Bandits Advance to Championship Series

Liam O'Brien tossed a complete game to propel the Bandits into the NEWBL Championship Series with an 8-3 win over the Appleton Legends on Saturday night in Appleton.  The Bandits scored five runs in the top of the first inning as the offense struck early.  To open the game, Kevin Valerio singled, Brock Wetenkamp doubled and then Max Stepan and Mike Hall singled.  Five more Bandits would bat before Appleton went to its top player John Hendrick to hold the game in tow.  Hendrick would do just that, pitching five scoreless innings before the Bandits scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh as Tommy Kawamura singled home Brad Liermann who had reached on an error.  In the eighth, the Bandits finally strung a few hits in a row together off Hendrick, plating two more on a Sam Spurney sacrifice fly and a Brad Lierman RBI single.  Liam O'Brien struck out three batters in the contest and pitched to contact, keeping his pitch count under control and allowing the defense to make plays behind him.  Valerio, Wetenkamp and Hall each recorded two hits.  The Bandits will face the winner of the Sheboygan/Menasha series in the Championship series that begins on Tuesday night at 7:30 at Municipal Field.