By By Matthew Nascone
The South Alabama Bandits had a slow start to the fall season this year, with a 3-7 record, but the Bandits bounced back with a 7-2 record in the final two tournaments of the year, winning both.
"We received phenomenal pitching and hitting in both of those tournaments," Bandits manager Tim McAnally said. "It was a great way to end the season."
In the USSSA 11 and under Fall State Championship Nov. 10-11 in Pace, Fla. the Bandits lost both the games used for seeding and were seeded as the No. 4 of five teams, but they won three straight games en route to the championship.
They took down the rival Pensacola Aqua Sox 2-1 in the championship game behind the pitching of Tanner Smith and Tristan McAnally. Smith allowed only one hit and none after the first inning.
McAnally and Coby Smith each scored one run for the Bandits.
Bandits 4
Threshers 3
Coby Smith and Tom-Tom Fischer were the only Bandits to get hits and Tristan McAnally scored two runs for the Bandits in a 4-3 win over the Perdido (Fla.) Threshers in the semifinal round. Nate Smith and Fischer each added one run scored.
McAnally pitched a complete game on the mound for the win.
Bandits 11 River Rats 3
The Bandits put it to the River Rats from Pace, Fla. 11-3 in the first game Sunday. South Alabama put together four runs in the first inning and six runs in the second for a commanding lead. Tanner Smith led the charge with three runs scored. Coby Smith and Trey Weekes added two runs scored and Tristan McAnally, Trey McGhee and Newt Lambeth contributed one run scored apiece.
Weekes allowed four hits on the mound and struck out two.
Threshers 5
Bandits 4
The Bandits dropped a close game 5-4 to the Threshers on the opening day of the tournament.
Trey Weekes scored three runs and Coby Smith added one run scored.
Bombers 9 Bandits 4
In the opening game of the tournament for the Bandits, they recorded a 9-4 loss. The Bandits scored three runs in the sixth inning, but it was not enough for the win.
Trey Weekes, Tanner Smith, Bryar Settle and Newt Lambeth each scored one run apiece.
ASP Monster Bat Bash III
Bandits 3 Aqua Sox 2
In the first of two straight wins over the Aqua Sox in championship games, the Bandits defeated Pensacola 3-2 in the final of the ASP Monster Bat Bash III in Pace, Fla.
Tanner Smith did not allow a hit or a walk through six innings of work, but the game was tied 2-2 and went to a California tiebreak.
The Bandits scored on their try and Tristan McAnally shut the door with a one-two-three inning in the seventh for the championship.
Bryar Settle scored two runs and Nate Smith added one run scored.
Bandits 4 Bill Bond 2
The Bandits rode a four-run third inning to a 4-2 win over the Pensacola Bill Bond in the semifinals.
Tristan McAnally, Trey Weekes, Coby Smith and John Patrick Sawyer crossed the plate for the Bandits and Trey McGhee also threw a no-hitter on the mound for the Bandits.
Bandits 9 Lobos 1
The Bandits put it to the Matthews Lobos 9-1 on Saturday.
Tristan McAnally and Coby Smith each scored two runs and Bryar Settle, Tanner Smith, Nate Smith, J.P. Sawyer and Trey McGhee each added one run scored.
Bandits 11 Bill Bond 2
The Bandits made short work of the Bill Bond 11-2 in the first game of the tournament with eight runs in the first inning. Tristan McAnally and Tanner Smith each scored two runs and Trey Weekes, Coby Smith, Bryar Settle, Tom-Tom Fischer, Nate Smith, J.P. Sawyer and Newt Lambeth each added one run scored.
Tanner Smith hit a home run that cleared the 250-foot fence in Pace.