Chicago's Jackie Robinson West Fall To South Korea, Still Win Chicago's Hearts And Minds

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 25, 2014 4:05PM

By now, pretty much everybody in Chicago has jumped on the Jackie Robinson West bandwagon, and so we were all heartbroken to see them lose to South Korea 8-4 in Sunday's Little League World Series title game. And yet, they are still very much winners, having won the U.S. title the day before. (It's not like Major League teams have to play foreign competition after winning their "World Series" title.) The team of boys from the South Side of Chicago, represented Chicago, Illinois, the Great Lakes region, and the United States commendably throughout the tournament.

In Sunday's finale, South Korea jumped out to an early lead, scoring runs in the first and third before JRW scored. South Korea added runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-1 lead entering the final inning. They extended their lead to 8-1 in the top of the final frame. JRW's last gasp rally brought three more runs home before they ultimately fell to the winners of the Asia-Pacific region.

Jackie Robinson West made the LLWS championship game by defeating Nevada the day before, 7-5. In a rematch of a game where Nevada beat Illinois 13-2 and knocked them into the losers bracket, the boys from Chicago avenged that loss to claim the U.S. Champions title and earn their date with South Korea.

But no matter the outcome of Sunday's game, Jackie Robinson West already won the hearts and minds of Chicago. An all African-American team from the city's South Side, they have been a tremendous bright spot for Englewood, South Shore, Auburn-Gresham, Chatham, Morgan Park, Washington Heights, and the city as a whole, focusing attention on something positive for a change in communities where, too often, any news attention is bad news.

This week, JRW will get the homecoming they deserve. On Wednesday, the city will hold a parade in their honor, beginning on the South Side and ending at Millennium Park (time TBD).