Michigan Wolverines have Strong Presence on Chicago Bandits Roster

By Paul Banks • June 30, 2010

Both the Big Ten conference and the conference television network are located here in Chicago; a city home (by a very great measure) to the largest alumni base for all 11 schools. So it makes sense that the Chicago Bandits softball franchise would include a large number of Big Ten alumni as well. The Michigan Wolverines are the most represented school on the Bandits roster.

Bandits Big Ten roll call:

Michigan- Nikki Nemitz P, Samantha Findlay 1B, Angela Findlay OF

Iowa- Stacy May 3B

Northwestern- Eileen Canney P, Nicole Pauly OF

Nikki Nemitz is one of three Wolverines on the roster, I asked her about about having two girls who once wore the maize and blue on her team.

“I’ve played with them before, so I know what they’re capable of,” the 2009 Big Ten co-player of the year and 2009 conference pitcher of the year said, extolling the virtues of continuity.

If you followed Big Ten, or collegiate softball then a Bandits game would be an experience you should definitely check out. “We normally have an All-American pitcher, and an all-american lineup,” Nemitz said describing the talent on display.

There are not any Ohio State Buckeyes or Michigan State Spartans on the roster, but even if there was 1B Samantha Findlay assures me there would be no acrimonious rivalry.

“We’re all Bandits now, we talk about what happened in college and just kind of makes jokes about it,” said Findlay, last year’s NPF home run queen. And Lockport, IL native.

Her younger sister, rookie Angela Findlay had a lot to say about conference expansion when I asked.

“As far as softball goes, it’ll definitely be great for the conference, there’s pretty much the same 4-5 teams at the top of the conference every year, and everyone knows who’s gonna be there and I think throwing some new teams in the mix that have good softball programs will help improve the conference overall,” Angela responded.

The younger Findlay also gave a perfect soundbite describing some of the best things that attending a Bandits game has to offer.

I think this is great for young girls to come out and watch, they can come out and watch people who have good careers in high school and college and see how it’s done, Ive had numerous friends in college who never came out to a game. They come once- now they’re hooked,” she said.

Written by Paul M. Banks, President and CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest focused webzine. He is also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, the Chicago Tribune’s blog network, Walter Football.com, the Washington Times Communities, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com