CHICAGO — Morgan Park-based Jackie Robinson West rallied to end Chicago's 31-year Little League World Series jinx as it beat New Albany, Ind. 12-7 in the Great Lakes Regional championship game Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis.
Cam Bufford's grand slam highlighted a seven-run fifth inning, which carried Jackie Robinson West to the thrilling win and a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
This year's squad put forth a dominant effort in winning its first five regional games, outscoring opponents 49-12. But it trailed 5-0 and 7-3 before rallying against the Indiana state champs in front of 2,000 fans at Stokely Field and a national ESPN audience.
The Little League World Series, a 16-team, double-elimination tournament with eight clubs from the United States and another eight from various regions of the world, begins Thursday. Jackie Robinson West's first game is Thursday at 2 p.m. Central time against the Northwest Region champions. Thursday's game will be televised by ESPN.
Jackie Robinson West, which lost in last year's regional final, was the last city squad to reach Williamsport when it advanced to Little League's promised land in 1983.
Jackie Robinson West coach Darold Butler, a former standout player at Simeon Career Academy and Toronto Blue Jays draft pick, predicted a regional victory Tuesday.
"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.
Jackie Robinson West, the Illinois state champions, defeated New Albany 8-4 earlier in the tournament's pool play.
The Chicago team's previous performances attracted a national following, including several social shoutouts from rapper/actor and South Side native Common.
Jackie Robinson West is composed of 11- and 12-year-old ballplayers from Englewood, Morgan Park, Chatham and Auburn Gresham. Three players from last year's team — D.J. Butler, Marquis Jackson and Darion Radcliff — are on the 2014 roster.
Jackie Robinson West was founded in 1971 on the city's South Side.
Gov. Pat Quinn celebrated the win by declaring Saturday "Jackie Robinson West Little League Champions Day," adding the ballplayers made the entire state proud.
“With power and poise, this group of young ballplayers has outperformed opponents across the state, region and now they have their eyes, gloves and hearts set on a bigger field," he said.
"Last year, Jackie Robinson West came one game short of the big tournament," Quinn said in a statement. "Like Jackie Robinson, they didn’t hang up their cleats in the face of adversity."
“The City of Chicago could not be more proud of the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. "They are now on the road to the Little League World Series — something that no Chicago team has played in since 1983. However, more important than making history on Saturday, the courage to persevere and 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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