Stars align for Windy City ThunderBolts with chance to host Frontier League All-Star Game. ‘Something we wanted to do.’

Windy City ThunderBolts general manager Mike VerSchave has been with the franchise in various roles since day one in 1999, when the team began as the Cook County Cheetahs

For VerSchave, hosting the Frontier League’s All-Star Game in Crestwood for the first time since 2001 is a bit of a daunting challenge — but an opportunity he could not pass up to showcase the stadium and team he has devoted his working life to.

“This is something we wanted to do,” VerSchave said. “Maybe we’re biting a little bit more off than we should be, but I’d rather take the chance and see if we can make this special than not do it at all.

“It’s a personal thing. I do love this team and I love this area. I grew up here, and that’s why we’re making this incredibly local. I hope I can say that we’ll be proud of what we put on.”

The T-Bolts will host a skills competition and home run derby on July 11 and the All-Star Game on July 12 at Ozinga Field. Both events will start at 6:30 p.m.

The team has partnered with six local nonprofits — the Do It Stevie’s Way Foundation, Trinity Christian College athletics, the Special Recreation Athletic Support Association, the Bremen High School band, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 84 and Christmas Without Cancer — that will be represented by teams at the events, with extra donations going to the charities of the winning teams.

For Richie Sexson, a two-time MLB all-star who’s in his first year as Windy City’s manager, the event is a chance to become more familiar with the league.

“My son will be in town, so we’ll just sit back and enjoy more just hanging out and being around the guys,” Sexson said. “More than anything, it’s just figuring out the type of league I’m in, the type of players I’m working with it.

“You look at the teams that have been successful and see what they’ve been doing and then it’s like, ‘Oh, I get it.’”

T-Bolts pitcher Garrett Christman, who is 2-2 with a 2.04 ERA, hopes to be chosen when the All-Star teams are selected in early July.

“It’d be awesome to play in it,” Christman said. “Last year, we only had a couple guys make it, so hopefully more of our guys will be in it and it will be a fun time here at home.”

VerSchave and director of media relations Terry Bonadonna have led the planning for the week, which also includes putting on events for Frontier League personnel, such as a luncheon, a golf outing, a boat cruise in downtown Chicago and a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry.

The skills competition is a new event the T-Bolts’ staff has created mostly from scratch. It will include a bunting derby, throwing competitions for outfielders and catchers and a hitting accuracy challenge where batters try to hit targets on the field.

“We’ve made it up as we’ve gone along,” Bonadonna said. “We’ve tested it out a few times, but when the lights are shining, we have no idea how it’s going to play out. I’m fairly confident it’s going to be a great show and people are going to enjoy it.

“It’s a lot of fun, but we’re walking across the tightrope with no net. So, there’s some nervousness to it, too.”

That’s a good way to sum up the overall feeling as the T-Bolts prepare to host the league’s biggest celebration at its smallest stadium.

“I think it’s beyond time for us to host this event to let the Frontier League see what we’re all about, let all these visitors see what we’re all about and hopefully put on a good show,” VerSchave said.

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.