The only thing better than a white Christmas is Christmas accompanied by a baseball game. On Tuesday, July 25, the Lake County Corn Dogs and Strack & Van Til partnered to put on a magical Christmas-in-July-themed game night. The game brought people in from all over the Region for an unforgettable night of holiday fun and brought into perspective how important relationships are to the strengthening of our community.
The Corn Dogs, an up-and-coming baseball team that is part of the Northern Baseball League, has been slowly growing in popularity ever since it was founded in Crown Point two years ago. When the opportunity arose for Strack & Van Til to sponsor the Corn Dogs this summer and help the team continue to grow, its team knew they had to take it.
“We’re always proud to sponsor organizations who do good for the community. The Corn Dogs’ mission is to build community through baseball, and that aligns perfectly with our mission to give back to the communities we serve and help make a positive difference in Northwest Indiana. It just made sense to be one of the sponsors of the Corn Dogs this season, and it’s been a great partnership so far,” said Renee Thometz, Strack & Van Til’s marketing manager.
There was no better way to raise awareness for the Corn Dogs than to help them put an exciting twist on the classic baseball game. The Corn Dogs' management pitched an idea for a Christmas in July night, and Strack & Van Til immediately got to work.
“Strack & Van Til spearheaded this entire event for us when we pitched it to them. They took control and helped us out with all the moving parts. They were huge and did such a great job for us,” said Ralph Flores, majority owner of the Corn Dogs.
At the game, the Corn Dogs went head-to-head with the Griffith Generals. The game was the first of a very exciting six-game homestand. What was even more exciting, though, were all the activities fans could enjoy. Christmas-themed baseball caps were given to the first 100 attendees. Cornelius, the Corn Dogs’ tasty mascot, ran through the stands giving people high-fives and hugs while Santa Claus threw the first pitch to roaring cheers and applause.
When kids needed to burn off some energy, there were several games set out for them to enjoy including cornhole and an inflatable pitching booth. They could even get their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and share what was going to be on their Christmas list later this year.
Not to be forgotten were the prize drawings between each of the innings. Fans had the chance to win prizes from all kinds of places, including Jak's Warehouse, Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Schererville, Up Your Alley, Off Square Brewing, and Sonic Drive-In. The night was a wonderful way for everyone to come together and have a little fun.
“Everybody’s having a great time, and this is exactly what we’re all about: building community through baseball. Everything we do is based on how we can improve the community and give back because if you’re good to the community, the community will be good to you,” said Flores.
Hayden Matulich, an outfielder for the Corn Dogs, was excited to see so many people enjoying the game and taking part in the festivities. Looking around at all the smiling fans, he could truly feel how tight-knit the Region is.
“It’s cool to see so many people come out tonight from all over. I’m from California, so coming to a place like Northwest Indiana where the entire Region is one big happy family and people don’t just stick to their towns is neat – I never got to experience anything like this growing up,” said Matulich.
The Strack & Van Til team is just grateful they had the chance to help the Corn Dogs continue to bring people together.
“It’s important that members of the community support each other. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Thometz. “It was great to see so many families pack the stands tonight and celebrate the great community we live in.”
Overall, the Corn Dogs’ Christmas in July theme night couldn’t have done a better job of giving the community a chance to grow closer. The Corn Dogs are grateful to Strack & Van Til and all of their other sponsors who have helped them carry on their mission of building an even stronger community.
“I’m very grateful for the community and I’m grateful for all the support that everyone has given us. We look forward to a long relationship with Crown Point and can’t wait to keep bringing these types of activities to everyone,” said Flores.
To learn more about Strack & Van Til and its commitment to our community, visit https://strackandvantil.com/.
