First, suspend the perception that any baseball short of the major-league variety is dinner theater in Dubuque compared with Broadway.
If you’re willing to make that concession, you might find the constant hustle of a college team appealing. You might spot a gem acquiring needed polish as he toils among the young Midwest League prospects out in Kane County. You might be struck by the skill required to play college softball at a high level, and by the speed of the game — seven innings rarely takes more than 90 minutes.
Though there are certainly more, in the spirit of the game’s most significant number, we offer nine alternatives that won’t require dipping into the kids’ college fund.
Kane County Cougars
Where: Elfstrom Stadium, Kane County Events Center, just south of Roosevelt Road on Kirk Road, Geneva. Tickets are $8 lawn, $10 reserved, $12 box (regular); $9 lawn, $11 reserved, $14 box (prime), $10 lawn, $12 reserved, $14 box (premium). Reserved parking is $5, general parking is free.
What: The parent Oakland A’s are committed to growing their own talent, and some prospects will call spruced-up Elfstrom Stadium home. More than 100 former Cougars have worn major-league uniforms, including the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster, Boston’s Josh Beckett and five members of the 2009 A’s.
DePaul softball
Where: Cacciatore Stadium, 900 block of West Belden, one block east of the Sheffield-Belden intersection on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and children over 7, $2 for groups of 10 or more.
What: Blue Demons (31-9, 15-2 Big East) are off to a typically strong start as they seek to make a fifth College World Series appearance in coach Eugene Lenti’s 28-year tenure. The Big East lead will be at stake when the Demons entertain Louisville (40-6, 15-3) in a Thursday doubleheader at Cacciatore Field.
St. Xavier baseball
Where: Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field, north end of the SXU campus, 103rd and Central Park, Chicago. Admission and parking are free.
What: The Cougars (29-10, 18-3) are rolling through the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, recently running off an 18-game winning streak, and shooting for a return trip to the NAIA playoffs.
Schaumburg Flyers
Where: Alexian Field, 1999 S. Springinsguth Rd., Schaumburg. Tickets are $11 club reserved, $10 reserved, $5 lawn/bleachers. Add $1 on fireworks nights. Parking is free.
What: After a 30-66, last-place finish in the Northern League, the Flyers cleaned house, bringing in a new manager, Mike Busch, and a new coaching staff. The Flyers will begin their 11th season at Joliet on May 15 and open at home on May 22. One of independent baseball’s most successful operations, they’re already 50,000 tickets ahead of last year’s sales pace.
Northwestern softball
Where: Sharon J. Drysdale Field, behind Ryan Field and next to Welsh-Ryan Arena on NU’s Evanston campus. Admission is free.
What: After rolling to an 18-2 conference record a year ago, the Wildcats (27-9, 12-2 Big Ten) opened the 2009 season with nine straight league wins before stumbling at Minnesota. Upcoming is a five-game stretch against Illinois in Champaign (Saturday-Sunday), followed by a trip to DePaul (April 28).
UIC baseball
Where: Les Miller Field, 901 W. Roosevelt Road, behind the UIC Physical Education Building, Chicago. Tickets are $6; UIC students and children under 3, free. Parking in lot southeast of the field.
What: The Flames have a 16-17 record, but it’s deceiving: Their non-conference schedule was loaded with quality Division I opponents. That helped ready them for Horizon League play, and they’re leading the conference with a 10-3 mark. The Flames’ remaining schedule includes a May 8 doubleheader with second-place Milwaukee and four games with third-place Wright State.
Windy City Thunderbolts
Where: Standard Bank Stadium, 141st and Kenton off the Midlothian Turnpike, Crestwood. Upper box tickets are $8 in advance and $9 day of game; lower box tickets are $9 in advance and $10 day of game. Parking is $2.
What: The ‘Bolts have been the class of the 12-team Frontier League for two years, compiling a 60-36 regular-season record in 2008 and rolling through two rounds of playoffs with a 6-1 mark. General manager Steve Tahsler expects about half the roster back. Team opens season May 21.
Northwestern baseball
Where: Wells Field at Rocky Miller Park, Ashland and Isabella Streets behind Ryan Field on the Evanston campus. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, sold at the door on game days.
What: It has been a rough go in the Big Ten for the Wildcats (10-24, 2-8), who dropped seven of their first eight conference games. The upcoming schedule features visits from Illinois (May 1-3) and the University of Chicago (May 6), as well as a trip to Gary’s U.S. Steel Yard for a game with Valparaiso (May 5).
National Whiffleball Championship
Where: June 27-28, Channelside Park, 3100 Oakton St., Skokie. Admission is free.
What: Whiffle ball, the plasticized, fantasy-inspiring version of baseball, is going big time, as this event is a qualifier for the World Whiffle ball Championships scheduled for July at Mishawaka, Ind. Both are slow-pitch competitions, but pitchers throw overhand, so Gaylord Perry-like mound deviltry is possible. Registration is first-come, first-served through June 1. Contact Jim Bottorff ( JRBottorff@SkokieParkDistrict.org) for additional information.
– – –
Major-league savings
The Cubs and White Sox say they’re mindful of tough economic times and that they try to be accommodating to fans on tight budgets.
At U.S. Cellular Field
*The Sox’s six Monday night home games have been designated as “Value Mondays,” with half-price tickets available.
*The Family Pack, available at select day games, includes an upper-deck ticket and a voucher for a value meal — hot dog, chips and soft drink — for $16.
*Select day games have been designated “Kids Day” — an adult buying a full-price ticket can buy additional tickets for $1 for kids under 13.
At Wrigley Field
*There are four remaining “Bronze” home games on the schedule, with tickets starting at $9. They are Thursday vs. Cincinnati, May 5 vs. San Francisco, May 14 vs. San Diego and Sept. 2 vs. Houston.
*The Cubs offer a 50 percent discount to college students for tickets to certain games.
*There is a 25 percent “early bird” discount on all non-alcohol concession items for the first hour after the ballpark opens.
———–
dmcgrath@tribune.com
RECESSION RELIEF WEEK
On WGN-TV: Sports anchor Pat Tomasulo of the “WGN Morning News” tells how to enjoy local sporting events without breaking the piggy bank on Tuesday. For searchable tips, log on to chicagotribune.com/recession
