By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglemewspapers.com
At the conclusion of the inaugural Burnout on the Bases softball game DuPage Medical Group Field May 30, it was the team made up of mostly NHRA racers and commentators that rallied from behind and won 10-9.
However, the real winner of the day was the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.
The fundraiser, which was presented by Route 66 Raceway, the Slammers, the City of Joliet and the NHRA, will hopefully be an annual event.
“I can’t believe that they did this for us and they are talking about doing it again and like any event, every year it gets bigger and bigger,” said CAC Senior Forensic Interviewer Jackie Lundquist. “It was awesome. A lot of people came together in a really short amount of time to make this happen. It was a nice event to help raise funds for a good cause. Our numbers are increasing, but we have to fit them in and we do.”
Lundquist said educating the racers about the work the CAC does in the community is helpful in getting them back on board next year.
“I wasn’t familiar with the racers, but through it all, I got to know them all and was able to tell them what we do and I think they are even more excited to come back next year,” she said. “The Slammers players were great, too. They were just jogging around early on and then they really wanted to win in the end.”
Embracing the communities that they race in is part of what the NHRA enjoys.
“The wonderful part of the series is that we get to travel around to different markets and every different place we go, something is unique to the area,” said FOX Sports reporter Amanda Busick. “When you think of Chicago – it is anchored by two great Major League Baseball teams and then to come out here and support the Slammers. It was awesome. Scott Paddock and the team always greet us with open arms and Chicago is one of our favorites to come to.”
Having activities in the ballpark when the Slammers are off or on the road is important to everyone involved with the team and the city.
“This is awesome. There is nothing sadder than a ballpark sitting empty,” said Majority owner of the Slammers, Nick Semaca. “We have a great group of guys and they love getting involved in the community.”
Seeing the park get used was what the city had in mind when it invested in the artificial turf prior to last season.
“We put the money in with the turf and this is what we wanted, so it is great to see it in use every day,” said Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. “The racers had fun coming out here and it is great to use the ballpark. The Advocacy Center is a great local organization and it is great that we can come out and support it.”
