Bandits building foundation for future

*this article ran in the Daily Herald on July 7 and was written by Rachel Folden*

"I love my job."

Some people dream about saying this every day. For me, being able to say this sentence is both a reality and a dream come true.

My name is Rachel Folden, and I play for the Chicago Bandits, a professional softball team in the National Pro Fastpitch league. When I was about 5, I knew I wanted to be a professional athlete. Of course, at that point I wanted to play for the Dodgers or Lakers, but certain things kept that from happening.

I thought long and hard about what I loved, and sports seemed to be it. I wanted to play on TV, rack up MVP awards, play in all-star games, win championships and have crowds chanting my name.

I wanted that rich lifestyle that went along with being a pro athlete, just like every other kid my age wanted.

Here I am a Bandit. We sit 15-4 and in first place of the league, fresh off our championship last season (for which we got a nice sized ring). We just finished a two-week road trip going 7-2 against two very good teams.

In a way, I'm living out all of those childhood dreams of getting to win championships, get hardware, and playing for and in front of thousands of people.

The perks of playing with the Bandits are unbelievable, especially when we are inside the Chicago area.

While the championship was amazing to win, the hardware is nice to show off and the perks are plentiful, I look at what I truly love about the game, and it's simple.

After every game there are hundreds of young girls scratching, clawing and pushing to get our signatures on a ball, a visor, a sweatshirt, a ticket or anything they have on them.

These girls are the future of the league, perhaps future Bandits. There is no greater satisfaction in the world than having someone ask you for your autograph.

Our league is in its infancy, and attendances and sales are disappointing sometimes.

However, when I look at those young girls' faces, I know what we are trying to build here and why we're working so hard to do it. We are trying to build a home for them so that they can get to live that lavish lifestyle I so dreamed about as a kid.

That lifestyle where all they have to do is play softball and train to play softball, year round.

Each child we take a picture with or sign an autograph for is a piece of our future. It is because of them and their smiling faces that I can say, "I love my job."

It's not every day you get to build something from a very small idea into a very large and stable institution.

What can I say? It's good to be a Bandit.

Editor's note: Rachel Folden is a catcher with the Chicago Bandits. The Bandits play their home games at Judson University in Elgin. For ticket information, call 1-877-7BANDIT, or go online at chicagobandits.com

Where in the Burbs is Big South -- July 7

The 4th of July morning I was on the Roy Collins WKAN Satruday Morning Sports Show here in the Kankakee area, and a special Thanks to both Roy, Jimmy Webb and the sports crew!

We had a great time talking Bandits softball and doing some ticket giveaways. Shout outs to Casey DeVore who won the 1st ticket package. I had a chance to talk with Casey Tuesday afternoon and his daughter Devon is excited about coming up to see the Bandits and Venezuela play.

To all of you who called Thank You as well! We initially were going to give away tickets that weekend and then this weekend coming up. According to Roy and his exact quote is "you have fans," the calls kept coming in and he gave away the rest of the tickets after our segment ended! Roy and the WKAN staffers will be coming up to experience Bandits Nation live and we cant wait to see them.

Be sure to let me know your teams when I'm at your tournaments and games and I'll do my best to make sure everyone knows who you are in Bandits Nation
Until the next pitch....

-BigSouth

Pitch N Catch - Post Breast Cancer Charity Game

Check out this episode of "Pitch n Catch" as Rachel Folden and Kristina Thorson check-in after the Chicago Bandits and Northern Illinois Lightning teamed up to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation.

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.

read more here

Bandits, Elgin beat drizzle for great 4th of July parade

A light drizzle could not stop us or the Elgin 4th of July Parade. Jamie Schloredt, Hannah Michal, Erin Bault and I hopped in line with interns Gail and Brooke and some friends of the Bandits to stroll down Douglas street with the Bandits mobile (chevy truck above) and the team bus (also above) to entertain parade goers with suckers, smiles and friendly waves. Not sure on the amount of people that lined the street, but I do know that we ran out of suckers just before we reached the end of the parade route. That's 180 suckers X 3 bags which is 540 suckers, so more people than that.

It was a blast being in the parade. When we first arrived we parked at the local library and then realized how far it was from the parking lot to the start of the parade. Luckily, we saw the team bus on Kimball and bolted over to it for an easy ride to the front. Being relatively inexperienced in parades, some of us moved a little to slow and had to sprint - flat out sprint - to catch up with the Bandits Mobile and Team Bus before the judges table at the end of the route. Also, when I did catch up to the Bandits Mobile, I attempted to hop on the little ledge that sticks out to help you in the car.... definitley almost slid right off the side and would've face planted in the middle of the parade had I not caught myself. Once I had my footing we were good to go.

My apologees to the Elgin 4th of July Parade volunteer -- I'm sorry that I was throwing candy from the car.

- aphillips@chicagobandits.com

Apparently it's illegal to ......

So yesterday, Hannah and I did some "Guerilla Marketing" ( i think) as it's being called these days and ventured off to the city of Chicago - hoping to arrive at Thillens. Our plan -- plaster every available light pole and bulliten board and random place with a poster, advertising the Thillens game on July 28. Bright and early, at 8:40 a.m., we hopped on our local Metra stop to start our voyage. First stop, National Street - the test run. As we moved from the Chicago street station to National, one of us prepped the poster with some tape and the other prepared to dart from the train to the nearest place to put it and hopefully back to the train before the doors closed.

This worked great and we were opperating smoothly until about the fourth stop. Then, as I got ready to bolt out the door, the train ticket puncher guy informed me that what we were doing is technically considered littering on the Metra. So I held off that stop, and he kindly pointed out that the lady in the blue polo shirt standing on the platform had been waiting for us.

What a buzz kill.

Eventually we arrived in Chicago and made our way towards the Brown Line to do some more (hopefully successful) hanging. The L doors move a lot quicker than the Metra, but we made it work. 10 stops in though, we had a scare. I barely made it back through the doors - had to pry them open with my hands - before the L train pulled away.

After tagging all the stops we could and walking around the Kimball (last stop on Brown line) we ventured back to Kedzie, to walk to Thillens ofcourse. And a long walk it was. But, we survived and put up posters at every other light pole, trash can, concrete wall and bulliten board we could -- all the way to Thillens.

If you go to Thillens in the next few weeks (before our game) let us know how the posters look -- there should be about 15 to 20 scattered around the stadium. There's some more to the story - an interesting lepord car we saw, some unique train riders - but all in all it was a good poster hanging day and hopefully the people in and around Thillens will be excited enough to join us on July 28.

@aophillips

Where in the Burbs is Big South -- July 1

Tonight (July 1st) found me in Ashkum Illinois watching the Iroquois County summer recreational league championship and talking with new Bandits fans and long time Bandits fans and friends.

Congratulations to teams from St. Anne, Chebanse, Ashkum and Donovan making the championship round and shout outs to the girls from Donovan who took their 2ndChampionship and had an undefeated season as well!

Thanks to the coaches players and parents who stayed and talked about your Champions coming to a game in August and celebrating with our Champions.

All of these girls played some great softball and have a lot to be proud of!

#BigSouth

Replacing Jennie Finch, California dream-in come true

I hope you all had a chance to read the recent article about Jennie Finch and Kristina Thorson. I got the idea to write something up because while the Bandits were on the road, the mood in the front office was, 'now is the time to act,' about tickets, promotions, and other exciting things we were trying to finalize for our July series.

In the spirit of being proactive, I thought about what the Bandits as an organization can think about with regards to eventually replacing Jennie Finch when she retires whenever that may be. She has been an awesome part of softball and the Bandits, and I thought it would be interesting to talk about having a plan in place for a new face of the organization for the future. I had a really nice talk with Kristina Thorson who had great things to say about Jennie, and she talked about what the Bandits need to do to increase exposure about her and the team (and the sport!)

If you get a chance to come out to one of our upcoming games (July 5, July 15-19) in July, I know that she'd be more than willing to say hi and sign autographs after the game, alongside all of her fantastic teammates!


- Tim Miller - Bandits Media/Promos intern

*If you havent read the article yet, go here*

Where in the Burbs is Big South

Big South here, if you're close to the Kankakee area this Saturday tune into WKAN AM radio 1320 to the Saturday Mornings Sports Show with Roy Collins.

The show starts at 9:00 am and I'll be on talking Bandits softball, games coming up and we'll do some Bandits ticket giveaways. Be sure to let Roy and his staff know you heard about the show here!

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.

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.