NPF

NPF News: Catching On with the Bandits

NPF News: Catching On with the Bandits

Mike Steuerwald, Head Coach of the Chicago Bandits returns to the NPF in a big way winning the 2015 NPF Cowles Cup. The Chicago Bandits are a team of scrapp

Nov 22, 2015 by Chez Sievers
NPF News: Catching On with the Bandits
Mike Steuerwald, Head Coach of the Chicago Bandits returns to the NPF in a big way winning the 2015 NPF Cowles Cup. The Chicago Bandits are a team of scrappers loaded with speed and power. The Bandits love their lefties and the formula has paid off. Throwing against Emily Allard, Tammy Williams, and Taylor Edwards is no easy task. They also happen to have the best pitcher in the circle, Monica Abbott. Coach Steurwald talks with FloSoftball about the current state of the league and what makes the Bandits so successful.


How long have you have you been coaching in the NPF? Could you give us a quick rundown to where you started in the NPF and where we are now? 


nullPhoto: Chicago Bandits
Mike Steuerwald, Head Coach of Chicago Bandits

I just finished my sixth summer coaching in the NPF. I started in 2009 with the now defunct Rockford Thunder. I didn't coach in the summer of 2014, but came back this past summer. At the time, I started I was coaching college baseball in Rockford, IL at Rockford University. We were coming off back to back conference championships and conference tournament championships when Aaron Moore and me connected. I had previously coached a couple of seasons of softball at the high school level. My time in the league has included three championships (2009-Rockford, 2011 and 2015 Chicago) and two regular season titles (2010 and 2013 Chicago).

With adding a new team to the league, how would you compare the league five years ago to where it is now? 

Getting to six teams is huge for the league. It is exciting to see growth and to have this growth come with stability. When I came into the league in 2009, there were five teams at the time. In 2010, we dropped down to four and that made the regular season drag. It seemed like we were seeing the same team on the opposite side just about every night. Now with six it makes it more challenging and fun as a coach to compete against different competition. It is also very exciting to have 23 more women get the opportunity to play professionally here in the United States.

What improvements would you like to see made? 

From a coach's perspective continuing to add teams is always a plus. It allows more players the opportunity to chase dreams and from a coaching standpoint it continues to challenge me and our staff to continue to improve throughout the summer. Obviously from a growth standpoint if we can ever get MLB on board in a serious capacity that will help bring even more legitimacy to the great product that is put on the field by the players. From a selfish standpoint, I would also love to see us be able to expand the schedule and go longer throughout the year. It feels like you are just getting going when you get to August and head to playoffs with your team, and many of the rookies are just learning to play at the professional level.

Filling Amber Patton's shoes is going to be tough, who is going to be competing for third base? 

Amber is a person you can't replace. Not just from the void she leaves at 3rd base, but also from a leadership standpoint. Looking to next season, it will be a spot we need to address either through free agency or the draft. We also have Natalie Hernandez who played a few games there this past season and could possibly step in and find some time in that spot. 

Re-signing Waldrop, Moulton, Moss says a lot about the Bandits program, what are the core values and principles the Bandits live by? 

Re-signing this group is a great start to continuing to build on the expectations we have as an organization. The great thing about being with the Bandits is the tradition that comes with being a part of this organization. I truly feel that many of our players have learned to develop over the years by being mentored by our veterans. We have had some great ones from Stacy May to Jennie Finch to Vicky Galindo. When you’re a rookie and you get to learn from some of the greatest players to play the game it humbles you and also challenges you to play at a high standard. 

What are the Bandits up to in the off-season? 

Well, we feel we made a great move getting Jill Barrett. Its obviously tough giving up high draft picks, but she is a phenomenol player and will be able to step in and contribute right away. I think one of the great things about our teams is that they know when they play hard and by our expectations they will get an opportunity to play on the field and if they take advantage of that opportunity they won't leave the field. Plus most people know I'm a little crazy so we find ways to get the best players on the field...even if they have never played those spots before.

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