The Chicago Bandits were a women's professional softball team based in Rosemont, Illinois . Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington Glory in the final game of the championship series. The team won their second NPF championship following the 2011 season when they won the championship series two games to none over the USSSA Pride . Following the 2015 season the team won its third NPF championship defeating the USSSA Pride two games to none. They played their home games at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois . The team folded in 2021 when the NPF disbanded.
37-645: 2005 The Chicago Bandits inaugural season took place at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Chicago recorded an NPF-best 41–7 record, but lost to the Akron Racers in the championship. 2006 Chicago posted a 30–12 record, which again was best in the NPF, but lost to the Connecticut Brakettes in the championship series. 2007 The 2007 Chicago Bandits went 23–21, but failed to qualify for
74-771: A $ 50,000 licensing fee paid to the NPF. Rosemont employee Toni Calmeyn will take over as general manager and will hire a new head coach. Later that month the Bandits hired University of Florida assistant coach Sharonda McDonald as their head coach. McDonald was an All-NPF player, playing with the Philadelphia Force in 2007 and 2008, the Racers from 2010 to 2012, and 2014 with the USSSA Pride. Later, Chicago hired as their assistant coach Kyla Holas , who coached University of Houston from 1999 to 2016. On June 8,
111-410: A female in 2016, and the Racers' AJ Andrews was the initial recipient. To celebrate their 15th anniversary, a milestone marking them as one of the longest-running pro female sports franchises, the Racers announced the would be naming 30 members of a Racers' "Impact" team. These 30 players are an all-star collection of players throughout the Racers' 15 years, chosen by a panel evaluating those who had
148-1148: Is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I Ohio Valley Conference . The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson. The team won the 2007 Summit League conference championship. The Western Illinois Leathernecks softball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 500-seat Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium and are coached by Alisa Goler. The team has won ten Summit League championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The team has appeared in eight Women's College World Series , in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982 . The team has also made four NCAA Division I softball tournament appearances in 1992 , 2000 , 2001 , and 2008 . The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s track and field team
185-433: Is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field . The team has won two Indoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002. The team has also won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 2001 and 2002. The Western Illinois Leathernecks women’s track and field team
222-554: Is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team competes its home meets at Hanson Field . The team has won two Outdoor Track and Field Summit League championships in 1996 and 2005. The Western Illinois Leathernecks volleyball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Ben Staupe . The name of
259-748: Is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team runs at Spring Lake Course . The team won the 1991 Summit League conference championship. The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s golf team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home meets at Harry Mussatto Golf Course . The team has won eight Summit League championships in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. They have made four NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship appearances in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Western Illinois Leathernecks football program competes in
296-480: Is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference . The team plays it home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by Chad Boudreau . The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference , which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 5,139-seat Western Hall and are coached by JD Gravina . The Western Illinois Leathernecks men’s cross country team
333-589: Is with the Ohio Valley Conference ; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and its men's soccer team plays in the Summit League , in which the school had been a member since that conference's formation in 1982. Western Illinois announced on May 12, 2023 its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of
370-673: The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference through the 2023 season, after which the program will join the rest of the team's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference . Technically, WIU football will compete in a football-only alliance between the OVC and the Big South Conference that shares a single automatic berth in
407-569: The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Two Leathernecks teams will play outside the OVC in the fall 2023 season before joining the rest of the school's teams in the OVC in 2024—the football team in the MVFC, and the men's soccer team in the Summit League. WIU's nickname, the Leathernecks , and its mascot, the English bulldog , are taken from
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#1732776366767444-667: The Ohio Valley Conference starting the 2023-24 season. Prior to Western Illinois joining the Ohio Valley Conference, they were members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1914–1970 and the Summit League from 1982–2023. Western leaves the Summit League after being the last charter member of the conference since it was founded in 1982. A week later on May 18, 2023 Western Illinois announced
481-516: The USSSA Pride ended the Bandits championship hopes, winning their first Cowles Cup title. After the season, standouts Stacy May-Johnson and Jennie Finch announced their retirements from professional softball. 2011 The Bandits moved into their brand new home stadium, Ballpark at Rosemont , in Rosemont, Illinois in time for the beginning of the 2011 season. The team officially opened
518-807: The Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). From 2004-2017, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). The Akron Racers became the first Midwest franchise to begin play in the WPSL in 1999. The league suspended play in Orlando and assigned the Wahoos roster to the Racers. In 2000, the league consolidated sending the Georgia Pride team to Akron. The team was renamed the Ohio Pride. Both teams began sharing Firestone Stadium In their first year
555-629: The "official" Alma Mater for Western Illinois University is "Western Loyalty". The name of the "official" fight song for Western Illinois University is "We're Marching On". The "Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks" is the marching band which represents Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. "Rocky the Bulldog" is the costumed athletics mascot for the Western Illinois Leathernecks. "Colonel Rock"
592-640: The 2008 Championship Series. In the Championship Series, Chicago won all three games and earned the franchise's first NPF Championship with a victory over the Washington Glory in the title game. 2009 The Chicago Bandits began their second season at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois , with the return of Olympians Jennie Finch , Vicky Galindo , and Caitlin Lever . Chicago finished
629-481: The Bandits announced the hiring of Grinnell College alumna Annie Smith as assistant coach. 2018 The Bandits announced that McDonald would not be returning for the 2018 season. On September 19, they announced that their new coach would be Olympian medalist and NCAA champion Stacey Nuveman Deniz . Nuveman Deniz held the NCAA home run record of 90 from 2002 to 2015, when Lauren Chamberlain broke it. She played in
666-475: The Bandits recorded 61 home runs in 2008, which was more home runs than in the franchise's first three years combined. The team's home run leaders were Stacy May (13), Rachel Folden (11), Jamie Clark (11) The Bandits completed their season sweeping the Akron Racers, New England Riptide and Rockford Thunder to finish the regular season 32-16 and on a 12-game winning streak, earning the highest seed in
703-530: The Bandits signed free agents infielder Megan Blank of the Iowa Hawkeyes , outfielder Kelsi Jones of Louisville , catcher Vicky Galasso of Idaho State , and pitcher Lacey Waldrop of Florida State . 2016 The Bandits announced an agreement with radio station 1590 WCGO to broadcast all Bandits home and road games for the 2016 season. After finishing the regular season with a 23–25 record (the first sub-.500 regular season in franchise history),
740-592: The Bandits won their second consecutive Cowles Cup title, and fourth overall in franchise history, defeating the USSSA Pride 2–1 in a winner-take-all game three of the Championship Series finals. 2017 Head coach Mike Steuerwald stepped down and became assistant general manager of the Scrap Yard Dawgs. On February 1, the Village of Rosemont announced it would be assuming ownership of the Bandits from previous owner Bill Sokolis. The transaction included
777-455: The FCS playoffs. The team has made numerous FCS (formerly Division I-AA) playoff appearances. The Leathernecks have been ranked as high as number one and ranked number two numerous times. The team plays its home games at the 16,368 seat Hanson Field and are coached by Jared Elliott. The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's soccer team will play one final Summit League season in 2023 before joining
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#1732776366767814-594: The NPF for the Arizona Heat in 2005. The Bandits have retired the numbers of six players: Pitchers Catchers Utility players Infielders Outfielders Akron Racers The Akron Racers were a women's softball team based in Akron, Ohio . In 2018 they moved to Cleveland and were renamed the Cleveland Comets . The team was started by Joey Arietta in 1999 to participate in
851-548: The Pride came back to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 7th. In the 8th, Bandits right-fielder Amber Patton drove in the go-ahead run and NPF Co-Pitcher of the Year Monica Abbott made it stand up for a one-game lead in the best-of-three series. The next afternoon, Chicago got on the board early and often, scoring five times in the bottom of the first. The Pride got two back, but that was as close as they would get
888-770: The Pride in game two dropping the 8-3 decision. The Racers grabbed Coach of the Year honors (Brian Levin & Dustin Combs), Offensive Player of the Year (Nerissa Myers) and Jennie Finch Award (Kelley Montalvo). Five Racers were named to the All-NPF Team including Myers, Montalvo, Rachele Fico and rookies Jill Barrett and Ashley Thomas. Of their selections in the 2015 NPF Draft , the Racers signed Griffin Joiner of Kentucky , Shellie Robinson of USC Upstate , and Megan Low of UTSA . Rawlings awarded their first Gold Glove to
925-552: The Racers made it to the championship of the WPSL, but lost to the Tampa Bay FireStix. The WPSL suspended operations in 2001; the Racers was the only team of the four 2001 teams to revive when the league reformed as the NPF in 2004. In 2005 the Racers beat the Chicago Bandits to win the NPF championship. From 2004 to 2008, the Akron Racers have compiled an all-time win–loss record of 149-94. Crystl Bustos
962-560: The Scrap Yard Dawgs in the first round of the playoffs. The Racers have retired four numbers: Pitchers Catchers Utility players Infielders Outfielders Western Illinois Leathernecks#Softball The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University , located in Macomb, Illinois , in NCAA Division I sports. The school's primary conference affiliation
999-522: The addition of three more sports for women, this includes beach volleyball, bowling, and STUNT. The Western Illinois Leathernecks baseball team represents the university in NCAA Division I college baseball . The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference . It plays its home games at the 500-seat Alfred D. Boyer Stadium and are coached by Andy Pascoe . The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team competes in NCAA Division I men's college basketball competition. The school's team
1036-493: The most impact on the team. The Impact honorees were made public one at a time on the Racers' website. Following is the full List of 2016 Akron Racers IMPACT Honorees Citing a desire to focus on his position as coach of the Belmont Bruins softball team, Brian Levin stepped down as the Racers' head coach. The Racers' record was 4-5 on June 16. The Racers finished the regular season in third place, and were swept by
1073-646: The only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service. Since the fall semester of 2009, the men's and women's teams have been unified under the Leathernecks name; previously, the women's teams and athletes at the school had been known as the Westerwinds. On December 18, 2020 Western Illinois officially discontinued their men’s and women’s swimming programs citing budgetary and COVID-19 concerns. On May 12, 2023 Western Illinois accepted an invitation to join
1110-710: The playoffs after finishing in sixth place in the league. 2008 The Bandits began their first season in Elgin with a 4–7 record, playing without Jennie Finch and Vicky Galindo of the United States National Team, and Caitlin Lever of the Canadian National Team, due to the 2008 Beijing Olympics . Jessica Sallinger and Kristina Thorson each won 12 games and were Chicago's first duo to record double-digit victories since Jennie Finch, Amy Harrein 2005. After moving to their new stadium,
1147-502: The regular season with a 27–12 record, ranking first in the National Pro Fastpitch standings and earning the top seed for the playoffs in Akron, Ohio . Despite having the best record in the NPF in 2009, Chicago was upset in the NPF playoffs by the USSSA Pride two games to one, and lost the opportunity to repeat as league champions. 2010 In 2010, the Bandits once again won the regular season title, but once again,
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1184-562: The regular season. The Bandits opened the playoffs in Sulphur, LA against the second-seeded Akron Racers and swept the Racers with two straight victories, capped off by a three-run walk-off home run in extra innings by Nikki Nemitz to advance to the finals. In the finals, they once again met the Pride. In the first game, the Pride took an early 2–0 lead, but rookie Megan Wiggins hit a three-run double off Pride starter Cat Osterman . Two pitches later, Osterman went down with an arm injury, but
1221-436: The rest of the day, as the Bandits cruised to their second Cowles Cup championship with a 10–3 victory. They became the first NPF team to win multiple Cowles Cup championships. 2015 Before the season, the Bandits signed 2015 draftees shortstop Sammy Marshall of Western Illinois signed with the Bandits. and outfielder Brenna Moss of Fresno State AJ Andrews of LSU signed with the Bandits on June 12. After tryouts,
1258-630: The rest of the university's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024. Both conferences are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 's Division I . The team plays its home games at 500-seat MacKenzie Alumni Field and are coached by Dr. Eric Johnson. at Harry Mussatto Golf Course . The team has won nine Summit League championships in 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014. The team has also made six NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament appearances in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012. The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's soccer team, like its men's counterpart,
1295-414: The stadium for NPF play on June 16, 2011, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the Bandits 1–0 walk-off win over the USSSA Pride . Caitlin Lever drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th. Unlike the previous three years, the Bandits did not win the regular season title. They finished third in the four-team NPF with a 20–20 record, after losing six of their final eight games at home to close out
1332-539: The traditions of the United States Marine Corps . The university has had permission to use the official nickname and mascot of the Corps since 1927, when Ray Hanson , then-athletic director and coach of the baseball, basketball and football teams, gained permission to use the symbols as an homage to his service in that military branch during World War I . The university holds the distinction of being
1369-509: Was named manager in October 2009, replacing Barb Sherwood. The Racers upset the highly favored Chicago Bandits in the 2014 NPF Championship Series in Hoover, AL in the best two-of-three to move on to face the USSSA Pride. The Racers and Pride battle for eighth innings before the Pride pushed across a run on the bottom of the eighth inning to take the 1-0 advantage. The Racers could not hold off
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