Friendly Encounters: Angel Bunner and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends who have met celebrities.

In the middle of a long Chicago winter, my thoughts turn to softball. When I think softball, Don Martukovich is one of the many names coming to mind.

Residing in Ohio, I first came across Don because of my connection to the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. Don is somewhat of a Facebook legend because of his photography. While the majority of his pictures were of the NPF Akron Racers, he also posted plenty of pictures of other NPF and collegiate teams.

Unfortunately, the Racers folded a few years back, but Ohio got another team when the Cleveland Comets joined the NPF. The Comets play in several Ohio cities, making it tougher for Don to see as many games, but he still is a regular presence at their games.

Don is a great guy. He is always generous with his pictures, giving them to the players and allowing me to use some fr my various stories. He also has helped identify players for me.

O course, Don has many pictures with softball players over the years. I chose this picture with pitcher Angel Bunner because she has a connection to both of us.

Angel was a star pitcher at Auburn, one of Don's favorite teams, prior to joining the NPF. She eventually joined the Chicago Bandits midway through the 2016 season. She was the winning pitcher, pitching in the first six innings of game 3 of the championship series versus the USSSA Pride. She will always be loved in Bandit Nation because of that.

The 2020 NPF season will see a lot of changes in the schedule format. No matter the teams and schedules, Don will remain a passionate fan, as will I. I even hope to trek out to Ohio for some games.

Check out ChicagoBandits.com, ProFastpitch.com and ClevelandComets.us for more info on the NPF. If you come out to a game, look out for Don in Ohio and me in Rosemont.

Angel Bunner and Don Martukovich in OH-August 2018.

Angel Bunner and the Beijing Shougang Eagles

As of this writing, the National Pro Fastpitch Beijing Shougang Eagles are 8-40-1 in last place. As rough as that sounds, winning the NPF isn't the main goal of the Eagles.

The Eagles are one of the international teams playing in the NPF. Their main goal is improving the play of their team through better competition. They basically are in training for the 2020 Olympics. Losing is never fun, especially that much losing, but the players and the fans need to look at the bigger picture.

One of those players is pitcher Angel Bunner, an old Chicago favorite. Angel is 3-7 with an ERA of 2.84. In her 8th NPF season, Angel has pitched for several teams after a stellar career at Auburn. She joined the Chicago Bandits midway through the 2016 season and was the winning pitcher of game 3 of the championship series versus the USSSA Pride.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Angel shortly after she came to the Bandits. That can be found at On the Beat with Angel Bunner.

Angel and the Eagles will end their season next week against the Bandits in Rosemont. They play Monday night (and I will be throwing out the first pitch), a double header on Tuesday and the season finale on Wednesday.

Check ChicagoBandits.com for more info on that series and the Bandits. Also check ProFastpitch.com for all info on the league.

Angel Bunner and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2018.

Angel Bunner and the Beijing Shougang Eagles

Pitcher Angel Bunner was selected by the Carolina Diamonds in the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch draft. She was the first player from Auburn ever drafted by an NPF team.

The Diamonds folded after the 2012 season and Angel joined the New York/New Jersey Comets. After one season with the Comets, she joined the Pennsylvania Rebellion. Angel played with the Rebellion until she was traded to the Bandits midway through the 2016 season.

That's when things really became fun. After helping the team into the playoffs, Angel was the winning pitcher in Game Three of the NPF Championship series, pitching six innings in helping the Bandits win the Cowles Cup!

Unfortunately, the 2016 offseason was a tumultuous one for the Bandits. A change in ownership and management led to a big roster turnover. Angel eventually signed with the USSSA Pride for the 2017 season. This season, she was on the move again, landing with the Beijing Shougang Eagles.

The Eagles are mostly comprised of members of the China National Team, in hopes of gaining professional experience in preparation for the return of softball for the 2020 Olympics.

Angel is a great pitcher and is very friendly. I was happy to see her at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex this week as the Bandits hosted the Eagles. Many of the fans and her former teammates chatted with her and got pictures, too. Of course, I could not be left out of that. I made sure to talk to her and get my picture.

Angel will always hold a special place in the hearts of Bandits fans. She wasn't here that long, but her performance in Game Three will always be remembered as a great moment in team history.

For more info on the Bandits, go to ChicagoBandits.com. You can also go to ProFastpitch.com for info on the entire league, including Angel!

Angel Bunner and me in Rosemont, July 2018.

Good Bye, Good Luck and Thank You Angel Bunner

Angel Bunner had a great career at Auburn University.  She was 44-21, with a 2.24 ERA during her four seasons there.  She also had the third-best single-season ERA at 1.53 in 2011.

Bunner became the first Auburn softball player to be taken in the NPF draft, when she was drafted 17th overall by the Carolina Diamonds in 2012.  She also pitched for the NY/NJ Comets.  She joined the Bandits midway through the 2016 season.  She pitched well, but never better than pitching the first six innings of game 3 of the championship series versus the USSSA Pride.  Bunner got the win and earned her place in the history of the Bandits and the hearts of the fans.

Unfortunately, Angel signed with the Pride during the offseason and is pitching for them this season.  In 11 appearances this season, she has an ERA of 1.35.  It's always tough seeing your players go to other teams, but Angel will always be a favorite here for her contributions to the 2016 NPF championship.

I want to publicly thank Angel for her time and consideration during her short stay here.  She was always friendly and professional.  I thank her, too, for helping the Bandits win the title.  I wish her good luck with the Pride and I look forward to seeing her this season, even if she will be wearing the wrong uniform.

Angela Bunner and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2016.

On the Beat With Angel Bunner of the Chicago Bandits 2016

Our recurring coverage of the Chicago Bandits brings us to Angel Bunner.  The fourth year pitcher was a mid-season addition to the Bandits.

Angel starred at Auburn, where she had a record of 44-21. She ranks in the Auburn Top Ten in ERA (2.24), batting average against (.226), wins (44), saves (6) and strikeouts (326).  She also has the third-best single-season ERA at 1.53 in 2011 and the single-season record for fewest walks with 22 in 2012.

She was drafted by the Carolina Diamonds with the 17th pick in the 2012 draft.  She was the first player from Auburn to be drafted in the NPF.  After the Diamonds folded, she joined the New York/New Jersey Comets.  She also pitched fror the Pennsylvania Rebellion.

Joining any team in midseason is tough.  In limited action, Angel has already contributed by bolstering the pitching staff.

We moved outside for this interview.  Please excuse the occasional airplane (but that's part of the experience at the Ballpark in Rosemont).  Angel talked to us about her draft experience, joining the Bandits, seeing Chicago and more.  I also revisited an interview from Justin's World of Softball, in which Angel was asked about her three necessities if stranded on an island.  I really liked Angel's answer to that question.

For more info on Angel and the Bandits, head to ChicagoBandits.com.  Also, check back here for our usual coverage of the Bandits.