10U Lady Tigers win Six Flags Showdown

With a roster of players entirely from Oak Park and River Forest, the 10U Elmwood Park Lady Tigers won the Six Flags Great America Summer Showdown on Sunday by edging the Wisconsin Lightning 7-6, and they did it in dramatic fashion.

Going into the sixth and final inning of the championship game, the Tigers were tied 6-6 against the Wisconsin Lightning. With two outs, Maeve Ryan singled to center, scoring Julia Youman from second.

Up one in the bottom half of the sixth, it was time to hold 'em and take home the trophy. With one out, an 0-2 count, and the tying run on second, Tiger catcher Máire O'Donnell blocked a ball in the dirt. Throwing from her knees, she rifled the ball to third, where Shelly Brown put the tag on the advancing Wisconsin base runner. The bases now empty and one strike away from victory, pitcher Izzy Newbury blazed a fastball by the final Wisconsin hitter to win it all.

"Winning this tournament was a total team effort," said Lady Tigers head coach, David Knight. "At bat and in the field, every player on this team made huge and timely contributions."

 Plagued by injuries earlier in the season, the Tigers went 4-1 on the weekend, raising their record to .500.

First row, from left to right: Lily Lisnic, Máire O'Donnell, Izzy Newbury and Julia Youman. Second row: Jacky Neuman, Grace Kedziora, Shelly Brown, Mia Knight, Tija Simitz, Ali Burns, Katie Bonaccorsi and Maeve Ryan. Third row: Assistant coach Bruce Newbury, head coach David Knight and assistant coach Kevin O'Donnell.