It may only be August, but a Chicago team has already stamped its ticket to the World Series! The Little League World Series, that is. This past Saturday, Jackie Robinson West clinched the Great Lakes Regional and advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, marking the first trip to the Series by a Chicago team since 1983(coincidentally, West was also the last team to represent Chi-Town in the Series in 1983)
This Regional action was familiar ground for the team, as they had been in this same position merely a year ago, before ultimately coming up one game short. This year however, things were different. Facing the team from New Albany, IN in the Regional final, the team found themselves two innings away from falling victim to the same fate as the 2013 team. However, the team benefited from some late-game heroics in the form of a 7-run 5th inning, which was punctuated by a grand slam off the bat of Cameron Bufford. After the game, Bufford said that he "was trying to get a base hit...but it went over the fence...I never thought I'd be here." Now that they're on the road to Williamsport, their next stop is the World Series, where they'll face 15 other teams, 7 of them being from the USA, and the other 8 coming from various places around the world. The action begins Thursday, with West's first game airing at 2 PM on ESPN, where they'll be playing the champions of the Northwest Regional.
The players' parents appreciate the accomplishment as well. “It’s a combination of factors,” said an adult involved with the team, "Our league has a strong tradition. The coaches were once players. It’s taken hold in the community. You pull kids from a limited area(all of the players on Jackie Robinson West live in the Washington Heights neighborhood), so there’s a sense of community to start out with. Being state champions (the league has won two Illinois championships in a row) is incidental to what we’re trying to do.” And that is trying to build up better people. The coach of the team then emphasized just what these players meant. "We've got a whole park of 7-to10-year-olds watching these guys like they're Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, or Milton Bradley." (well, hopefully not Milton Bradley :P )
The parents aren't the only ones praising the youngsters. Governor Quinn even got in on the celebration by issuing a statement praising the team, applauding their perseverance in closing out the game after being behind. "This group of young ballplayers and their coaches have made all of Illinois proud. I wish them the best of luck as they represent our state on the world stage" Additionally, he designated this past Saturday as Jackie Robinson West Little League Champions Day statewide. Mayor Emanuel also made his approval known, saying that "[the] hard work displayed by the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team and Coach Darold Butler has once again reminded all of Chicago the very best of what we hope from and for our kids. I want the whole team and Coach Butler to know that Chicago is rooting for them, and as they take the field for the Little League World Series, they will be taking the best wishes of an entire city with them.”
This Regional action was familiar ground for the team, as they had been in this same position merely a year ago, before ultimately coming up one game short. This year however, things were different. Facing the team from New Albany, IN in the Regional final, the team found themselves two innings away from falling victim to the same fate as the 2013 team. However, the team benefited from some late-game heroics in the form of a 7-run 5th inning, which was punctuated by a grand slam off the bat of Cameron Bufford. After the game, Bufford said that he "was trying to get a base hit...but it went over the fence...I never thought I'd be here." Now that they're on the road to Williamsport, their next stop is the World Series, where they'll face 15 other teams, 7 of them being from the USA, and the other 8 coming from various places around the world. The action begins Thursday, with West's first game airing at 2 PM on ESPN, where they'll be playing the champions of the Northwest Regional.
The players' parents appreciate the accomplishment as well. “It’s a combination of factors,” said an adult involved with the team, "Our league has a strong tradition. The coaches were once players. It’s taken hold in the community. You pull kids from a limited area(all of the players on Jackie Robinson West live in the Washington Heights neighborhood), so there’s a sense of community to start out with. Being state champions (the league has won two Illinois championships in a row) is incidental to what we’re trying to do.” And that is trying to build up better people. The coach of the team then emphasized just what these players meant. "We've got a whole park of 7-to10-year-olds watching these guys like they're Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, or Milton Bradley." (well, hopefully not Milton Bradley :P )
The parents aren't the only ones praising the youngsters. Governor Quinn even got in on the celebration by issuing a statement praising the team, applauding their perseverance in closing out the game after being behind. "This group of young ballplayers and their coaches have made all of Illinois proud. I wish them the best of luck as they represent our state on the world stage" Additionally, he designated this past Saturday as Jackie Robinson West Little League Champions Day statewide. Mayor Emanuel also made his approval known, saying that "[the] hard work displayed by the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team and Coach Darold Butler has once again reminded all of Chicago the very best of what we hope from and for our kids. I want the whole team and Coach Butler to know that Chicago is rooting for them, and as they take the field for the Little League World Series, they will be taking the best wishes of an entire city with them.”
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