In coming weeks, rookies to play big part for Bandits

With five members of the Bandits getting set to venture off to Team USA land, other players are going to need to step up if the team wants to continue the current hot streak. After last night's extra inning victory, the Bandits rest at 13-3 in the NPF and in control of first place. To keep this pace going, rookies and verterans are going to need to fill the void's of rookies Tammy Williams, ss, (leading NPF in homeruns), Amber Patton, of/if, Brandice Balschmitter, p, and veterans Jennie Finch, p/dp, and Vicky Galindo, lf/2b.

Who will fill in?

Well ofcourse there is the usual suspects at each position: Aileen Morales at ss, Laura Harms in the outfield as well as Caitlin Lever, and Eileen Canney and Kristina Thorson will command all the playing time they could ever want as the only two pitchers left on the roster. Defensivley the Bandits will continue to be rock solid and should be able to continue the streak. But, players do get tired.

This is when the moment to shine comes for the 2009 rookie class. Rookies Jamie Schloredt, Izmena Cabrera and Cheyenne Jenks will have to start pulling their weight in the line-up in order to for the Bandits to be solid all around. We've seen some glory moments so far for these rookies as two of them have hit game winning hits so far this season in extremely clutch moments. Cabrera's came at home earlier in the season against the Philadelphia Force. She blasted an RBI single up the middle for the game winning run, much to the joy of some Bandits veterans (video also below). Last night ofcourse, Jamie Schloredt blasted a solo-HR in the top of the ninth to put the Bandits up 4-3 in the extra inning victory.

Last season, rookies Rachel Folden (2008 NPF Rookie of the Year), Samantha Findlay and Aileen Morales made a huge impact en route to the 2008 NPF Championship. Will our new batch of rookies step up at the plate and in the field to support the arms of Canney and Thorson?

Those two pitchers, while both great in their own right, cannot be expected to carry the team from the circle each and every game -- they're the only two arms left on the roster and eventually they'll need support. While the bats have not failed to give support so far this season, these next couple weeks will require it more than ever.

The Bandits will push to continue their hotstreak tonight against the USSSA Pride, in Kissimme, Fla. The game is available live via the USSSA Pride website.