The River Forest/Elmhurst 14U baseball team was hoping that its third consecutive trip to the Junior League World Series would be the charm. But while the team acquitted itself well with three competitive showings last week in Taylor, Michigan, it was eliminated from the double-elimination tournament on Aug. 5, falling 4-1 to Needville, Texas.
Despite the loss, head coach Zack White was proud of how his team persevered and overcame unexpected challenges.
“We dealt with a lot of injuries from some of my better pitchers and middle infielders,” said White, the junior-varsity baseball head coach at Fenwick High School. “I didn’t really know what to expect, so I was super-excited to get [to the World Series]. I feel grateful for the opportunity to lead some of these kids I’ve known since they were little and give them the opportunity to play on such a big stage.”
Against Needville, River Forest/Elmhurst managed just two hits: singles by Calvin Lee and Elliott Buchner. The team drew six walks, including four to begin each inning between the third and sixth, and had three batters hit by pitches. But they stranded 10 runners on base, including two innings – the first and sixth – where the bases were left loaded. Charlie O’Neill scored the team’s only run in the bottom of the sixth on a throwing error by the catcher.
“You get to the World Series, you’re facing everyone’s number one and two guys,” said White. “It’s a whole different level of pitching. We didn’t hit anywhere in the World Series near as well before that. We thought we had the team to go further, but a couple of things just didn’t go our way.”
Overall, White liked how his pitching and defense held up throughout the season.
“Our defense was amazing,” he said. “Every play was being made, infield and outfield, and we had phenomenal pitching.”
“I think we did good,” added River Forest/Elmhurst assistant coach Cameron Chi, a 2024 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School. “This was the most talented team we’ve had the past three years. It was really awesome to see the boys fight in the tournament against the best competition at their age level.”
Chi and White see the Junior League World Series as a chance for kids to get know those from not only other U.S. regions, but international countries. That experience, they believe, is of great value on and off the field.
“They’re hanging out with kids from Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Panama, Germany, Australia, and Canada,” Chi said. “We went to a Detroit Tigers game. It’s something you just don’t get to do often as a 14-year-old; it’s a special opportunity and a lifetime memory they’re going to have.”
“The Junior League takes good care of us beyond the lines,” White said. “Just meeting and being able to play teams from different parts of the country as well as talking to coaches from other countries is an awesome experience.”
Chi, who is about to begin his sophomore year at the University of Oregon, has long been associated with the 14U program going back to his playing days and would like to continue if possible.
“Personally, I don’t know where I’ll be next year,” Chi said. “But if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to keep on coaching.”
White has designs long-term of becoming a varsity coach at the high school level. He’s studying to become a physical education teacher and plans to graduate next spring. Once he gets his degree, he believes that will open up possibilities.
“It’s something I’ve always wished for,” he said.
White is unsure about continuing as 14U head coach. He’s considering the possibility of moving up to the Senior League as a 16U coach, but stresses that nothing has been decided yet.
“I may want to try something new,” White said. “People ask, “Why would you do that?” [16U] would be a new challenge. I coach junior varsity, so that would be the same age group.”