Bandits, Lightning join forces to help fight cancer
The Chicago Bandits professional women's softball team and the Northern Illinois Lightning women's team have agreed to play an exhibition game for charity on July 5 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 will be 7 p.m., and tickets ($5) may be purchased in advance at chicagobandits.com or at the gate.
To honor cancer research efforts, the Lightning will wear pink T-shirts, the Bandits will wear pink socks, and pink bases will be used in the game. Fans also are encouraged to wear pink to the game.
The Bandits are the defending National Pro Fastpitch league champions and are off to another hot start this season behind Olympic star Jennie Finch, and standouts Stacy May, Sam Findlay, Kristina Thorson and Nicole Trimboli.
Coach Mickey Dean's Bandits will be returning from a Florida road trip on June 29 and were able to squeeze in the charity contest because they weren't scheduled to play against until July 7, when they host their NPF rivals, the Rockford Thunder, at Judson.
"I figured if we were going to do something like this, why not make it for a cause," Lightning manager John Radtke said in explaining the agreement he reached with Bandits owner Bill Sokolis.
"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," added Radtke, who has lost two family members to cancer.
The Lightning, based in Elgin and celebrating its 10th anniversary, feature college players and post-college players from around the Chicago area. Elgin-area athletes playing for the Lightning include Jaci Corn (Elgin/ECC/Judson), Courtney LaFerle (Larkin/Valparaiso), Karisa Hansen (Larkin/Aurora U.), Sarah McCleary (Larkin/Iowa Wesleyan), and Megan Pozezinski (St. Edward/UW- Platteville). Also included on the team's roster are Alex Lagesse (Beecher/Valparaiso), Lauren Ott (Mundelein/Butler), Shannon Starr (Lake Park/Aurora U.), Nikki Schlagel (Glenbard East/Benedictine), Michelle Sabatini (Nazareth/Loras), Deanna Angelini (Resurrection/Loras), Chassidy Mangers (Kaneland/Augustana), Lindsay Nauman (Byron/Elmhurst), Elissa Wisniewski (Stevenson/Winona State), Kylie Albright (Joliet West/Aurora U.) and Kim Brzezinski (Mother McAuley/Qunnipiac).
The Lightning placed third in the USSSA Women's World Series in 2006 and 2007. For more information, visitchicagobandits.com, oreteamz.com/northernillinoislightning, or call (847) 812-1522.
A pitch for pink
What: Fastpitch softball game to raise funds for breast cancer research
Who: Chicago Bandits vs. Northern Illinois Lightning
When: 7 p.m. July 5
Where: Judson University Sports Complete, Elgin
Tickets: $5 through the Bandits Web site or at the gate. All proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen Foundation
On the Web: chicagobandits.com