After a week of intense heat and then a week of some of the scariest thunderstorms the area had seen in a long time, Chicago was experiencing the kind of weather on July 20 that is normally reserved for spring or early fall.  It had been a day of crystal blue skies, low humidity and lots of sun.  The evening promised more clear skies and cool breezes.  In short, it was the perfect night for baseball.

The Windy City Thunderbolts, meanwhile, have been struggling since coming back from the All Star break.  They have been a team on a winning tear through the Frontier League all season long.  However, since their break, they have stumbled, lost key games to opponents that they should have won against, and started a frustrating trend of leaving men on base.

I set out to see the ‘Bolts face off on this perfect evening for baseball, to face the Kalamazoo Kings for the second straight night.  It’s a short home-stand for the ‘Bolts.  They are going to Kalamazoo on Saturday night and then play the Kings again on Sunday, for four-straight games against a team looking to catch up to the dominant division leader.

The longest part of my journey to Hawk-Ford Field, located in south suburban Crestwood is the drive down I-294.  Since the game starts at 7:05 p.m, that means driving that main artery during the height of rush hour if I am to make it before the game starts.  I am hoping I can make it in time because it is RC Cola hat night.  The last time I was at a game it was John Deere Hat Night and the hat was of surprisingly good quality, if bright green.

After nearly two hours on the road, I arrive at the stadium.  It is just behind an apartment complex, just off of Cicero and Midlothian Turnpike.  The first thing you may notice are the very large power lines which seem to run right up to the stadium.  In fact, it sort of looks like they started to build a stadium, complete with an upper deck, realized they had built the second level too high, and then stopped just before running into the power lines. 

This is all a deception.  Inside is one of the best baseball experiences you are likely to have and I am including Wrigley and U.S. Cellular Fields in that consideration.

The parking lot is very full.  It is good to see that word about the ‘Bolts and how they are playing this season has gotten out.  I park at the far end of the lot on the East side.  I see a line has formed in front of the ticket window.

I walk up to the Will Call window and get ushered in as a member of the “press.”  I asked for this, but the honor of it kind of goes to my head.  It’s nice for a blogger to be considered a member of the press.  I am disappointed, however, that my entry into the ball park through a kind of back entrance is going to prevent me from getting one of those cool-looking RC Cola hats.

I head down the concourse.  Hawk Ford Field does not have a lawn section like some parks do.  What they have, instead, is an upper deck.  When I am there as a fan and not a member of the press, this is where I prefer to sit.  You can see the entire field.  When I was there a couple of years ago it was around July 4th and during the course of the game, toward the end, the fireworks displays of the surrounding communities started going off.  It was dazzling, magical, American and one of those special baseball moments you remember for a long time.

The seats are very close to the field.  There are a lot of rows, but it is not a stadium where you are likely to feel very crowded.  There is a souvenir store and a picnic area right there.  Then there is a concession stand.  Then you walk underneath the upper deck, along the seats that lead to the dugout.  Toward the end of the upper deck is an elevator and stairs.  These lead to the press booths and the reserved party boxes.  Just past that is an open area with more seats, a large picnic area and another concession stand.

I head upstairs.  After entering the wrong booth, I realize I am in the room with the announcer from Kalamazoo.  I head into the next booth.  Then, I hear the voice.  It is a voice I have listened to on Sportsjuice many times.  This is Rob Jaskula, the very friendly and talented announcer for the Thunderbolts.

Rob works the mike alone more days.  He has a partner on some home Sunday games.  Rob is a man with a gift for gab.  He can announce, man a computer with stats and recite stats off of the top of his head.  He knows the team inside and out, never stops talking, knows the other team, and has a brain that some encyclopedia’s would envy.

I sit behind him.  To my left is a young man covering the game for the Daily Southtown.  Next to Rob is Chuck, who operates the scoreboard for the ‘Bolts.  I am just barely sitting down and the first pitch is being thrown.

Isaac Hess is the starting pitcher for the Thunderbolts.  The ‘Bolts this season have dominated other teams with superior pitching and defense and they have backed that up with a powerful offense, often racking up ten or more runs in each game.  Rob mentions that such a game tonight would be a nice return to form.

Hess finds himself quickly out of his end of the inning.  Shippley takes the mound for the Kalamazoo Kings.  The ‘Bolts step up to bat.  Shippley seems unsteady at first.  He walks the first man.  The second batter, a man named Mejia, walks as well.  The next batter is Wes Long.  There is a wild pitch that sends the two runners up a base.  Long then hits a high and long pop-up.  He is out, but the shot is far enough into the outfield that a runner can score.

Then comes the thing that has been frustrating the ‘Bolts since the All-Star break.  More men are on base and hitter after hitter steps up to the plate.  In each case, they are met with defeat.  It is a chance to rack up more points and bring more runners home.  It looks like Shippley will be having a quick time on the mound, but then a strange things happens.  He settles down.  He gets the job done.  He gets out of the inning giving up only one run.

Uh-oh.  This looks like it could be a rough one.

The sun is still out but starting the set now.  Rob jokes between innings with Chuck.  This is a group anyone would love to hang out with and watch a game with. They have fun with this job and you can tell.  Everyone at this organization, from the broadcasters and workers to the players, are here because they love the game and they love this team.  These are not people with huge lucrative contracts and Bentleys and Porsches parked behind the stadium.

In between innings games are played.  I see the mascot, Boomer, walking around and I notice he seems to have had a make-over since the last time I was here.  He is leaner.  He wears a full Thunderbolts uniform. He looks rather buff, really, for a mascot with blue fur.

The ‘Bolts continue to bat, but they also continue to leave batters on base.  Time and again it seems like they have a great chance to have Shippley on the ropes, but they cannot bring more runners across the plate.

Hess continues to do well against the Kings up until the fifth inning.  It is one of those things that happens in baseball and brings managers, players and fans into fits of frustration.  The team has been playing very well.  Defensively, it seems like this team is a wall out there stopping every ball that comes their way.  The pitching has been spot-on, until this moment.  One inning changes the course of the game.

It starts with the guy in the booth playing the “Brady Bunch” theme for the wrong player.  The Kings have a guy named Mike Brady on their team.  Well, while Brady is scheduled to bat this inning, it is a guy named Brachold who comes out first.  Whoops.  Rob makes jokes about it with the guys in the next booth and Chuck laughs as well.

Kyle Kmiecik of the Kings steps into the batter’s box.  He hits a ball that seems like it is going to go out.  It manages to stay in the park, but lands just in front of the wall.  Brachold starts running, having been walked to start off the inning.  Brachold is now at third, Kmiecik is at first and there are no outs.  The tone of Rob’s voice changes to one of concern.

A gentleman with a name spelled Moron, but pronounced Mah-Rhone, strikes out.  Rob changes his voice again, hoping that maybe Hess will work his way out of this tight spot.  That changes as soon as Mike Brady steps into the box. 

Brady hits the ball to left field.  He hits it so far into left field that both Brachold and Kmiecik score.  The ‘Bolts have lost the lead and those batters they have left on base during the previous innings come back to bite them.

Jeff Grose of the Kings steps up next.  He hits a rocket that looks destined for left field.  ‘Bolts third baseman, Josh Horn, seems to grow extra-long arms and snags the ball out of the air and dives to the ground.  It is a dazzling, amazing, big-league-level defensive play.  That’s the second out.  Maybe the ‘Bolts can get out of this only down a run.

Then Simon Williams steps into the batter’s box.  He hits one to the warning track.  Another run scores and the Kings are up   3 – 1.  There is still hope that maybe Hess can limit the damage.  There is just one man on base and he only needs one out.

Joe Ramos is the next batter.  Hess looks determined to settle things and get this guy out.  Then, he sends one right into Ramos’ sweet-spot.  Ramos tees off on the ball.  The ball sails elegantly and determinedly toward the outer fence.  It sails over and there are two more runs in.  The Kings are now up 5 – 1.

Hess manages to finish the inning.  No more runs score and the ‘Bolts are still in this game.  Their offense has been dazzling so far this season. They have come from behind before and this gap is relatively small comparatively.

However, the rest of the game becomes very clear.  Shippley has settled down and seems to be like some kind of pitching machine.  His pitch count racks up to dazzling numbers.  Meanwhile, the ‘Bolts head to their bull pen and start plucking pitchers from there who all accomplish their jobs.  Meanwhile, the ‘Bolts continue to do amazing defensive plays.

In short, the ‘Bolts play excellent baseball.  The scoreboard does not do them justice.  In fact, the ‘Bolts have almost as many hits as the Kings, but they just cannot bring them home.  They hit into double-plays or leave them stranded or just come up and sit back down.

Near the seventh inning, I decided to head down to see the souvenir store.  I notice the ‘Bolts have new hats.  I have an old ‘Bolts hat and I want to see if I can get a new one. 

The souvenir store is amazingly empty of product. I consider buying a gray and black adjustable hat, but then decide against it.

Kids are everywhere.  This is a family place and everything is geared towards kids.  There are games where kids put together giant puzzles against a time limit.  There is a game where slightly older kids spin around and around while looking down and then try to run.  There’s a game where two little kids try to put on adult-sized uniforms and then run that leads to hilarious results.  There’s a quiz between two kids to see who knows more about the Thunderbolts.  There are T-shirts and caps thrown into the audience (I don’t get one of those caps either, dammit). 

At one point Rob and Chuck point out the “Pole Guys.”  I have been attending ‘Bolts games for years now.  My first time to this stadium the team was known as the Cook County Cheetahs.  Since I started attending ‘Bolts games, I have noticed that there is a group of guys hang around a light pole on the right field side of the stadium.  They never sit down.  They just stand around this light pole and drink beer, cheer the team, and talk with each other. 

This is the kind of atmosphere you have here.  It is so familial it’s amazing.  The park is just small enough to remain intimate, and yet big enough that the kids can find all kinds of things to do.  Everything about this park is the same that you will find in a big league park, but in miniature and much, much cheaper.  These people know each other.  They welcome each other.  All of them, love this team and love this game and they have been with this team through the many lean years and are excited that the team is doing well this year.

They have been doing well, even in this game.  Again, the score just does not show how well this team has played.  The speed of the game is amazing.  After that first inning, Shippley has become amazing.  He looks ready to have a complete game.  The ‘Bolts bull pen does a dazzling job.  They are striking out batters like crazy.  The problem is that the ‘Bolts bats just cannot figure out Shippley and cannot crack him.  It looks like a game that may be over with in just over two hours.

It is revealed that 2,052 fans are in attendance that night.  This is a great crowd for Hawk-Ford Field.  Some of them have left as the game has progressed, but there are surprisingly few who have left.  They know that this team can come back.

Sadly, this is not to be this game.  The ninth inning comes.  Shippley is still pitching, although relievers are in the bull pen and ready to go if he gets into trouble.  He walks the first batter he comes across that inning. 

The next batter, Mike Coles, nearly hits into a double play.  The Kings are able to get Hawke at second, but not Coles.  The very next batter, Scott Balster, does almost the exact same thing.  It again looks like a double play, but again, the Kings are not able to turn it.

Josh Horn is the last hope for the ‘Bolts.  Ultimately he grounds out.  The game is over and with the exception of that one inning, the ‘Bolts have a lot to be proud of.  They all know they need to work on bringing those runners home, but their pitching and defense seem solid.

In 2005, the Chicago White Sox spent most of the season with the best record in baseball. Then, during the second half of the season, they ran into problems.  They staggered.  Suddenly their commanding lead started to slip.  During that last month of regular season play, columnists like Jay Mariotti were calling the Sox the biggest chokes in the history of sports.  Then they won their division, swept through the Red Sox, lost one to the Angels, then brushed them aside and then rolled through the World Series.

So, the ‘Bolts have stumbled a bit.  That’s fine.  They still have a commanding lead in the Frontier League and the best record in that league.  They have great pitching, good players and great defense.

More importantly, they have a great stadium.  They have great people managing and running the team.  They have a great announcer who makes listening to the game a blast.  They have a park that creates an environment that works for families, keeps the kids entertained, will provide you with a great night out and won’t break your bank.

So, get over the fact that Crestwood may be too far from your northern suburban home.  Just get on the road, with the family, and head to Hawk-Ford Field.  Do it this season. Some of the best baseball you are likely to see in this area is being played there right now.

After the game, I talk to Rob.  He tells me that I can contact him and cover any other games I want.  I wish that I could cover every home game form that press box, but I don’t think that will happen.

I just really wish I could have gotten a Thunderbolts cap.  I have a collection of caps, you know.
FINAL SCORE:  Thunderbolts  1     Kings   5

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