Former Mississippi State standouts Sierra Sacco and Raelin Chaffin will play for the championship in the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League later this month.
Their team, Talons, 14-4, secured a place in the championship series last weekend with a loss by the rival Volts, who are now out of reach of the first-place Talons. They are fresh off a series win against the Bandits, 11-7, who are currently second in the AUSL standings with a five-game lead over the Volts, and the Talons’ likely opponent in the championship round.
“They’ve been a thorn in our side a little bit, but they’re quality,” Talons head coach Howard Dobson said of the Bandits. “They swing it really well, and they put pressure, and they’re one of those teams that never give in, even if you have a big lead.”
The Talons won Games 1 and 3 over the weekend in Omaha, Neb., defeating the Bandits 8-7 on Friday and 6-3 on Sunday.
Despite the recent wins, the Bandits are the only team to take down the Talons this year, accounting for all four losses.
“It’s a long series,” Dobson added, “and hopefully, if we don’t get them now, hopefully we’ll get them when it matters.”
Chaffin tossed four innings and earned the win in the Sunday rubber match, allowing just one run and one hit with two strikeouts.
Sacco registered one hit, a solo home run, in nine at-bats in the series against the Bandits. It was her first home run since June 14 and helped the Talons to an eventual one-run win.
While Sacco hasn’t had her usual swing, notching just one hit in her last five games, she continues her perfect season in the field, going 5-5 on opportunities against the Bandits this weekend.
The AUSL championship series will take place at Rhoads Stadium from July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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