Bandits go 2-1 during busy week

The Lennox Bandits amateur baseball team put together a successful week on the diamond, earning victories over the Renner Rangers and Parker Ringnecks while falling to the Vermillion Grey Sox.

The Bandits opened the week Tuesday, June 16, with an exciting 11-10 victory over the Renner Rangers.

Lennox jumped out early, scoring twice in the first inning. Isaac Bambas drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a Peyton Garbers RBI single. Talen Eich added another run when he scored on a Cole Spieler single.

Bambas extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning with a solo home run to right field.

Renner chipped away and eventually tied the game at 5-5 with a four-run fourth inning, but the Bandits responded immediately. In the fifth inning, Lennox plated five runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Bambas, an inside-the-park two-run home run by Eich and an RBI single by Justin Underwood. Renner refused to go away, scoring three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to pull within 10-9.

The Bandits added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Eich singled home Bambas, who had reached on an error and moved into scoring position.

Renner scored once in the bottom of the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate, but Lennox turned a game-ending double play to secure the one-run victory.

Eich led the Bandits offensively, finishing 6-for-6 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Bambas collected two hits, including a home run, drove in two runs and scored five times. Garbers added three hits and two RBIs, while Underwood finished with two RBIs.

On the mound were Ashton Bach, Aaron Sturm, Nathan Kucera, and Brandon Otte. 

On Thursday, June 18, the Bandits traveled to Vermillion and fell to the Grey Sox, 7-1.

Lennox grabbed an early lead in the first inning when Bambas walked, stole second and scored on Garbers’ RBI double.

That would be the only run the Bandits would score as Vermillion answered immediately and took control with a three-run third inning. The Grey Sox added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull away.

Garbers led Lennox at the plate with a double and an RBI. Mason Reischl also doubled, while Bailey Ludens, Levi Parker and Cody Thompson each recorded hits.

Otte and Justin Underwood handled pitching duties. 

The Bandits closed out the week in dominant fashion Sunday, June 21, shutting out the Parker Ringnecks 10-0.

Peyton Garbers was outstanding on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out numerous Parker hitters and allowing very little offensive production. Ashton Bach pitched the final two innings to complete the shutout.

Lennox wasted little time offensively, scoring twice in the first inning on an RBI single from Brett Duncan.

The Bandits steadily added to their lead throughout the game. Levi Parker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while Brandon Otte added an RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth.

A four-run seventh inning broke the game open. Justin Underwood delivered a two-run double, Duncan added an RBI double and Nick Zabel later drove in a run with a single.

Lennox capped the scoring in the eighth inning when Parker singled home Isaac Bambas and Bailey Ludens scored on a steal of home.

The Bandits finished with 13 hits in the victory. Underwood collected two hits and two RBIs, Duncan added two hits and three RBIs, while Bambas, Zabel, Ludens and Parker each contributed two hits. Garbers doubled and scored twice.

The Bandits will be at Beresford taking on the Beresford Blues on Thursday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, June 28 the Bandits will travel to Garretson to take on the Blue Jays at 2 p.m.