By By Matthew Nascone
The South Alabama Bandits opened the spring season in a funk, winning one of 10 games played, but after the ASP Memorial Day Bash May 27, the team seems to be firing on all cylinders.
"We are hitting the baseball and playing great defense," Bandits manager Tim McAnally said. "We put all aspects together for the Memorial Day tournament."
Put it all together is definitely what the Bandits did, as they walked away from the Santa Rosa Sports Plex in Pace, Fla. as champions of the eight-team tournament.
"This was the first tournament we went undefeated in," McAnally said. "This win gave us an automatic bid in the 10AAA World Series in South Haven, Miss."
The Bandits scored 53 runs in the five games of the tournament and allowed only 19 runs. The team also hit for an average of .470 as a team on the weekend.
In the championship game the Bandits annihilated the Gulf Coast Storm out of Pensacola, 11-3.
Briar Settle scored three runs for the Bandits and went 3-for-3 at the plate. Tristan McAnally was 2-for-3 in the game and had four stolen bases with one run scored. Trey McGhee scored two runs and hit 2-for-3. Brodie Amos, Scott Brantley, Aaron McDonald, Chasen Freeman and Nate Smith each scored one run.
Tanner Smith struck out six batters on the mound for the win.
Bandits 11
Tomahawks 3
The Bandits were at it again earlier in the day on May 27, defeating the Pensacola Tomahawks 11-3.
Scott Brantley scored two runs for the Bandits and Brodie Amos, Tristan McAnally, Coby Smith, Trey McGhee, Briar Settle, Tanner Smith, Kyle Morton, Aaron McDonald and Nate Smith each scored one run.
McAnally pitched a complete game, striking out four batters and walking two.
Bandits 8
Monarchs 0
South Alabama took it to the New Orleans Monarchs May 26, winning 8-0. Aaron McDonald threw a complete game shutout for the Bandits and struck out four batters while walking three.
At the plate, Trey McGhee was perfect at the plate, going 1-for-1 with one walk and two runs scored. Briar Settle was also perfect at 2-for-2 and he scored two runs as well. Scott Brantley scored two runs and Tanner Smith and Kyle Morton each scored one run in the victory.
Bandits 11
Tomahawks 7
In the second game of the tournament for the Bandits, they won by the slimmest margin of the tournament over the Tomahawks, 11-7.
Tristan McAnally, Kyle Morton, Trey McGhee and Nate Smith each scored two runs for the Bandits and Brodie Amos, Coby Smith and Chasen Freeman added one run scored apiece.
Scott Brantley and Tanner Smith combined to strike out nine batters on the hill.
Bandits 12
Storm 6
In the opening game for the Bandits, they defeated the Storm 12-6.
Brodie Amos, Tristan McAnally, Trey McGhee and Chasen Freeman each scored two runs and Coby Smith, Kyle Morton, Briar Settle and Tanner Smith scored one run apiece. Settle was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3.
Morton and Settle saw action on the mound.
The Bandits spring roster consists of a collection of talent from the South Alabama and panhandle of Florida area. They include, Coby Smith, Tanner Smith, Scott Brantley, Tristan McAnally, Aaron McDonald and Trey McGhee from Atmore; Brodie Amos and Chasen Freeman from Bratt, Fla.; Nate Smith from Walnut Hill, Fla.; Briar Settle from Monroeville and Kyle Morton from Mobile.
Tim McAnally is the team's manager and Jody Dortch and Tommy Smith are the coaches.