It started with a blur around the bases and ended with a sigh of relief.
Sean Burke's inside-the-park home run in the opening frame set the tone Thursday as the Philly Bandits Collegiate squad jumped out to a six-run cushion and then white-knuckled their way to a 7–6 win over the Philly Mummers in a game that had just about everything.
By the fifth inning, the Bandits had built what looked like a comfortable 7–1 lead. But the Mummers had other plans. They chipped away with a series of unlikely events: a walk, a miscue, a fielder’s choice, another error, and a single—suddenly making it a one-run game and forcing the Bandits to sweat through the final outs.
The Bandits’ bullpen, however, found a way. Edward Dingle was a revelation in relief, tossing 2⅓ shutout innings without allowing a hit, while striking out two and walking one. And that proved to be just enough.
Braden Kelly got the start for the Bandits, allowing a run without surrendering a hit over 1⅔ innings—but he walked five, making things anything but easy. Meanwhile, Mason Curtier took the ball for the Mummers, giving up three runs on four hits over two innings.
The Bandits piled up 13 hits in total, with Sean Heissler doing his best impersonation of a leadoff man from the eighth spot—finishing 3-for-3. Burke, Charlie Cordisco, and Tahir Parker each drove in a pair, while Brett Barrett chipped in two hits of his own.
On the Mummers' side, Braedyn Clinton sparked the lineup with two hits out of the leadoff spot. Kaden Pasternak and Tyler Harper each drove in a run, and while the bats didn’t quite erupt, the plate discipline did—seven walks kept things interesting.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t pretty. But for the Bandits, it was a win, and one they’ll take every time.
