Deerfield High School Alum Sara Hokin Plays Pro Softball with our Very Own Chicago Bandits

No, Sara Hokin is not dreaming. On the other hand, how many former scholarship college athletes have the chance to realize a dream and play pro ball, even if just for one game?

On July 21, 2013, when the Chicago Bandits faced the Ohio’s Akron Racers, Hokin, 28-years-young, was officially under contract, in uniform, and played ball.

“If anyone would have told me I’d be playing in a pro game someday, I would have told them they were absolutely crazy,” commented Hokin. “But it really happened and I loved every minute of being a part of the team!”

“I even prepared for my pro game debut by practicing with the Bandits for a few days before, competing in a few fast pitch tournaments, and hitting those batting cages in my spare time,” continued Hokin. “I was especially motivated because some of the ticket sales proceeds for the game were going to benefit our foundation.”

Here is the amazing part – Hokin really knows the game and can play. Specifically, she boasts and impressive softball resume as both a player and a coach. Here is a representative sample of her accomplishments prior to the game:

-Member of University of Tampa Spartan Varsity softball team 2002 – 2006;
 
- Member of the USA Women’s Softball team – member of gold medal team, 2005 Maccabiah International Games, Israel;

-Member of USA Women’s Softball team participating in the 2007 Maccabiah Pan American Games in Argentina;

- Past coach of JCC Maccabi Softball Team (2 yrs); - Coached travel softball on the Northshore (4 yrs);

- Director of Softball, Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls (4 yrs);- Currently the Director of Softball Clinics for Deerfield Youth Baseball and Softball Association (DYBSA);

- Softball instructor for girls of all ages, group and private;

-Continues to compete in softball leagues in the Chicagoland area.

To top things off, Hokin has devoted her career to empowering girls through sports as the current Director of Operations for Game On! Sports Camps 4 Girls.

Specifically, over the past 7 years, she has run Game On! summer sports day camps for girls full time, overseeing its explosive growth and impact on young girls grades K – 8th with abilities ranging from beginning to elite. While the camp offers young girls exposure to a full range of sports, it comes as no surprise that whenever able, Hokin is seen sneaking off to Game On! softball fields during camp to teach. Softball remains her passion and it is so important for her to pass on an appreciation for the sport to the younger generations.

One may wonder how and why Hokin came by such an amazing opportunity. It all stemmed from her involvement with The Game On! Sports Foundation whose mission is dedicated to raising funds to help deserving young girls to afford quality sports opportunities. Recently, this new foundation raised enough money to support training scholarships for two young ladies who dream of competing for the U.S. Judo team in the next Paralympics.

With the goal of selling 200 tickets or more, Hokin’s professional debut served as a fundraiser with $3 of all ticket sales going to the foundation.

“We were so excited to have Sara involved in a couple practices in addition to the game,” said Moore. “Given the worthy cause and the fact that Sara’s nickname ‘Smokin Hokin’ is supposedly well deserved, we could not resist running with the idea.”

“To have been able to combine the dream of swinging a bat with the pros and raising money for such a worthy cause, is beyond incredible,” said Hokin. “For me it was anything but another game at the ballpark!”