Bandits lose Finch's last home game, 4-2

The conclusion to the Chicago Bandits' regular season was bitter-sweet Sunday afternoon.

The Bandits found out minutes before the contest that with an Akron win over the USSSA Pride, they had clinched first place for the regular season. The joy around this news was short-lived, however, as the Diamonds (16-33) defeated the Bandits (30-20) 4-2 at Judson University in Elgin.

Sunday's game also marked the end of an era for Bandits stars Jennie Finch and Stacy May, who played their last home game for the team.

Finch (5-4) started but only threw 2 innings in the pitchers circle, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 strikeouts. The Diamonds' 2-0 lead was erased in the third as the Bandits tied things up thanks to a Diamonds error and a Rachel Folden sacrifice fly.

The Diamonds won the game with 2 runs in the final inning with the big blow being a Jami Lobpries leadoff homer.

The Bandits hit the road for the final time in the 2010 campaign as they head to Sulphur, La., for postseason play. The Bandits are the No. 1 seed of the four-team tournament, where they will be facing the Diamonds.

RiverBandits 3, Cougars 2: Murphy Smith (7-2) suffered his second straight loss after giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks in 5-plus innings for the host Kane County.

Conner Crumbliss drew his 105th walk of the season in the third inning, becoming the Cougars' all-time single-season walks leader. He passed Tyrone Horne, who had 104 in 1997.

Flyers 5, Fielders 2: Kit Pellow's 2-RBI single in the eighth inning helped complete a comeback victory for visiting Schaumburg in a win over Lake County. Pellow's hit gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead, and teammate Mario Delgado added another run-scoring single to complete the scoring.

Lake County fell to 37-50, while Schaumburg improved to 34-52.