Train with the Pros!

Big South stopped by for a brief update

Friday June 26th I spent the day at the Duramed Futures golf tournament in Hammond Indiana watching a friend play golf..congratulations Tiffany Prats on making the cut and playing on Sunday! I met some great people during the day, including Carole Fremouw of FMG Events. She and her staff have been the event organizers for 5 years and did an outstanding job all weekend long. All of us with the Bandits and Bandits Nation cant wait for you and your staff to come out to Elgin and see us Carole! We talked quite a bit but that will be for future blogs
Bandits Nation is also on its way to Seoul Korea. I talked with some of the Korean players with their interpretor and gave them some of our media guides. As they looked at our players profile I talked about each player until they came on a name they knew: it was Jennie Finch. If you havent ordered your tickets yet for the July series with Venezuela be sure to get them. Softball just as golf and baseball is universal and you'll be able to see some of the best players from Venezuela in our ballpark.
I'm looking forward to seeing and meeting Bandits fans from all over, if you have a tournament or an outing let us know in the Bandits office or you can get hold of me and we'll see what we can do.

Planning the Thriller @ Thillens

It's coming... the Thriller @ Thillens on July 28 ... but for now, we're in the planning stages of things for this event. The opponent has been decided -- a team of 18&U USSSA All-Stars. The location has been set -- Thillens Stadium, 6404 N. Kedzie, Chicago, Ill (Devon and Kedzie). All that is left is marketing the event so that as many Chicagoans have the opportunity to see the Bandits as possible. Normally, no secret here, the Bandits play in Elgin, Ill., but for this one night only they will take over Thillens Stadium to bring professional softball further into the city than ever before.

What's are marketing plan for this event? Well, the details aren't set yet but if you're in the loop and frequent the L-stops, keep your eyes peeled for some posters (above) to appear in the near future. Tickets for this once in a life-time event (may never play again the actual city of Chicago) are just $10 and seating will be first come first serve.

But anyways, enough writing, I've got to get back to planning out stuff... If you want your own digital copy of the "Thriller @ Thillens" promotional poster, head to http://www.twitpic.com/8rhws.

Catch you later

Digging into the Community

While the team has been dominating on the road, everyone over here at the front office has been busy trying to get more people to come out and support the Bandits at home. Over the past couple of weeks we have been making appearances throughout the Chicagoland area to get the Bandits’ name out there.

Bandit, Outlaw and staff members were spotted over at Classic Cinemas in St. Charles playing bags, handing out schedules, and talking to guests. The following week, staff and players hit up two golf outings, the Girls in the Game outing in Wheeling, IL and the ESPN outing in Grayslake, IL, and made connections with professionals from the area.

Appearances have not been limited to weekdays, on weekends all of us interns have been taking shifts at local softball tournaments. We have been selling merchandise, raffling off tickets, and getting to know some of the travel softball teams in the area. Glen Ellyn, Roselle, Sycamore, and Elgin have all been great hosts and we’re looking forward to seeing some of our new friends out at Judson University in July and August. If you are not on a travel softball team do not worry, we will be out in force in the communities surrounding Elgin in the next few weeks. Look for us in your town and make sure to say hello.

The Bandits are on the road until July but you can still follow them online. The team will be back home for an exhibition game on July 5 verses the Northern Illinois Lightning. Tickets are $5 and all of the proceeds from the game will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.

The next home stand is July 15 – July 19 verses the Venezuelan National Team. We have some great promotions planned for that week including: Bark in the Park (Wednesday July 15), Canned Food Drive (Thursday July 16), and All American Girls Night (Saturday July 18). Also, do not forget Friday is FIREWORKS night and Sunday is kid’s day. We really want to pack the stands in July and support our first place Bandits!

If you have any suggestions on places you want the staff to visit or comments on our games please feel free to contact us at 877-7BANDIT or send us an email at Chicagobanditstickets@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you!

Catch you later! – Gail Kramer, Philanthropy/Group Sales Intern

In coming weeks, rookies to play big part for Bandits

With five members of the Bandits getting set to venture off to Team USA land, other players are going to need to step up if the team wants to continue the current hot streak. After last night's extra inning victory, the Bandits rest at 13-3 in the NPF and in control of first place. To keep this pace going, rookies and verterans are going to need to fill the void's of rookies Tammy Williams, ss, (leading NPF in homeruns), Amber Patton, of/if, Brandice Balschmitter, p, and veterans Jennie Finch, p/dp, and Vicky Galindo, lf/2b.

Who will fill in?

Well ofcourse there is the usual suspects at each position: Aileen Morales at ss, Laura Harms in the outfield as well as Caitlin Lever, and Eileen Canney and Kristina Thorson will command all the playing time they could ever want as the only two pitchers left on the roster. Defensivley the Bandits will continue to be rock solid and should be able to continue the streak. But, players do get tired.

This is when the moment to shine comes for the 2009 rookie class. Rookies Jamie Schloredt, Izmena Cabrera and Cheyenne Jenks will have to start pulling their weight in the line-up in order to for the Bandits to be solid all around. We've seen some glory moments so far for these rookies as two of them have hit game winning hits so far this season in extremely clutch moments. Cabrera's came at home earlier in the season against the Philadelphia Force. She blasted an RBI single up the middle for the game winning run, much to the joy of some Bandits veterans (video also below). Last night ofcourse, Jamie Schloredt blasted a solo-HR in the top of the ninth to put the Bandits up 4-3 in the extra inning victory.

Last season, rookies Rachel Folden (2008 NPF Rookie of the Year), Samantha Findlay and Aileen Morales made a huge impact en route to the 2008 NPF Championship. Will our new batch of rookies step up at the plate and in the field to support the arms of Canney and Thorson?

Those two pitchers, while both great in their own right, cannot be expected to carry the team from the circle each and every game -- they're the only two arms left on the roster and eventually they'll need support. While the bats have not failed to give support so far this season, these next couple weeks will require it more than ever.

The Bandits will push to continue their hotstreak tonight against the USSSA Pride, in Kissimme, Fla. The game is available live via the USSSA Pride website.

Bandits spoil USSSA Pride homecoming

Bandits spoil Pride homecoming

06/24/2009 8:51 PM

By Andrew Phillips, Dir. Media Relations Kissimmee, Fla. – With Jennie Finch and Kristie Fox on base in the top of the second, Bandits outfielder Nicole Trimboli stepped up to bat against USSSA Pride pitcher Monica Abbott. Trimboli got the better of Abbott, blasting a 3-run home run over the left field fence to give the Bandits a 4-0 lead. The USSSA Pride (3-8) would go on to score two runs of their own, but could not close the gap, falling 4-2 to the first place Chicago Bandits (12-3). The Bandits tapped Abbott for all four of their runs in the top of the second. Bandits’ third baseman Stacy May opened the second with a double. Finch followed May with an RBI single to give the Bandits a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Trimboli added three more runs to the scoreboard with her three RBI blast. The Pride came back in the bottom of the 2nd to score their only two runs of the night after Amber Jackson reached base after being hit by a Finch pitch. Oli Keohohou then blasted her second home run of the season to bring the score to 4-2. The Pride’s best opportunity to take the lead came in the third. Rookie Kristin Schnake started the threat with a single and was followed by a pair of walks to load the bases for Keohohou. Bandits’ pitcher Finch was able to get out the jam by getting a ground out to end the inning. It was another great night for Jenny Finch (3-0) as she allowed only two hits, and recorded six strikeouts. Monica Abbott (1-2) recorded her second loss of the season for the USSSA Pride, while giving up four runs on seven hits.

Remember this? Venezuelan series approaches

As the next home series against the Venezuelan Olympic team quickly approaches, let's take a look back at a special moment from the last time these two teams squared off. Pictured on the right, the one and only Carlos Zambrano (photo from Cubs) ventured away from the bright lights and big city to support his native countries softball team as they battled the Chicago Bandits.

In front of a sold out crowd, Zambrano first took some batting practice off Bandits' assistant coach Thomas Macera. After getting loose, Zambrano stepped in to square off with a pitcher from the Venezuelan team. A video of what transpired against the Olympic caliber pitcher can be found via youtube here, but all in attendance remember one thing .... Big Z could not catch up to the pitches, eventually striking out after numerous attempts.

Who says fast pitch softball is easier than baseball?

Move it or lose it! Bandits traveling in style

On the road of travel there are busses and then there is the Bandits bus. In mid June, the Chicago Bandits hit the road for a 10-game road trip in their brand new team bus. Departing Judson University at 8 a.m. on June 15, the squad and coaches filed out of their rooms to find their photos adorned across the 14 windows of the bus and a big Bandits logo on the back. The travel-ready bus came equipped with sleepers and comfy seats to accommodate the players on their 14+ hour trips to Allentown, Pa., and Kissimmee, Fla.

On the bus, Bandits players and coaches have been watching movies, playing cards and talking about nothing, while waiting to face off with their next opponent. The bus is currently parked in Kissimmee, Fla., as the Bandits are set to begin a 5 game series against the USSSA Pride.

Photos of the Bandits’ Bus are available in the photo section of our Facebook Fan Page. The photos used in the windows of the bus were taken by Dina Kwit.

Have you seen the Bandits’ bus on the road? Take a photo and submit it tobanditsinfo@chicagobandits.com. From there, we will upload the photo to our Facebook Fan Page and website.

Big South checks in from Kankakee, Ill.

You'll see me not only at Bandits games, but at rec league games, high school games and softball tournaments thoughout Illinois and parts of Indiana. I've also been lucky enough to do some radio sports shows so keep an ear open to hear Bandits updates throughout the season.

I've met some incredible coaches, parents and players at NSA tournaments here in the Kankakee area and want to send a shout out to a few of the teams:
~ Homewood Flossmoor Rolling Thunder
~ Minooka Magic
~ Downers Grove Outlaws
~ Munster Indiana Magic
~ Indiana Ice
~ Oak Stars
~ TNT Twisters
~ Iroquois County Crush
I've also talked with teams from Frankfort, Tinley Park, Beecher, Crete, Ottawa-LaSalle, Mokena, Orland Park, Highland Indiana, Portage Indiana, Morocco Indiana and from Tuetopolis Illinois just to name a few.
Speaking of Beecher Illinois, I'd like to pay a special tribute to the Beecher Cure. This team had dedicated themselves to play softball with the goal of raising funds and awareness to fight Breast Cancer. I have the highest respect for what the players, coaches and parents are doing and when you see these ladies be sure to say hello to them and show your support. If you would like to help them out drop me an email or call me and I will get you their information.
Dont be shy when you see me at any events come up say hi. Lets talk Bandits ball and how we can get you to share in this years excitement at Judson University. Until then....

*Editors Note: Chris Hendrickson aka Big South, got his nickname from Bandits owner Bill Sokolis at the 2009 Bandits Ball-looza Championship Ring Ceremony. He was given this nickname because he is the only Bandits representative from the mid-southern Ill. area*

Bandits entertain golfers @ Girls in the Game outing

At the 10^th Annual Chip In for Girls Charity Golf Outing in Wheeling, Ill., members of the Chicago Bandits took off their mitts to extend a helping hand for Girls in the Game, an organization that promotes the values of physical activity and leadership that the current Elgin squad demonstrates daily.

Imagine this scenario: It’s the bottom of the seventh inning, down one run with two outs and a runner at third. For the Bandits, it’s a textbook pressure situation that these women face on countless occasions. With the support of teammates, excited fans, and self confidence, these women are able to tackle some of the toughest competition in the NPF.

Girls in the Game (the benefactor of the outing) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide athletic opportunities as well as nutrition training, in hopes to promote a healthy life for girls. Teenage girls in America today face far different pressures than driving in that game-tying run. They seek respite in an altruistic organization providing a chance for hundreds of teen girls to lace up and play in a summer sports camp that actively seeks to conquer the off the field opponents; issues of violence, obesity, inactivity and poor nutrition in young women.

The Bandits joined other professional women’s sports teams in Chicago – the Force (football), Sky (basketball), and Red Stars (soccer) – to provide active entertainment at various holes along the course in hopes of raising money for Girls in the Game and garnering interest in both the Bandits and women’s athletics everywhere.

With nearly 150 participants golfing from the professional, medical, health and fitness sectors, the Bandits set up a high excitement bean bag toss game at the first tee. While they baked in the toasty 90+ degree weather, the Bandits stayed focused, keeping in mind the real reason for being out there.

“One of the unique things about Girls in the Game is we take sports and fitness opportunities and we combine that with health education for girls—nutrition, body image and leadership development—and bring it together to make programs that address the whole girl,” said Amy Skeen, Executive Director of Girls in the Game.

Bandits’ staff members Brooke, Gail and Katie joined mascot Bandit for an afternoon at Traditions at The Chevy Chase Golf Course. The true pressure of the day then was actually the persistence of the message to young girls that there is truly no obstacle too high to hurdle.

Well, that, and sinking that short putt.

Fore! Bandits tee off @ ESPN charity golf outing

The sun was shining and the golf balls were flying yesterday as Rachel Folden, Stacy May and Bill Sokolis teed off in the ESPN Charity Golf Outing to support the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. The golf outing was held at the Stonewall Orchard Golf Course in Grayslake, Ill.

Playing as celebrities in the outing, each was paired with four other golfers to compete in the scramble format of golf. In scramble play, each player tees off from the tee box, then the team plays their next ball from the best shot. Each golfer’s shots must be used a minimum of two times throughout the 18 holes.

Breakfast (various donuts and coffee) was provided by 7-Eleven to fuel the hungry golfers as everyone began filing in around 9:30 a.m. for the event. Around 10:45, the golfers headed off to their carts to prepare for the 11 a.m. shotgun start.

Before things got started, Folden and Stacy May checked in from the driving range with nothing but good hopes and one goal: have fun.

On the course, Folden kicked things off from the fifth hole on the course and laced a nice shot down the middle of the fairway. Her team, made up of people from Zero Friction, had a fun day of golf from the get go, and finished 7 under par after 18 holes. Each hole on the course came with different prizes and challenges, along with hole sponsors offering different treats and prizes as well.

“It was a lot of fun yesterday,” said Folden. “It’s good to be a Bandit so we get to do things like this and put our name out there. It was a good tournament, and I’m sure Stacy May killed it on the 18th hole starting out when she hit the longest drive.”

Folden took home a hole prize on the second hole of the course, as she dropped the shortest drive in the fairway to win a nice Wilson driver. Folden even came close to sinking a long distance put earlier in the course.

Stacy May equaled Folden’s success by taking home the longest drive in the fairway contest on hole 18, winning her own driver from Wilson. May started the day at the 18th hole, dropping the longest drive from the get-go.

“We shot like 6 under so that was pretty good. It was hot, sunny, it was nice and it was just a good time,” added Folden. “I won the [golf club], which I’ll be giving to my dad as a father’s day present.”

Bandits President and CEO Bill Sokolis had a blast during the event as well, guiding his team to the pin with multiple long drives off the tees. Partnered up with members of Southwest Airlines, the city of Aurora, Nicor and Napa, Sokolis and company tore through the greens en route to an under par showing.

After all the puts had been sunk and long drives landed, ESPN held the silent auction to raise even more money for the Jimmy V Foundation. Items included an autographed football from Robbie Gould, signed Jonathan Toews jersey, a Mark DeRosa jersey, 3 Bandits jerseys (Folden, Fox and May), a suite package to the Hawthorne Race Track, a basket of Chicago Bulls prizes, an autographed Patrick Kane jersey, a Derrick Rose autographed basketball, various spa and vacation giveaways and more.

All in all, the event was a ton of fun as our three golfers had a blast, and fared well on the course as well. Sun burnt and exhausted, the six Bandits representatives (Bill, Sarah, Andrew, Hannah, Stacy and Rachel) headed home … all in a day’s work @ the Bandits.

Upcoming July Events

Venezuelan Olympic series set to begin July 15

Elgin, Ill. – In what has become an annual tradition, the Chicago Bandits will square off once again with the Venezuelan Olympic Softball team. The five game series will begin July 15 @ 7:05 pm at Bandits Stadium on the campus of Judson University.

The Venezuelan National team is no stranger to the Chicago Bandits. In fact, these two teams have had a healthy rivalry every year since the Bandits’ inception in 2005. Last season the Chicago Cubs’ very own Carlos Zambrano took time out of his schedule to cheer his native countries’ team. Zambrano also decided to step up to the plate against one of Venezuela’s pitchers and proceeded to whiff on nine straight pitches, much to the delight of the sold out Bandits’ crowd.

In the 2008 series the Bandits made it a clean sweep by winning all four games against the Venezuelan National team. Coming off their 2008 appearance in the Beijing Olympics, the Venezuelan team should have more experience to build on as the 2009 series approaches.

Tickets for this home stand are $8 (Outfield), $10 (1B line) and $20 (VIP), and each night of the July home stand will feature different exciting promotions.

July 15 – Christmas in July Toy Drive & Dog Day - To celebrate Christmas in July, the Bandits will be holding a new toy drive for the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. Fans that bring a new toy to donate will be able to purchase one admission and receive one free admission on a walk-up ticket. We ask toys be nonviolent, for children between newborn and eighteen years, unwrapped, and in their original packaging. More Holiday cheer will be spread throughout the evening with games, contests, and maybe even a visit from the big man himself!

There are some rules and restrictions for Dog Day, so please read the “Christmas is going to the Dogs” story on www.chicagobandits.com or call 877.722.6348 for more information and to get the downloadable release form needed to enter the park – if you’re bringing your dog – on that day.

July 16 – Canned Food Drive – Any fan that brings a canned food item to donate will get in for 20 percent off the outfield seat ticket price of $8.

July 17 – Taylor Hooten Foundation Night - Taylor Hooton was a 6"2' 180 pound junior varsity pitcher like most high school kids, hoping to make the varsity team and earn a college scholarship to continue playing baseball. At Plano West High School, Hooton's baseball coach gave him one simple request to in order to earn a spot on the varsity roster: put on 20 pounds. Taylor began taking steroids and from that point on, his life took a horrifying downward spiral. Even after Taylor stopped doping, the withdrawal effects caused him to suffer from depression and one day, Taylor tied two belts together and hung himself. Taylor Hooton is not alone among high school athletes hoping to play at the next level. Between five and six percent of high school students-which is between 800,000 and one million-students take steroids. On this night, the Bandits and Taylor Hooten Foundation will team up to make fans more aware of the dangers of steroids.

The Friday night game will also be FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS!, with an impressive showing of fireworks after the game.

July 18 – All-American Girls Night – They’re back! The original All-American Girls are returning for the fifth straight year to the Bandits ballpark. You’ve seen the movie “A League of their Own,” now meet the real women the movie was based on! Last season, the All-American Girls came and threw out the first pitch, sang the national anthem and signed autographs on the party deck before taking in the excitement of the Bandits. Don’t miss your chance to meet members of the original All-American Girls.

July 19 – Olympic Day / Scholarship Sunday / Kids Day – Once again it is Olympic Day at the Bandits. Join us as we celebrate the highest level of competition in sport. Last season our very own Olympians, as well as the Venezuelan Olympic Team, celebrated the joys of Olympic competition with a pregame ceremony and first pitch responsibilities. This season we’re working on involving Olympians in all sports, so join us as we celebrate the highest level of competition!

Hurry up and book your tickets today for the Venezuelan Olympic series by logging on to www.chicagobandits.com and clicking the tickets tab, or by calling 877-7BANDIT (877-722-6348).

Back to Blogging & Movie Magic

And we're off.... after taking a few weeks off of blogging to focus on ticket sales, promotions and our first two home series we're back in action. Bandits Sound Off will now be updated as often as possible to bring you an inside look at the Bandits organization, and from time to time I'll have our interns, players, coaches and even Bill Sokolis himself check-in with our blog.

Let's get started with our most recent video and appearance. This video features Bandit (one of our mascots) at the Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles, Ill. where he and Outlaw teamed up to entertain the young movie goers as part of "Dollar Movie Wednesday's."

For more information on the visit to Charlestowne Mall, check out Tim Miller's (Promo/Media Intern) write-up from the event.