Bandits Non Conference Opener

The St. Croix Bandits dropped their first two games of the season back in April to perennial powerhouse Blaine Fusion. The Bandits lost the games 2-1, and 1-0. The Bandits took the lead in the first game 1-0 in the top of the seventh and final inning. Cory Gebhard reached on an error and stole 2nd base. Bandits veteran Steve Siqueiros drove Gebhard in with a two-out single to left field. The Fusion bounced back in the bottom of the seventh - scoring 2 runs off a single, a couple walks, and then a game-winning single.

Game two was more of the same. The Bandits struggled to get hits, but the Bandits pitchers kept the Fusion hitters off balance. Newcomer Kurt Gehrman pitched five innings, giving up no runs, and scattering three hits. The Bandits Will Ball was tagged with the loss, giving up the only run in the game in the bottom of the seventh and final inning.

With only three hits in the game, there aren't too many stars to give out. Kurt Gehrman had a wonderful debut (but in retrospect it would be short lived as Gehrman would later injure his arm - putting him out for the season). However, this is a much better showing than the 2009 game where the Bandits where outscored 12-4.