Bandits Open Finals with 6-3 Win

In what was sure to be a close game at Municipal Field on Tuesday night, the Manitowoc Bandits and Sheboygan A's squared off to open the Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Championship Series.  Fans were not disappointed as the Bandits and A's battled back and forth with the Bandits holding a narrow 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning when Nat Richter laced a double down the right field line that scored Stewart Larsen.  Richter would then score on an error by Sheboygan shortstop Grant Berkovitz's, providing the Bandits with a pair of insurance runs.  Brennan Rhode started the game and pitched sensationally.  Rhode went three innings, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks.  He gave up only two runs.  Miles Mayer pitched the seventh and eighth innings, striking out two and Matt Shea pitched the ninth for the save.  Offensively the Bandits were led by Richter (2x3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Brock Wetenkamp (2x4).   The Bandits now travel to Sheboygan for Game 2 on Wednesday night at 7:30pm.  Any Bandits fans able to make the trip are encouraged to do so.