Bandits&Lightning 10, Breast Cancer 0

Elgin, Ill. – We couldn’t have asked for any better weather as the Chicago Bandits (NPF) faced off with the Northern Illinois Lightning (18&Over) in an effort to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

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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.

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