Glory
)
|-
|2009 || 27 || 12 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to USSSA Pride
2-games-to-1 in first round of NPF playoffs
|-
|2010 || 30 || 20 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to USSSA Pride
in NPF Championship
|-
|2011 || 20 || 20 || 0 || 3rd place National Pro Fastpitch
|| Won National Pro Fastpitch Championship (Defeated Akron Racers 2-0 in Semi-finals, Defeated USSSA Pride
2-0 in Finals)
|-
!Totals || 203 || 108 || 0
|colspan="2"|
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
. Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
(NPF). The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington Glory
Washington Glory
The Washington Glory was a women's softball team based in Fairfax, Virginia. They played during 2007 and 2008 as a member of National Pro Fastpitch....
in the final game of the championship series. The team won their second NPF championship following the 2011 season when they won the championship series two games to none over the USSSA Pride
USSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
. They play their home games at Rosemont Stadium in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
.
USA Softball players
- Jennie FinchJennie FinchJennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
- Victoria Galindo
- Eileen Canney
- Ashley Holcombe
2005
The Chicago Bandits inaugural season took place at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Chicago recorded an NPF-best 41-7 record, but lost to the Akron RacersAkron Racers
- 2010 :The following is the Racers 2010 home schedule:* Thursday, June 24 * Friday, June 25 * Saturday, June 26 * Sunday, June 27 * Thursday, July 1 * Friday, July 2 * Saturday, July 3...
in the championship.
2006
Chicago posted a 30-12 record, which again was best in the NPF, but lost to the Connecticut BrakettesConnecticut Brakettes
The Connecticut Brakettes is a women's fastpitch softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. The team has won many state, regional, national, and international tournaments .- History :...
in the championship series.
2007
The 2007 Chicago Bandits went 23-21, but failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing in sixth place in the league.2008
The Bandits began their first season in Elgin with a 4-7 record, playing without Jennie Finch and Vicky Galindo of the United States National Team, and Caitlin Lever of the Canadian National Team, due to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Jessica Sallinger and Kristina Thorson each won 12 games and were Chicago's first duo to record double-digit victories since Jennie Finch and Amy Harre in 2005. After moving to their new stadium, the Bandits recorded 61 home runs in 2008, which was more home runs than in the franchise's first three years combined. The team's home run leaders were Stacy May (13), Rachel Folden (11), and Jamie Clark (11).
The Bandits completed their season sweeping the Akron Racers, New England Riptide
New England Riptide
The New England Riptide is a dormant women's softball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch. Operations were suspended in February 2009 . The NPF website does not list the Riptide as a current team.- 2004 :The 2004 season...
and Rockford Thunder to finish the regular season 32-16 and on a 12 game winning streak, earning the highest seed in the 2008 Championship Series.
In the Championship Series, Chicago won all three games and earned the franchise's first NPF Championship with a victory over the Washington Glory in the title game.
2009
The Chicago Bandits began their second season at Judson University in Elgin, IL with the return of Olympians Jennie FinchJennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
, Vicky Galindo
Vicky Galindo
Victoria Galindo is an American athlete on the USA Softball Women's National Team where she plays third base and second base. She also plays for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league...
, and Caitlin Lever
Caitlin Lever
Caitlin Lever is a Canadian softball player. She is an outfielder who bats left and throws right. She played for Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She graduated from Georgia Tech in 2007. In her final year, she set team records for hits and on base percentage...
. Chicago finished the regular season with a 27-12 record, ranking first in the National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
standings and earning the top seed for the playoffs in Akron
Akron
-Settlements:Canada* Akron, OntarioSouth Africa* Akron, South AfricaUnited States* Akron, Alabama* Akron, Colorado* Akron, Indiana* Akron, Iowa* Akron, Michigan* Akron, New York* Akron, Pennsylvania* Akron, West Virginia* Akron Township, Illinois...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Despite having the best record in the NPF in 2009, Chicago was upset in the NPF playoffs by the USSSA Pride two games to one, and lost the opportunity to repeat as league champions.
2010
In 2010, the Bandits once again won the regular season title, but once again, the USSSA PrideUSSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
ended the Bandits championship hopes, winning their first Cowles Cup title.
After the season, standouts Stacy May-Johnson and Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
announced their retirements from professional softball.
2011
The Bandits moved into their brand new home stadium in Rosemont in time for the beginning of the 2011 season. The team officially opened the stadium for NPF play on June 16, 2011 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the Bandits 1-0 walk-off win over the USSSA PrideUSSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
. Caitlin Lever
Caitlin Lever
Caitlin Lever is a Canadian softball player. She is an outfielder who bats left and throws right. She played for Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She graduated from Georgia Tech in 2007. In her final year, she set team records for hits and on base percentage...
drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th.
Unlike the previous three years, the Bandits did not win the regular season title. They finished third in the four-team NPF with a 20-20 record, after losing six of their final eight games at home to close out the regular season.
The Bandits opened the playoffs in Sulphur, LA against the second-seeded Akron Racers
Akron Racers
- 2010 :The following is the Racers 2010 home schedule:* Thursday, June 24 * Friday, June 25 * Saturday, June 26 * Sunday, June 27 * Thursday, July 1 * Friday, July 2 * Saturday, July 3...
and swept the Racers with two straight victories, capped off by a three-run walk-off home run in extra innings by Nikki Nemitz to advance to the finals.
In the finals, they once again met the Pride. In the first game, the Pride took an early 2-0 lead, but rookie Megan Wiggins hit a three-run double off Pride starter Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
Catherine Leigh "Cat" Osterman , is an American athlete and was one of the pitchers on the USA Women's Softball Team which won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics....
. Two pitches later, Osterman went down with an arm injury, but the Pride came back to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 7th. In the 8th, Bandits right-fielder Amber Patton drove in the go-ahead run and NPF Co-Pitcher of the Year Monica Abbott
Monica Abbott
Monica Cecilia Abbott is an American athlete who pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004-2007. In 2008, Abbott participated in the Beijing Olympics with Team USA...
made it stand up for a one game lead in the best-of-three series.
The next afternoon, Chicago got on the board early and often, scoring five times in the bottom of the first. The Pride got two back, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the day, as the Bandits cruised to their second Cowles Cup championship with a 10-3 victory. They became the first NPF team to win multiple Cowles Cup championships.
Season-By-Season
|-|2005 || 30 || 12 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch || Regular Season Champions, Lost to Akron Racers
Akron Racers
- 2010 :The following is the Racers 2010 home schedule:* Thursday, June 24 * Friday, June 25 * Saturday, June 26 * Sunday, June 27 * Thursday, July 1 * Friday, July 2 * Saturday, July 3...
in NPF Championship
|-
|2006 || 41 || 7 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to Connecticut Brakettes
Connecticut Brakettes
The Connecticut Brakettes is a women's fastpitch softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. The team has won many state, regional, national, and international tournaments .- History :...
in NPF Championship
|-
|2007 || 23 || 21 || 0 || 6th place National Pro Fastpitch || Did not qualify
|-
|2008 || 32 || 16 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
|| Won National Pro Fastpitch Championship (Defeated Washington Glory
Washington Glory
The Washington Glory was a women's softball team based in Fairfax, Virginia. They played during 2007 and 2008 as a member of National Pro Fastpitch....
)
|-
|2009 || 27 || 12 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to USSSA Pride
USSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
2-games-to-1 in first round of NPF playoffs
|-
|2010 || 30 || 20 || 0 || 1st place National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
|| Regular Season Champions, Lost to USSSA Pride
USSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
in NPF Championship
|-
|2011 || 20 || 20 || 0 || 3rd place National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
|| Won National Pro Fastpitch Championship (Defeated Akron Racers 2-0 in Semi-finals, Defeated USSSA Pride
USSSA Pride
The USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
2-0 in Finals)
|-
!Totals || 203 || 108 || 0
|colspan="2"|
Moments
- July 16, 2009, Jennie Finch pitches a perfect game for the Chicago Bandits. Finch did not allow a hit over seven innings in a 3-0 win against the Philadelphia ForcePhiladelphia ForceThe Philadelphia Force was/is a women's professional softball team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From 2006 to 2009 it played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch league until a failed sales in September of 2009 but the team's future is in question and is still undecided...
. - July 27, 2009, the Chicago Bandits played the Schaumburg FlyersSchaumburg FlyersThe Schaumburg Flyers were a professional baseball team based in Schaumburg, Illinois, in the United States. The Flyers were to be a charter member of the North American League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, however, the team folded in March of 2011, before they began play in...
of the Frontier LeagueFrontier LeagueThe Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
men's baseball team in what was dubbed as Battle of the SexesBattle of the sexes-Films:*The Battle of the Sexes , American film directed by D. W. Griffith*The Battle of the Sexes , American remake of the above, also directed by D. W. Griffith...
2. The game was played at Schaumburg's Alexian FieldAlexian FieldSchaumburg Baseball Stadium is a stadium in Schaumburg, Illinois formally known as Alexian Field. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Schaumburg Flyers minor league baseball team from 1999 through 2010...
under softball rules. The Bandits won 4-2 before an Alexian Field record crowd of 8,918. The game was considered a success even though the original tennis match between Billie Jean KingBillie Jean KingBillie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
and Bobby RiggsBobby RiggsRobert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs was a 1930s–40s tennis player who was the World No. 1 or the co-World No. 1 player for three years, first as an amateur in 1941, then as a professional in 1946 and 1947...
garnered much more national press attention. For this event, the Chicago Bandits received the most press coverage than in the previous years despite winning the 2008 NPF league championship and playing with Jennie Finch. Also just a few years earlier the USA's best softball players played a team of MLB All Stars and the game was televised on national television. - July 9, 2010, Jennie Finch pitches a perfect game for the Chicago Bandits against the Akron Racers at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Ill. Finch struck out 11 batters en route to a 2-0 win.
- August 21, 2011, The Bandits defeat the USSSA PrideUSSSA PrideThe USSSA Pride, formerly known as the Washington Glory, are a women's softball team based in Kissimmee, Florida in the United States. The USSSA Pride became a part of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2009. In their first season, the Pride were the runner-up in the NPF Championship. The name...
10-3 in Sulphur, LA to clinch their second NPF Cowles Cup championship. They are the first team in NPF history to win multiple Cowles Cup titles.