2009 Season Comes to An End - Let the Offseason Begin

The St. Croix River Bandits finished their season July 27th by beating the Osceola Braves. We are gonna take a quick recap of the season before going in depth about comparisons to previous seasons. The Bandits played a rough non-conference schedule this season including Isanti (27-7), Blaine (24-17), and Grantsburg (11-7 conf.). The Bandits started the season off with their worst losing streak in their 3 year history, losing their first 11 games, including dropping their first 6 conference games. The Bandits were outscored an amazing 89-28 over that 11 game period, touting a batting average .191 and an ERA of 6.23. Fielding wasn't the saving grace either, as the Bandits gave up nearly 3 unearned runs a game (2.8) on 3.1 errors per game.

Thats when Bandits scheduling braintrust, Scott Lindholm and Trevor Todd decided its time we played the Siren Steelers. Siren decided they would play the Bandits up in Siren with only 2 days (or less) notice. The result was a 11-1 victory, with the Bandits scoring 9 runs in the last 4 innings. This was the breakout game for Trevor Todd, who threw 7 innings, gave up 3 hits and 1 run, and struckout 13 batters. The Bandits dropped a game at Ellsworth but then picked up their first conference win of the season versus River Falls.

The River Falls game was an instant classic. The game went 13 innings long and the teams swapped the lead 5 times in the 5-4 Bandits victory, including a bottom of the 12th 2-run homerun by catcher Steve Siqueiros and Gus Koecher knocking in the winning run in the bottom of the 13th.

The Bandits lost a close game to Menomonie (at Menomonie) the following Friday night, but picked up their 2nd win of the season that Sunday, 4-1, vs. Bay City. Jim Rochford got the win for the Bandits, his 2nd win vs the Bombers in two outings. Rochford pitched 7 2/3 innings giving up six hits and only 1 run. Trevor Todd picked up the 1 inning, and change, save.

The Bandits did lose their next 5 games (including 2 debacles against Hager City), but these game were a lot close than the average 5.5 run beating they took during their 11 game losing streak. The average margin of loss was under four runs, with two games being 2 run games.

The Bandits ended the season like power-houses though. The Bandits 2nd to last game of the season saw them knocking off then North Division leader Hudson - who had been on a 10 game winning streak. Jim Rochford and the Bandits took down Hudson 8-6 on Wanigan Day Sunday, and saw some amazing plays. Hudson scored 2 runs in the first, but the Bandits answered back with 3 of their own. Rochford led up 3 hits in the top of the 2nd. But with no outs and the bases loaded the Bandits were able to get out of the jam unharmed, thanks 100% to a diving catch by Gus Koecher in centerfield. The Bandits piled on 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th. The River Rats tried to claw back in the top of the ninth, scoring 4 runs, and having the tying run come to the plate. Trevor Todd was able to close the game out, and have the Bandits escape with a victory.

The Bandits last game of 2009 was a dream come true during a losing season. The Bandits were playing the rival Braves from Osceola. The Braves were had a record of 8-7 and needed one more victory to claim a playoff spot. A loss from the Bandits would effectively end their season. Trevor Todd pitched a complete game 3-2 victory, with the Bandits scoring the winning run in the 7th inning and holding on the 1-run lead.

With that said, that Bandits had gone 5-7 after starting the year 0-11. The Bandits final 12 games of the season saw them hit .225 (34 points higher than beginning of the season), sport a team ERA of 3.89 (vs. 6.23), have 2.4 errors per game (vs. 3.1) but only give up only 1.1 unearned runs per game. The run diffential for the 2nd half of the season was 49 runs scored to 60 runs allowed, only an 11 run difference over 12 games (.92 runs/game) - as compared to 5.5 runs a game in the first half.