Diplomatic snarl rubs out Bandits' series with Venezuelan team

The Chicago Bandits scrambled to arrange new opponents this week after a scheduled series with the Venezuelan national women's softball team fell through when it was unable to obtain U.S. visas.

"We're very disappointed that this kink has been tossed in our schedule, especially so late in the process," said Bandit President Bill Sokolis. "We've been playing them the past five years without a single problem, and it's pretty ridiculous that a women's softball team is being blocked from coming and playing."

The Venezuelan team was in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the Canada Cup softball tournament last week and was slated to fly to Chicago for a five-game exhibition series with the Bandits to begin today. Yet, team representatives were reportedly denied an appointment with the U.S. Embassy in Vancouver in a bid to obtain visas. Sokolis said he and the Venezuelans had been trying to arrange the visas, both here and in Caracas, since April, and while visas had sometimes been difficult to obtain in the past, this time they were thwarted entirely.

The Obama administration has prided itself on improved relations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but that diplomacy recently hit a snag over differences in how to deal with the coup in Honduras.

The Bandits have a connection with the Venezuelan team thanks to head coach and general manager Mickey Dean, who also serves as pitching coach for the Venezuelans. Since their formation in 2005, the Bandits had played an annual series with the Venezuelans, but apparently not this year.

The Bandits had arranged a series of promotions for the Venezuelan series, and those were to go off in any case with a series of hastily arranged opponents, with all tickets for the Venezuelan series good for the same dates at Judson University in Elgin. The Beverly Bandits were to fill in at 7 tonight, followed by a doubleheader with the Bloomington Lady Hearts at 6 p.m. Thursday, the Peoria Lady Rage at 7 p.m. Friday, a doubleheader with the Indiana Slammers at 6 p.m. Saturday and a game with the Illinois Alleycats at 3 p.m. Sunday. They were all considered exhibitions and would not count in standings for the National Pro Fastpitch League. The Bandits lead the league with a 20-4 record.