The Chicago Fire has acquired John Ball from the Cleveland Crunch of the indoor National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) as a “discovery” player. Ball, a right-sided midfielder and defender, is recovering from a grade 2 left MCL sprain suffered in the final game of the 1998-99 NPSL finals, will likely be available for the Fire in its Open Cup match against the Rochester Rhinos. Ball has spent the last four years playing indoor and outdoor soccer, playing indoors for the Crunch, which won the 1998-99 NPSL title, and outdoors for the A-League’s Staten Island Vipers. Before his professional career, the 5-10 160 lb. Ball starred for NCAA Division II powerhouse Southern Connecticut State. “John is a good right-sided midfielder and defender who has good speed and can run the flank,” said Chicago coach Bob Bradley. “I watched him play in the NPSL final and although John injured his left knee late in the game, he showed he can be a player. After John is fit we will do our best to get him into the make-up of the team.”