Bandits roll past Valley Springs, earn No. 4 seed for Districts

The Lennox Bandits closed out the regular season in dominant fashion Sunday, July 12, defeating the Valley Springs Dogs 11-1 to finish with a 4-3 league record and secure the No. 4 seed in the upcoming district tournament. With the win, the Bandits also earned the opportunity to host a first-round playoff game on Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m.

Lennox jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning when Peyton Garbers drove in courtesy runner Ashton Bach with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

The Bandits added three more runs in the second. Wyatt Adam doubled to start the rally before Aiden McCafferty delivered an RBI single. Brandon Otte later reached on an error that allowed another run to score, and Isaac Bambas followed by reaching on an error that plated the third run of the inning, giving Lennox a 4-0 advantage.

Valley Springs broke through with its only run in the sixth inning, but Lennox’s pitching staff limited the damage. Conner Eich entered in relief and worked out of the inning by striking out the final three batters he faced.

The Bandits put the game out of reach late. Garbers blasted a two-run home run in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 6-1 before Lennox erupted for five more runs in the eighth. The final rally featured two walks, an error, a sacrifice fly, an RBI groundout and an RBI single by Levi Parker to complete the 11-1 victory.

Bambas started on the mound and tossed four scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits. Eich earned the save over the final four innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out five. Together, the duo combined for nine strikeouts.

At the plate, Adam led the Bandits with two doubles, while Garbers finished with a game-high three RBIs, highlighted by his two-run homer. McCafferty collected an RBI single, Parker added an RBI hit in the eighth inning, and Bambas and Brett Duncan each recorded base hits as Lennox closed the regular season with a strong win.