Molly Burkhardt

2 weeks ago | mlb.com | Molly Burkhardt

ROSEMONT, Ill -- Last week, Erin Coffel was in Oklahoma City working as a graduate manager for Florida as the Gators took on Tennessee in the Women’s College World Series. “When did you get here, three days ago?” Bandits coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz asked Coffel, who was named the Player of the Game, in the postgame press conference. A quick turnaround that didn’t seem to faze the University of Kentucky’s all-time home run leader, who credited the coaching staff for helping her adjust quickly.

2 weeks ago | mlb.com | Molly Burkhardt

ROSEMONT, Ill -- Three hours before the historical first pitch, fans lined either side of the blue carpet leading up to the entrance of The Stadium at Parkway Bank Sports Complex. Youth softball teams in full uniform, groups of girls with Talons, Bandits, Volts and Blaze T-shirts and families from the Illinois area and beyond were among those eager to find their seats and witness the opening game of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s inaugural season.

3 weeks ago | mlb.com | Molly Burkhardt

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Just under two miles outside of O’Hare International Airport, the near constant hum of airplanes overhead is rivaled only by the sound of infield drills at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex. The softball smacking the back of a glove. The “yes queen!” after a properly executed rundown. Or "Christmas," as two-time Olympic medalist and AUSL advisor Natasha Watley calls it.

1 month ago | bvmsports.com | Molly Burkhardt

1 month ago | mlb.com | Molly Burkhardt

The three earned runs were the most given up in a game this season by Senga, whose signature “ghost fork” had an .085 batting average against entering the opener. Story’s first-inning RBI single came off the pitch, as did Duran’s triple to score Carlos Narváez in the second.