All things considered, this AUSL Championship play-in game between the Chicago Bandits and Portland Cascade was a classic. Chicago looked to make it back to the Championship series in consecutive seasons.
For Portland, it sought its first Championship appearance in their inaugural season. The action took place at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas, the home of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Portland Cascade Vs. Chicago Bandits
In the top of the first inning, the Cascade plated two runs as Sydney Stewart hit an RBI double to start off as Kenleigh Cahalan hit an RBI single. Next, Tori Vidales hit RBI single in the top of the fourth inning for the Cascade for a 3 – 0 lead. However, Chicago would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an RBI walk by Skylar Wallace and a two-run single by Morgan Zerkle.
Following a couple of scoreless innings, the Cascade regained the lead in the top of the eighth as Stewart scored on a throwing error. Chicago tied the game once again in the bottom of the inning with a Taryn Kern RBI single for more extra softball in Texas. At this point, this thriller is nearing its conclusion in the eleventh inning.
Another lead change in the top of the eleventh inning as Kendra Falby scored via a throwing error, giving Portland a 5 – 4 lead. Shifting to the bottom of the inning, Chicago needed two runs to make it back to Championship game. In this instance, Kern would come through once again for the Bandits with a game-tying RBI double.
Without question, this contest needed a hero and it came in the form of Bandits rookie Ailana Agbayani. She stepped into the batter’s box versus Portland’s Kenzie Brown and Kern 60 feet away on third base. Ultimately, Agbayani came through with a game-winning RBI single down the first base line as it sent Chicago back to the Championship series.
Previewing the AUSL Championship Series
As mentioned earlier, the Bandits played in the Championship series against the Talons last season. The Bandits would come up short, falling to the Talons, and looking to change that ending. Equally important, Utah seeks to run it back as both teams took home some hardware and accolades.
Firstly, Sami Williams of the Bandits won AUSL Hitter of the Year as she placed second with a .427 batting average. Additionally, she set the records for the most doubles (12) and RBIs (34) in an AUSL season. Williams also made the first-ever All-AUSL Team, as did Wallace, who led the league with six steals. The recipient of the AUSL Impact Award was pitcher Odicci Alexander-Bennett of Chicago.
For Utah, pitcher Montana Fouts took home the AUSL Pitcher of the Year as the star right-hander set some records of her own this season:
- Innings pitched (62.1)
- Strikeouts (63)
- Wins (7)
- Complete games (7)
Like Williams and Wallace, Fouts made the All-AUSL Team along with Talons teammates Jadelyn Allchin and Bri Ellis. Ellis won the AUSL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
In the final analysis, the showdown is one with the best hitting team (Bandits) opposing the best pitching team (Talons). Chicago led the league as a team in batting average (.308), RBIs (136), and hits (211). On the other side, Utah led in the categories of earned run average (2.67), earned runs (66), and complete games (16).
How to Watch
History will be made by these teams at Davis Diamond as Game One will be featured on network television on ABC, the first softball to carry that distinction.
Below is a breakdown of where the games can be viewed:
- Game One: 1 pm ET (ABC)
- Game Two: 2 pm ET (ESPN)
- Game Three (If Necessary): 7 pm ET (ESPN2)
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