Bandits and Lightning to square off against cancer

(written by John Radtke, published in Elgin Courier)

The Chicago Bandits professional women's softball team and the Northern Illinois Lightning women's fastpitch team will meet in an exhibition charity game on Sunday at Judson University in Elgin.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance or at the gate. The Lightning will wear pink T-shirts, the Bandits will wear pink socks, pink bases will be used and fans are encouraged to wear pink.

The Bandits are the defending National Pro Fastpitch league champions and are off to another hot start this season behind such standouts as Jennie Finch, Stacy May, Sam Findlay, Kristina Thorson and Nicole Trimboli.

Coach Mickey Dean's team is coming off a Florida road trip and isn't scheduled to play until July 7. During a recent conversation, Dean asked Lightning owner and manager John Radtke if the Lightning would be willing to play the Bandits sometime during the Bandits' hiatus.

Further conversations with Dean, Radtke and Bandits owner Bill Sokolis turned a scrimmage game into a worthy event, with the proceeds going toward a cause that is very close to several of the participants, including Radtke, whose mother died from breast cancer in 1965 and whose stepmother passed away from the disease 20 years ago on July 15.

"I figured if we were going to do something like this, why not make it for a cause," Radtke said. "The Lightning and the Bandits share Judson's wonderful facility and the two organizations have formed a great relationship this summer.

"I'm grateful to Bill and Mickey for allowing our girls this opportunity, and for the Bandits' willingness to make it a worthy event."

Sokolis eagerly told his staff to get the game-day crew ready to go, and the full array of concessions sold at Bandits games will be available, as well as Bandits merchandise and pink Lightning T-shirts.

The Lightning, based in Elgin and celebrating its 10th anniversary, is made up of college players and post-college players from around the Chicago area. Elgin-area products playing for the Lightning include Jaci Corn (Elgin High/Elgin Community College/Judson), Courtney LaFerle (Larkin/Valparaiso), Karisa Hansen (Larkin/Aurora University), Sarah McCleary (Larkin/Iowa Wesleyan) and Megan Pozezinski (St. Edward/University of Wisconsin-Platteville).

The Lightning placed third in the USSSA Women's World Series in 2006 and 2007 and has gained a reputation of being one of the most competitive fastpitch teams at its age level in the Midwest.

For further information on the event, log on to www.chicagobandits.com, or www.eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning, or call 847-812-1522.