Unbeaten Bandits ready for home opener

The Chicago Bandits return to The Ballpark at Rosemont for their home opener Thursday against the Akron Racers with an untarnished 3-0 record and a familiar face leading them.

Coach Mike Steuerwald, who reunited with the team after a season away, is back and off to a good start. Against the Pennsylvania Rebellion, the Bandits collected three consecutive wins by scores of 2-0, 5-0 and 12-4.

"The first two nights our pitchers threw extremely well," Steuerwald said. "In game three our hitters really did a great job of producing when we had opportunities."

After falling to the Racers in the first round of the playoffs last season, the Bandits are happy to have Steuerwald back at the helm.

With the National Pro Fastpitch championship as his goal, Steuerwald believes he has a good mix of veterans and rookies, including recently signed all-American Lacey Waldrop, first-year player Sammy Marshall (Naperville native and Western Illinois player) and second-year player Alex Booker (Gurnee native and Illini grad).

"From Sammy, we're asking her to learn second base, which is different from what she played in college, and from Booker it's just working herself into the outfield and staying ready to fulfill her role there," Steuerwald said.

Marshall said she's honored to join the Bandits.

"Being able to play professional softball and especially playing for your hometown city, it's an unbelievable experience, and the group of girls is so awesome," Marshall said.

While Booker is confident her teammates can be the best in the league, she counts the USSSA Pride as their biggest competitor, along with the Racers and Dallas Charge.

"Akron came out of nowhere last year," Booker said. "Hopefully we can handle them and make sure they don't go on a run by the end of the year again like last year."

In keeping with the spirit of change, Booker feels a renewed energy among the team thanks to the return of Steuerwald and his new Coach's Corner program, which donates Bandits tickets to underprivileged children.

"It's important to me to be involved in the community and it's an opportunity for these kids to be able to come out and see the games," Steuerwald said.

After this three-game series at home, the Bandits will travel to face the Rebellion June 8-10, the Thunderbolts on June 15, and the Racers June 17-19 before returning home against the Charge June 21-23.