Chicago moves into Championship Game
August 23, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) News Release
KIMBERLY, Wis. - When things are going well, you can put a first baseman and a shortstop in the outfield and good things will happen.
That was exactly the case for the Comcast Chicago Bandits on Saturday night for both Nicole Trimboli and Jaime Clark. It was their defense that helped propel them to the championship game of the 2008 NPF Championship Series with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Force.
Trimboli went through the collapsible left field fence to rob a homerun in the first inning to save three runs and her teammate Clark went through the right field fence to do the same. The play resulted in a sacrifice fly for Chelsea Spencer, scoring the Forces only run of the game. Clark's catch was equally impressive, as she was able to save a potential home run off the bat of the regular season batting champion, Kellie Wilkerson. Chicago responded in its half of the bottom of the first inning to score the only runs they would need in the ballgame. After Stacy May and Kristie Fox were retired to the start the inning the Bandits recorded four consecutive hits, including a two RBI single by Trimboli and an RBI single by Samantha Findlay.
The next threat for either team came in the bottom of the third inning for the Bandits. They loaded the bases with just one out, but Force pitcher Megan Gibson was able to escape any damage with an infield fly ball and a strikeout. However, Gibson did not fair as well in the fourth, and it was not all by her own doing. Aileen Morales led off the inning with a single and Fox followed two batters later with an infield hit of her own. Fox should have never reached base, but Wilkerson dropped a routine foul ball to allow the at-bat to continue. The error on Wilkerson was the Force eighth miscue in two games in Kimberly.
This set the stage for Bandits catcher and the 2008 Nokona American Glove Rookie of the Year Rachel Folden and she delivered with a two-RBI double to deep left center. Folden led the Chicago offense on the day as she finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored.
After surrendering a first inning run and two first inning hits to the Force, Bandits pitcher Jessica Sallinger settled in nicely for the duration of the contest. She allowed just two hits over the next six innings, while striking out six. Sallinger has now pitched 11 2/3 innings in the first two games and has recorded both of the Bandits victories.
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 23, 2008
- Bandits send Force to the brink of elimination - Philadelphia Force
- Tune in Live to NPF Championship Game - NPF
- Chicago moves into Championship Game - NPF
- Washington advances to final day of NPF Playoffs - NPF
- Glory score five first inning runs to defeat Riptide - NPF
- Force battle over the Glory in playoff opener - Philadelphia Force
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
