ELGIN, Ill. – Chicago Bandits GM Aaron Moore announced today that the Bandits have released the following players to free-agency: catcher Jamie Schloredt, outfielders Izmena Cabrera and Cheyenne Jenks, shortstop Aileen Morales, pitcher Gina Oaks and pitcher Brandice Balschmiter.

In 2009, Jenks batted 3-for-13 (.231) with a double and two runs scored. She made the team by way of the open tryout in early May. Jenks recently signed on to play softball professionally in Europe during the 2010 season.

Outfielder Izmena Cabrera and catcher Jamie Schloredt both joined the Bandits in 2009 as rookies out of Sacramento State University. Cabrera quickly made an impact off the bench as a clutch hitter in the early parts of the season. In 2009 she batted 6-for-24 (.250) with three RBIs and one stolen base. Schloredt filled in nicely behind the plate, splitting time at the catcher position with Rachel Folden. Schloredt finished 2009 with 15 hits in 61 at-bats for eight RBIs, eight runs and five homeruns. One homerun came early in the season in the form of a game winner off USSSA Pride pitcher Monica Abbott.

Aileen “Boom Boom” Morales split time with the Bandits and team Puerto Rico last year as a member of their National Team. Morales finished the 2009 season with the Bandits by recording a .200 batting average while going 6-for-30 at the plate. She contributed nine runs, five RBIs, one double and one triple.

Pitcher Gina Oaks game back to the Bandits midway through the season last year, filling a void in the rotation left by Team USA pitchers. Oaks saw 4.1 innings of work in the circle for the Bandits and struck out one batter.

Brandice Balschmiter was drafted to the Bandits in 2009 and went 2-0 with 1 save in the circle.. Balschmiter saw 35.1 innings of work and finished with a 2.79 ERA. She was recently selected to the USA Women’s National Team.

Outfielder Laura Harms has also been removed from the roster, as she retired following the end of the 2009 NPF season. Harms played for the Bandits from day one of the franchise’s inception, and she crossed the plate in June of 2005, scoring the first ever run in Bandits history. Harms finished 2009 with a .178 batting average, going 8-for-45 at the plate. Harms scored seven runs last season as well.

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