Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Back on the Chicago Bandits Beat

The Chicago Bandits season starts Friday.  I have been looking forward to this since the last game last season.  As I finished my first year of covering the Bandits, I could not believe how attached I really became to the team.
About a year ago, Justin from Justin's World of Softball, contacted me about providing some coverage of the Bandits for his site.  I had been wanted to get on the Bandits Beat and Justin provided the opening.
After attending my first game and interviewing Manager Shane Winkler and player Brittany Cervantes, I was hooked.  I went back as often as my schedule allowed and I interviewed the entire team by the end of the season.  Those interviews can be found on the Johngy's Beat playlist On the Beat with the Chicago Bandits on YouTube.
The Bandits are owned by Bill Sokolis, a local guy who has been there from the start.  In 2009, he became sole owner.  Sokolis has a long and strong connection to team sports and young athletes.  He co-founded a girl’s fastpitch softball program called the Lemont Rockers
Sokolis can usually be spotted at the games.  He is extremely popular with the team and the fans.  He welcomed us the first time he saw us and every time after that.  You could not ask for a better owner.
I plan on attending even more games this season.  I have fully jumped on the Bandits bandwagon and I am enjoying the ride.  I hope you will join me and follow my coverage.  For more info and for schedules, check out ChicagoBandits.com.
Bill Sokolis and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2014.

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