Big Time Blue Edges Red Hot Chili Poppers In Charity Softball event

You might think it wouldn't be wise to mess with Jim Newton. After all, he plays hockey three times a week and his day job keeps him busy as commander of the investigation department for the .

But for 20 years, he's been showing up for the annual charity softball game between members of the and . It was one practice between teams and then a seven-inning game on Wednesday night at . For those scoring, it was the Big Time Blue holding on to post a 20-15 victory over the Red Hot Chili Poppers.

"We try to make the games fair," Newton said. "And the games have been fairly close."

Singing the National Anthem on this night was Lynne Schneider, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. After the event, she was headed to to hand out awards.

The chamber just doesn't celebrate the winner of this game; it also  feeds the Buffalo Grove chaplaincy program, which helps out after a death or accident has affected a family.

On the field, Big Time Blue surged to an early 10-3 lead. Team captain Glenn Bergman drove in the game's first run. Also helping Blue break open this game were Frank Doll and Mike Molloy. Paul Jamil of the police department chipped in with a two-run triple.

The Poppers did not go away quietly. Scott Anderson, the village's finance director, drove in the Poppers' first run.

"This was fun," Anderson said. "We see a lot of familiar faces."

Like Newton, Anderson is no stranger to this annual event.

"I've been coming for 19 years," he said.

Of course, Anderson admits he doesn't spend much of his time working on his softball skills.

"This is it for me," he said. "It will be another 364 days between swings."

Two three-run frames pulled the Poppers back into this game. Bill Feldgreber and Dean Klassman drove in runs in the three-run fourth inning. In the sixth, the Poppers pulled within a single run at 14-13. Adrianne Johson provided a key RBI double. Klassman and Charlie Kolder, who works at the fire department, added RBI hits.

With the game on the line, Big Time Blue erupted for five runs in the seventh inning. All the runs scored with two outs on the board. Newton reached base for the fourth straight time. Jamil knocked in another run. Doll also drove in an insurance run.

Also helping Blue were Bruce Braverman (triple), Evan Scherer (reached base all four times), Scott Fishkin (reached base four times), Village Trustee Andy Stein (reached base four times), Lena Scott, Village Trustee Les Ottenheimer, Yolanda Martin and Eric Smith.

Poppers' leadoff hitter Russ Anderson scored two runs. David Borris had two hits. Also helping the team were Clark Pound (reached base all three times), Deputy Village Manager Ghida Neukirch, Lou Eisenberg (reached base all three times), Robyn Kove, Dave Cohen, Tim Malinowski, Kevin Weasler, Village Trustee Steve Trilling and David Zoller.