CHICAGO — One win away from a trip to the Little League World Series, Morgan Park-based Jackie Robinson West is starting to attract national attention and famous fans.
Rapper/actor Common, a South Side native, posted a Tweet and an Instagram photo of him watching Jackie Robinson West's 13-2 victory over Canfield, Ohio on Thursday in a Great Lakes Regional semifinal.
In the studio with @malikyusef creating and watching JRW play ball #congrats to JRW on Win. Chi town… http://t.co/Cnn5LPRBaF
— COMMON (@common) August 8, 2014The win advanced Jackie Robinson West, a team made up of 11- and 12-year-olds from a handful of South and Southwest Side neighborhoods, into Saturday's championship game against New Albany, Ind. The game starts at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Jackie Robinson West, which lost in last year's regional final, is the last Chicago team to reach the Little League World Series when it qualified for the Williamsport, Pa.-based tournament in 1983.
This year in Indianapolis, Jackie Robinson West is 5-0, which included an 8-4 victory over New Albany on Aug. 3.
Jackie Robinson West coach Darold Butler predicted a regional championship after the team's first three wins.
"I really believe this year is the year for this team," Butler said Tuesday. "And I really believe they’ll get the job done on Saturday" in the championship.
Marquis Jackson's three hits, including two home runs, and five RBIs led Jackie Robinson West in Thursday's convincing conquest.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
