RANKINGS
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I COMMITTED
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ABOUT
We at Extra Inning Softball love covering fastpitch athletes from the Olympic and International levels down to those young players just getting serious about the game.
Today, we head to the Midwest to look at an emerging team at the 10U level that, in an ideal world without the impact of the coronavirus, would be one of the favorites at its age level in events across the nation.
We may not get to see a lot of the Bandits DeMarini 09 team this summer but remember these young athletes—we’ll be hearing about them for years to come!
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“The horses are ready and in the starting gate!” says Matt Bailey, the head coach of the talented Beverly Bandits DeMarini 09 team based out of Columbus, Ohio. “We’re just awaiting word from the government for this horrible virus to pass and the starting gun to go off so we can unleash the speed and potential of the team at the 10U level.”
Bailey says he built this team to model the “Bandit Way” of speed and baserunning on Bill Conroy’s “Highway of Speed,” but adds: “Don’t go to sleep thinking it is all going to be small ball, the middle of the lineup can shop those gaps and have sneaky power even from their speedsters.”
If there is one area that the team is most set is with its battery, adds the head coach. The Bandits can run deep with their pitching staff and three excellent catchers.
Jaylin Turner, Haley Helm, Kiersten Hull, and Kira Bailey can all be toeing the rubber inside the circle in starting roles, but the Bandits also have two others with Lillie Hopf and Natalie Carr that could grab a couple of innings here and there.
Behind the dish, Alexis Longsdorf, Maci Minister, and Hopf could all be seen taking charge as field generals.
The Bandits feature a combination of infielders but leading the way will be Ella Harmon and Adee McFarland. Outfield play can win or lose a game, so speedsters Reegan Clutter and Kylene Seibel will be patrolling the gaps.
The Ohio Pre-Season Coaches Poll came out earlier in the Spring and saw the Bandits at the top of the board. Impressively, 19 of the 20 coaches who voted selected the Bandits DeMarini 09 – Bailey team as #1.
Coming in 2nd was a very good Ohio Outlaws squad coached by Kobe Johnson who was scheduled to be in many of the regional PGF tournaments. Four of the Hawks’ roster players were Bandits last year so the two teams know each other well.
“We lost a few great players and good families off of last year’s team,” Bailey says. “We have already had a couple of great battles already and (are both) looking forward to representing Ohio together.”
The Bandits head coach believes the team has the potential to win in whatever tournament they are entered.
“We definitely have a lot of great athletes,” Bailey concludes. “The girls just need to go out and play, have fun and—if the chips fall right—get us a PGF National Championship!”
BEVERLY BANDITS DEMARINI 10U: PLANNED 2020 SUMMER SCHEDULE*
- May 1-3—PGF Super Select Showdown (Columbia, TN)
- May 9-10—Outlaws Breast Cancer Shootout (Columbus, OH)
- May 16-17—PGF Showdown (Crown Point, IN)
- May 22-24—ASA Firefighters Memorial (Columbus, OH)
- Jun 6-7—USSSA North vs South (Georgetown, KY)
- Jun 12-14—Laser National Invitational (Columbus, OH
- Jun 19-21—PGF Mojo Music City Invitational (Nashville, TN)
- Jul 4-5 TBD
- Jul 10-12—Stingrays Summer Showcase (Columbus, OH)
- Jul 25—Michigan Finesse PGF Tune-up (Toledo, OH)
- Aug 2-9—PGF Nationals (Huntington Beach, CA)
* This was the set schedule for the Bandits at one point this Spring; obviously, many of these events will be postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Here’s a player-by-player look at the team, with the athletes listed by jersey number. Comments are from Coach Bailey…
*** Scroll down to read bios and more on each of the team’s roster…