2024 65+ Central

Minnesota Bandits 12, Puget Sound Mariners 11 (10 innings)

Submitted by Frank Hanford, Bandit’s manager

The Minnesota Bandits won the MSBL 65+ Central Division Championship in ten innings with a 12-11 win over the Puget Sound Mariners.

The Mariners jumped to a 9-1 lead after five innings and led 11-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, before the Bandit’s remarkable comeback. The Minnesota team erupted for eight runs to tie before winning in the tenth.

Jeff Knutson and Doug Springford pitched five strong innings in relief of starter John Gibson.  Bob Britz, Bob Heiderscheit, Bill Devine, Jeff Knutson, Alan Arthur, Dave Globig, Rich Seiler, and Lee Backhus had multi-hit games for the Bandits.

Backhaus singled to start the tenth, stole second, and scored on Chuck Stott’s game-winning double.  All this is proof that “it’s never over till it’s over.”