The Chicago Snowballs return to Schaumburg Friday night — with their entertaining, Savannah Bananas style of play — to open a two-game series against their friendly rival, the Rocket Squirrels. The first game takes place at 6:30 p.m. Friday while Saturday’s game takes place at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at Wintrust Field, home to the Schaumburg Boomers. Purchase tickets here.
Every Snowballs’ game features tumbling.
The Snowballs last played in Schaumburg in May, but already this weekend’s games are expected to draw more than 3,000 fans to each game, or more than twice as many as they drew just two months ago.
Last weekend, the team returned from Huntingburg, Indiana, after playing in League Stadium, where the movie A League of Their Own was filmed, and they sold out the evening game, with a capacity crowd of 3,000 fans.
Team officials, including founder and CEO Cherie Travis, are not surprised.
“This isn’t traditional baseball — it’s a live sports entertainment experience designed to keep fans laughing, cheering and engaged from first pitch to final out,” Travis says. “We don’t just play baseball, we put on a show.”
Rick Petricca warms up before the game. (Photos by Stefanie O’Donnell)
The players are all in — and bring a unique skillset to the team.
Take Rick Petricca of Arlington Heights. He played baseball at Prospect High School until he was cut after sophomore year. He went on to play on the club team at Indiana University, but he never dreamed he’d be playing at the next level.
In making the Snowballs, Petricca credits his singing and dancing experience from performing in show choir at Prospect, as well as his baseball skills.
“Honestly, I’ve had as much fun playing for the Snowballs as I’ve had at any point in my baseball career,” Petricca says. “You never know what’s going to happen.
(Photo by Stefanie O’Donnell)
“One minute you’re watching a great play, and the next minute a player is dancing, singing, interacting with fans, or pulling off something completely unexpected,” he adds. “It feels more like a show than a game, and I think that’s what keeps people engaged.”
One big factor that sets the Snowballs apart is that it is co-ed, with both male and female athletes performing, competing and entertaining together.
Petricca says the women on the team absolutely belong on the field as they bring a different energy, skillset, and perspective to the game. He points to the team’s star pitcher, Laila Summers, who keeps batters off guard.
“She throws the baseball underhand, using her softball form,” Petricca says. “I’ve never seen this done before and our opponent, the Rocket Squirrels, obviously hadn’t either because they all struggled to hit against her.
Jaxson O’Donnell enjoys meeting players before the game.
“I’m just glad she’s on my team,” he adds, “so I don’t have to face her!”
Part of the entertainment factor is each player’s special walk-up song. Petricca’s is Bet on It, from High School Musical 2, which has somehow become one of the fan favorites.
“I fully commit to the performance — there’s dancing, lip syncing and even bat choreography,” he says. “The funny part is that I spend my weekdays in meetings and conference rooms, and then on weekends I’m performing a High School Musical routine in front of a baseball crowd. That’s kind of the perfect example of what the Snowballs are all about.”
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