Evergreen Park 14U All Stars Have A Lot To Be Proud Of

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — While not the result fans hoped for, the Evergreen Park Girls Softball 14U All Stars left their mark on history, becoming only the second team to represent Illinois in the Little League Junior Softball World Series.

The EP 14U team landed Sunday afternoon at O’Hare International Airport from Kirkland, Wash., falling short of winning the final after a week of intense bracket play against the Southwest Conference champion from Columbus, TX.

A fleet of Ubers carrying the players and their families met up for the procession to Yukich Fields at Home Depot on 95th Street, because the driver of their chartered bus reportedly overslept.

Evergreen Park dominated the first round of pool play undefeated, before advancing to win the quarter and semi-final games, heading to the finals 6-0. The other team left standing, the Southwest Conference champion from Columbus, TX, had just piled on 20 hits against Canada in the quarter-final elimination game.

But there was a lot for Evergreen Park to be proud of, holding Texas to just two runs, and making some amazing defensive plays. Mackenzie Norbut and Sam Johnson got the only two hits of the game against Texas pitcher, Paelyn Etzler, who looked like Kerry Wood out there striking out 11 EP batters.

Celia Chavez put a stop to a Texas rally with the game’s best defensive play, by making a diving catch in shallow right field.

The team and their coaches arrived at Yukich Fields, the scene of their many triumphs this summer, to hugs from proud grandparents, siblings and friends.