Garlic City 11U travel team takes third in Modesto
qualifier.
MODESTO – The Garlic City Bandits, an 11-under travel baseball team, headed to Modesto over the weekend to participate in a Super Series National Qualifier.
The Bandits finished third out of 10 teams with the top four teams qualifying for Nationals in Arkansas this summer.
In their opening game, the Bandits faced the Super Series Winter National Champions JAX. Brodie Christman took the mound, pitching a complete game for the Bandits and taking his team to an 11-8 victory. Christman kept the JAX hitters off balance – forcing groundouts and fly balls for the Bandits defense to gobble up.
In their next game, the Bandits faced the Arsenal, the top ranked 11U team in Northern California. With Jeff Stine on the hill, the Bandits traded leads with the Arsenal for four innings.
But in the top of the five frame, the Bandits made a couple of errors – which allowed runs and forced relief pitcher Cole Campbell into the game for three straight outs. Despite a great effort of comeback hitting by Spencer Belville in the bottom of the inning, the Bandits came up short – dropping a 9-5 decision.
The Bandits bounced back in their next game against the Bandits – pulling off a tight 7-6 win. On the mound, Spencer Belville threw for three innings – allowing four runs – and Jon Carin relieved Belville – allowed two runs.
In the semifinals, the Bandits were taken out by the Arsenal, 13-1, to end their tournament run.
The Bandits played without starting pitcher and backup catcher Alex Davis this weekend due to a leg injury.
For the tournament, Ryan Muir was on base nine of 11 at-bats; Christman had two doubles; Carin had two doubles; Jeff Stine finished with two doubles and a single; Belville recorded three singles; Mitchell singled; and Campbell doubled.
