Chicago Bandits ready to defend their NPF crown

Defending the National Pro Fastpitch title they won last season is the goal of the Chicago Bandits softball team as they open their season tonight at Judson University in Elgin.

The Bandits play the 2008 NPF runner-up Philadelphia Force in the first of a five-game series at 7:05 p.m.

"We've got great athletes, it's just a matter of becoming a team, said fourth-year head coach Mickey Dean, who is also the head softball coach at Radford University. "I have yet to see the year where the most talented team on paper wins the championship. The players determine the outcome."

The Bandits have the biggest name in softball back in Olympic pitcher Jennie Finch. In 2007, Finch was 7-2 with a 0.11 ERA for the Bandits.

"She's just a great delegate for softball," Dean said. "She does so many things for the game. We feel very lucky she's in our market."

The former All-American from Arizona anchors a pitching staff that includes returnee Kristina Thorson (California) and newcomers Eileen Canney (Northwestern) and Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts).

The Bandits, who were 32-16 in the 2008 regular season, also return the NPF Player of the Year as well as the league's rookie of the year. Third baseman Stacy May (Iowa) hit .391 with 13 homers and 34 RBI for them last season to earn player of the year honors.

"We want another championship," May said. "It's a long off-season. You get antsy after nine months. We're ready to go. The core of our offense is back, we have a strong pitching staff, and our defense is strong. With all three of those aspects back, we feel we're still the team to beat."

Catcher Rachel Folden (Marshall) returns after earning rookie of the year honors in 2008, when she hit .311 with 11 homers and 32 RBI.

"The long off-season has been the most difficult part," Folden said. "I've stayed in shape and I hope I've come back stronger. "

The remainder of the Bandits roster includes infielders Laura Harms (Bradley), Vicky Galindo (Cal-Berkeley), Aileen Morales (Georgia Tech), Kristie Fox (Arizona), Tammy Williams (Northwestern), Amber Patton (DePaul), Samantha Findlay (Michigan) and Cheyenne Jenks (Florida Gulf Coast); outfielders Nicole Tromboli (Nebraska), Ashley Carlson (Radford), Caitlin Lever (Georgia Tech) and Izmena Cabrera (Sacramento State); and catcher Jamie Schloredt (Sacramento State).

"We want to be able to do it all," said Dean. "We have some fast people and some power. We want to be able to utilize everything we have."

A complete Bandits schedule can be found at chicagobandits.com.