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Bandits Wed Jun 11 2008
Softball With An Attitude
With star pitcher and oft-photographed Jennie Finch MIA from the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) while she competes for the U.S. Olympic squad, the 4-4 Bandits needed someone to fill the "hey, check HER out" role on the team. And along comes Kristina Thorson. But while Finch drew looks for her California-surfer girl looks (blond, blue-eyed, etc.), Thornston goes a whole different route... tattoos, piercings and dark eye shadow to be specific. In a Chicago Tribune profile, Thorson says her goth-esque look has brought a new category of fan to the games. "The people with tattoos and piercings, we usually sit and chat at games and compare artwork," she said.
Despite her aggressive approach to body adornment (18 piercings and a tattooed homage to the Norse god Thor - get it?), Thorson has been struggling a bit this season. She has an 0-3 record but a respectible 2.87 ERA. However, she went 14-5 last season with the Phildelphia Force of the NPF which hints at better things to come.
The Bandits take a break from league play this week and face the Canadian National Team this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at their home field at Judson University in Elgin. Looking ahead, Cubs' ace Carlos Zambrano is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at their June 26 game against the team from Zambrano's home country, the Venezuelan National Team
Oh, and if you're hoping to get a look at Thorson in all of her body art glory, the offical Bandits website photo will be something of a disappointment. Guess you'll have to go out to an actual game...
