Latest news with #Bandits
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
AUSL is the newest swing at professional softball — and it continues to grow after 3 sellouts in Rosemont
Bandits pitcher Devyn Netz fouled out to left field to end the sixth inning in a July 7 game against the Volts in Rosemont. Fans at the sold-out Parkway Bank Sports Complex applauded Volts pitcher Rachel Garcia as she walked off the field, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh. While the Bandits erased Garcia's no-hit bid in the final inning, cutting their 5-0 deficit to 5-3, the flurry ended with Garcia's ninth strikeout. A Volts flag near home plate stretched across a section of fans as the team secured its fifth win of the season. It was the first of back-to-back-to-back sellouts at the 2,000-seat ballpark for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), the newest swing at professional softball. 'Can you imagine (a player like) Jennie Finch having this type of platform back in her day and how large the game of softball would be right now?' AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng said. 'That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to grow the sport and give it the access it deserves, (which is) a continuation of the NCAA platform.' The season opened June 7 with the league's four teams — the Bandits, Volts, Talons and Blaze — playing a pair of three-game series in Rosemont and Wichita, Kan. None of the red seats was left unoccupied during the six days the league has played in Rosemont, where it will return Tuesday and Wednesday. Ng, 56, runs the league using tips learned from her time in Chicago. She earned a public policy degree from the University of Chicago while also playing softball for the Maroons as a middle infielder. Could a younger Ng keep up with AUSL competition today? 'Not even close,' she said with a laugh. 'Comparing me to them does not give (AUSL players) the justice they deserve. These women are incredible athletes and you gain more of an appreciation for who they are.' She guides the AUSL with many historic moments under her belt. After Ng graduated from U. of C., the White Sox hired her as an intern, later promoting her to assistant director of baseball operations. In 1998 she became the assistant general manager of the New York Yankees — the youngest assistant GM in MLB history and the second woman to have that title — and the Derek Jeter-led Yankees won three straight World Series from 1998-2000. Ng later joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same role, then was senior vice president of MLB from 2011-20. She chased her goal of becoming a big-league GM, but her run was a bumpy one. Interviews with the Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and New York Mets all ended in rejection. 'There's a humbleness when you get asked to interview so early in your career,' said Ng, who first got a GM interview in LA. 'I was incredibly privileged to be requested, (but) as the interviews mounted up, it started to get frustrating.' One thing remains true in any job market: It helps to know people. In 2020, Ng got a call about the GM vacancy with the Miami Marlins. The interview was with Marlins CEO and part owner Jeter, who was 'the same person' as he was in his Yankees playing days. Ng was hired as the first female GM in any of the big four North American leagues — MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL — and under her watch, the Marlins made the postseason for just the fourth time in franchise history with a 84-78 record in 2023. She and the team parted ways after that season. Ng's journey has been a motivation for current AUSL players. Her smiling portrait was alongside those of Finch, rugby star Ilona Maher and other female sports trailblazers on a 'Women who inspire' sign at the Rosemont ballpark. 'Seeing what (Ng) has done to uplift and support the AUSL has been incredible,' Blaze infielder Aubrey Leach said. 'She continues to raise the bar for what professional softball can be.' Ng's graduate thesis at U. of C. was on Title IX, the 1972 federal law that prohibited sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding. The law, among other effects, opened the door for women to participate in college athletics. She always wanted to further women's sports, and now she has found her opportunity. 'It's a cultural movement where people acknowledge and recognize how incredible the women athletes are and how incredible these sports are,' Ng said. 'That was the one of two drivers for me coming back to softball. 'No. 1 was my love of the game. I just feel this incredible debt and gratitude to the game, having grown up and played it. No. 2 (was) seeing where women's sports was and knowing that this was a train that was leaving the station and I did not want to (miss it). As we elevate and escalate and move this sport forward, I wanted to be one of the contributors to that effort.' MLB partnered with the AUSL with a goal of helping the softball league stay established. The pairing includes marketing efforts, joint sales and AUSL broadcasting on and MLB Network. 'Major League Baseball's investment in the AUSL represents an opportunity to support softball's long-term growth and expand our engagement with these outstanding athletes and their fans,' MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. There is no timestamp for the future, but Ng has a clear vision for the softball league. 'Long term, (I'd) love for us to be the MLB of softball,' she said. 'That is ultimately the (place) that we are in, this huge process creating more softball fans.' The game is growing, and Ng will be the first to tell you not to miss it. 'If you're a baseball fan and you turn on a softball game, I think you will be amazed by the action and the pace at which it happens,' she said. 'If you think you can hit a fastball in softball, you're wrong.'
Washington Post
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Athletes Unlimited Softball League pleased with progress a month into inaugural season
SEATTLE — When Kim Ng was named commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League back in April, she knew full well there would be growing pains with getting a pro softball league off the ground for its inaugural season. A month removed from its inception, though, each of the AUSL's four teams – the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts — have played games in cities like Wichita, Kansas, and Rosemont, Illinois. As much as players have found themselves on the receiving end of ample support at these contests, so, too, have those working them, Ng said.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Meeting abandoned at Berwick after Hume crash
Stellar Monarchs went down 37-35 at Berwick Bandits in the Cab Direct Championship, but the meeting was abandoned after a crash in Heat 12 involving home captain Danyon Hume. It resulted in a lengthy delay and the curfew curtain fell so the meeting was abandoned. The result stands. Monarchs came from behind to level as the teams headed into what would become the final heat. A re-run was required after Hume (pictured) was warned for an unsatisfactory start. In the re-start, Bandits reserve Jack Smith was away best with Justin Sedgmen behind and Jonatan Grahn doing battle with Hume for third. Grahn caught some grip on the final bend, coming down and leaving Hume with nowhere to go but into Grahn's bike. The race was awarded a home 4-2 and Monarchs captain Paco Castagna said: 'We pulled back the gap and, once the track settled down, we all drilled in and scored the points, so I was happy to see that. 'If we finished the meeting we may have won, but it was a very bad crash and that takes priority.' Bandits await news of Hume's injuries. Berwick 37 : Hagon 6+1, Hume 8+1, Kemp 8+1, Kildemand 8, Wood 2+1, Smith 5 Stellar Monarchs 35 : Palovaara 3+1, Thomson 7+1, Sedgmen 8+1, Castagna 5+1, Palm Toft 4, Grahn 8+1, Loftus 0 Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Cook back for Bandits as Monarchs visit
Berwick Bandits and Edinburgh Monarchs will hope for better weather at Shielfield Park on Saturday (tapes up 7pm) after rain washed out their scheduled clash at Armadale on Friday. Monarchs' bosses made an early call to postpone the eagerly-awaited derby after heavy overnight rain and a forecast which threatened more throughout the day. However, there is an improved forecast in the Borders on Saturday and the victory could propel the winners into the play-off places. Both sides are at full strength and Berwick will be hoping that Drew Kemp and Sam Hagon (pictured by Keith Hamblin) can bring their midweek Premiership form to bear as the Bandits bid to maintain their 100 per cent home record in the Cab Direct Championship. Kemp scored ten points in Leicester's comfortable win over King's Lynn while British under-21 champion Hagon posted a top league best eight point return for Birmingham at Sheffield. The pair have become firm favourites with the Shielfield Park supporters thanks to a series of thrilling from-the-back victories. Looking back, Berwick won an early-season BSN Series clash between the sides by four points, but Monarchs were missing big-scoring Swede Victor Palovaara and captain Paco Castagna along with Jonatan Grahn who makes his Shielfield Park debut. Berwick will be hoping that their reserves Dayle Wood and Jack Smith can put Grahn and 16-year-old Australian Jordy Loftus under pressure and Bandits also welcome back Craig Cook, a former Edinburgh captain, and Peter Kildemand who missed their last outing, a win over Redcar Bears. Bandits: Craig Cook, Sam Hagon, Danyon Hume, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith Monarchs: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomsen, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus Like this: Like Related
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
AUSL debuts: Rosters, stars to watch in Athletes Unlimited Softball League
AUSL debuts: Rosters, stars to watch in Athletes Unlimited Softball League Show Caption Hide Caption Los Angeles Olympics move softball and canoe to Oklahoma City Instead of taking place on the West Coast, the sports will be the middle of the country. The 2025 Women's College World Series just wrapped up and softball fans still riding high from the Texas Longhorns' national championship run are in luck. The inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season gets underway on Saturday, meaning you don't have to wait long for fierce competition among world-class athletes. The AUSL officially kicks off on June 7 with an opening day matchup between the Talons and Bandits in Rosemont, Illinois, followed by a game between the Volts and Blaze in Wichita, Kansas. The Volts-Blaze game will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network, marking the first pro softball game ever featured on the league's network. It was made possible by some heavy hitters backing the league. The MLB announced a wide-ranging partnership with the AUSL last week, marking Major League Baseball's first investment in a women's professional sports league. MLB will leverage its broadcast partners and platforms to promote the visibility of the AUSL, which is helmed by commissioner Kim Ng, the former Miami Marlins general manager (2021–23). 2025 SCHEDULE: How to watch Athletes Unlimited Softball League AUSL: Partnership with MLB will help 'shine light' on softball's biggest stars Not only does the AUSL have the support of MLB, the women's professional softball league will be shepherded by icons that have helped introduce the world to softball. Seven members of the 2004 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic softball team are involved with the AUSL as coaches, general managers or advisors: Lisa Fernandez, Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, Cat Osterman, Kelly Kretschman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley. Here's everything you need to know about the AUSL's debut on Saturday, from full team rosters, to players to watch and the opening week schedule: AUSL opening week schedule National TV/streaming networks for each game are shown below. Games are also being broadcast in select local markets; check your local listings or click here. *All times Eastern Saturday, June 7 Talons vs. Bandits, 3 p.m. (Rosemont, Illinois) | Volts vs. Blaze, 7:30 p.m. (Wichita, Kansas) | MLB Network, Sunday, June 8 Talons vs. Bandits, 2 p.m. (Rosemont, Illinois) | Volts vs. Blaze, 5 p.m. (Wichita, Kansas) | Monday, June 9 Volts vs. Blaze, 7 p.m. (Wichita, Kansas) | Tuesday, June 10 Talons vs. Bandits, 8 p.m. (Rosemont, Illinois) | ESPN2 Thursday, June 12 Volts vs. Bandits, 7 p.m. (Sulphur, Louisiana) | ESPN2 Friday, June 13 Talons vs. Blaze, 6:30 p.m. (Chattanooga, Tennessee) | Volts vs. Bandits, 9 p.m. (Sulphur, Louisiana) | View the full season schedule here. AUSL rosters The AUSL's inaugural season features four teams — Talons, Bandits, Blaze and Volts — playing a 24-game season across 10 metro areas, including Chicago, Austin and Salt Lake City. Here are the complete rosters: Bandits full roster Head coach: Stacey Nuveman Deniz Stacey Nuveman Deniz General Manager: Jenny Dalton-Hill Player to Watch: The Bandits went for a "franchise pitcher" with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 AUSL Draft in Lexi Kilfoyl. The Oklahoma State alum was named the Rookie of the Year in the 2024 Championship Season after finishing in second place on the leaderboard behind Bubba Nickles-Camarena, who is now her teammate on the Bandits teammate. Kilfoyl recorded a league-high 39 strikeouts and 59.2 innings pitched in 12 appearances. Blaze full roster Head coach: Alisa Goler Alisa Goler General Manager: Dana Sorensen Player to Watch: Blaze has a veteran leader in Aleshia Ocasio, who is entering her eighth season of professional softball. Ocasio has played for Athlete's Unlimited since its inception in 2020, winning the individual championship title in 2021 and finishing third in 2024. Last year, Ocasio recorded 22 strikeouts over 39 innings with a 2.51 earned run average in 11 appearances (six starts). Ocasio is also a two-way star and it remains to be seen if she will pick up the bat this season. Talons full roster Head coach: Howard Dobson Howard Dobson General Manager: Lisa Fernandez Player to Watch: Bri Ellis is carrying a hot bat into the AUSL's inaugural season. Ellis was named the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the most prestigious honor in college softball, after a historic senior season where she set Arkansas' single-season program record for home runs (26) and RBIs (72). Ellis and the Razorbacks fell short of the Women's College World Series, but she was drafted second overall in the 2025 AUSL College Draft. Can't go without mentioning pitcher Montana Fouts, who is reuniting with her collegiate catcher Ally Shipman-Shrout. Volts full roster Head Coach : Kelly Kretschman : Kelly Kretschman General Manager: Cat Osterman Player to Watch: Two-way star Rachel Garcia has won at every level. She led the UCLA Bruins to a national championship in 2019, picked up a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic with Team USA and was crowned the 2023 AUX Season championship. Is an AUSL championship next? Kretschman said the team was built to "compliment" Garcia, who was drafted No. 4 overall by the Volts in the AUSL Inaugural Draft. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
