Most sports fans know about baseball’s World Series, played every fall when the nation’s teams compete to see who will dominate the Major League. However, a smaller World Series takes place every August in Michigan–and this year, players from Oak Park and River Forest competed to take the title of Junior World Series champions.
The Elmhurst and River Forest 14U Youth Little League team headed to the Junior League World Series after winning a major regional competition. The team was crowned champions of the Central Region during a tournament that took place from Aug. 2 to 7 in Midland, Mich. The Illinois team competed with eight other teams from seven states from Kentucky to Ohio.
The local team is composed of baseball players from River Forest, Elmhurst, and Oak Park, some of whom are current freshmen at Oak Park and River Forest High School.
The team was assembled in 2020 by its manager Zachary White, an OPRF alum and Fenwick’s freshman baseball coach. The team is guided by assistant coaches Lee Fitzgerald, Elmhurst’s Little League Board Advisor, and Cameron Chi, a senior at OPRF.
The team began their journey at the Illinois state tournament, where they dominated the competition, leaving with their second state championship in the past three years. This victory allowed them to advance to the regional championships.
The competition was tough during the Central Region tournament as the team played the best teams from each state. The team made their way to the championships with a record of 5-1.
However, the championship game on Aug. 6 against Michigan caused some trouble for both teams as a heavy downpour began by the bottom of the sixth inning. Chi said, “It’s pouring rain, and our guys, they can’t hold the bat.” The team’s pitcher Grayson Waters added, “It was…uncomfortable when I was pitching. I couldn’t get a grip on (the ball).”
The referees were forced to call the game, naming the Illinois team Central Region Champions with a score of 3-0 against the opposing team. The team’s shortstop and third baseman Liam Brown attributes their win to the team’s ability to “just work together and kind of sync together” even though they aren’t a “powerhouse.”
The Little League team took their title of Central Region Champions into the Junior League Baseball World Series, competing with teams from other regions of the United States and international teams from Asia-Pacific to Puerto Rico.
The World Series tournament, which took place in Taylor, Mich., is composed of over twelve teams fighting for first place. The Illinois team lost their first game,
representing the Central Region 2-4, but were fortunately able to recuperate by winning their next game with a record of 10-8. The team lost in the second round with a score of 12-14. However, the loss was the last thing on the team’s mind.
The experience of competing in such a rigorous competition allowed the boys to gain lifelong friendships and lessons. Joshua Landry, the first baseman, said, “Most people don’t even meet people from other countries, let alone play them in a sport.”
The team’s coach, Chi, helped his players communicate in Mandarin with the Asia-Pacific team, which he described as “a really cool experience.” The Asia-Pacific players gave the team gifts of candy, sushi, Taiwanese flags, and a hat each player personally signed.
The team’s loss in the World Series hasn’t rained on their success as Central Regional Champions as their ambitions have only grown since. As the players entered high school, their next goal is to win their “high school(’s) baseball championships,” Brown said.
