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Still unable to be two places at once (yes, the cloning — not be to confused with the clowning — department is a big disappointment to some of us at elliottharris.com), your humble correspondent had to decide which game to go to Saturday night. It was either the Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League (formerly Lingerie Football League) or the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch (softball).
Heather Furr reacts after tossing a touchdown. Credit: Homeland Sports LLC / Rick Welton
Because mundane activities — such as cleaning out the garage for the first time in what surely had to be a decade at the minimum — took longer than anticipated, the decision was to go with the game that started later. Meaning the Bliss.
And so it was that we found ourselves at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., for the Bliss first-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Tempation rather than at the Ballpark at Rosemont for the Bandits regular-season finale against the USSSA Pride in a game that would decide whether the Bandits or Pride would win the regular-season title (and with it, a spot in the league championship series and time off until Aug. 23).
The Bliss, which lost to L.A. 31-18 during the regular season, trailed 12-6 at halftime. Furr thwarted a Temptation drive with an interception that led to a game-tying touchdown run by Chrisdell Harris. On the first play after Furr’s interception, L.A.’s Melissa Margulies was injured. She was motionless on the ground before eventually getting to her feet. She was helped to the locker room and did not return to the game. Which meant the Temptation offense was hurting because she is the team’s star running back.
Credit: Dominique Collins
Furr added her fumble recovery on the L.A. possession after the Bliss TD. She then drove the team downfield. When L.A. stymied a running play, Furr improvised and threw a left-handed pass that Harris caught for the go-ahead TD. The successful extra point came after the two-minute warning.
L.A. quarterback Ashley Salerno tried to pass the Tempation to a tying touchdown, but Furr intercepted with 1:03 remaining, and the Bliss ran out the clock.
Which means the Bliss travels to Ontario, Calif. for a second-round matchup against the Seattle Mist.
As for the Bandits game, Monica Abbott pitched a three-hitter and struck out eight for the victory. Amber Patton and Vicky Galindo had run-scoring singles in a two-run Bandits fourth inning to overcome an early deficit.
Some postgame video from the Bliss game with Heather Furr and coach Keith Hac:
Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the efforts of the editorial and video staffs at elliottharris.com and their definition of “gratuitous”):
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