Lightning to play benefit softball game Sunday
The Chicago Bandits and the Northern Illinois Lightning will play an exhibition softball game to benefit breast cancer research at 7 p.m. Sunday at Judson University in Elgin.
The Bandits are the defending National Pro Fastpitch League champions and the Lightning had a 24-16 record last year in the United States Specialty Sports Association.
"This year, we (the Lightning) have 11 brand new girls out of 14 on the team, so we haven't been as good as last year with a 8-11 record so far," Lightning team owner and general manager John Radtke said.
But the team is 8-3 in its last 11 games, so the anxiety of being new is wearing off.
Both softball teams use Judson's Sports Complex as their home field and for practice, so the administrative sides of each team have gotten to know each other pretty well.
"We (the Lightning) have had a good working relationship with the Bandits ever since we've been at Judson, and it was a conversation I had with the Bandits coach that lead to this whole thing," Radtke said.
The idea for the exhibition game began when the two teams planned to have a scrimmage game, and changed plans to make it a charity event for the public to attend.
All proceeds from the $5 tickets sold at the gate will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.
To fund breast cancer research with the proceeds was Radtke's idea, whose mother and stepmother both died of the disease.
To further the breast cancer message, the white bases have been replaced with pink bases, and the uniforms are also being changed. The Lightning will wear pink T-shirts and the Bandits will wear pink socks. Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing and accessories as well.
All tickets can be purchased at the gate. The stadium is on the Judson campus, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. The entrance is the east side of State Street (Route 31), about one-half mile south of the Northwest Tollway. For more details, go to chicagobandits.com, eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning, or call Radtke at (847) 812-1522.
<p class="factboxtextbold12col">I<b>f you go</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>What:</b> Chicago Bandits professional women's softball team vs. the Northern Illinois Lightning women's fastpitch team.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. Sunday.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Where:</b> Judson University Sports Complex, 1151 N. State St. (Route 31), Elgin.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Cost:</b> $5 per ticket, available at the gate.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Details:</b> <a href="http://chicagobandits.com" target="new">chicagobandits.com</a> or <a href="http://eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning" target="new">eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning</a>, or call Lightning Manager John Radtke at (847) 812-1522.</p>