Brookfield 11-U softball tops Riverside for district title 

Solid pitching by Molly Beattie and Leila Chavez helped the Brookfield Little League softball 11-and-Under all-stars capture the District 9 championship at Sedgwick Park in La Grange.

Moments after the clinching victory, July 16, the pair were even stronger together. 

During the postgame celebration, coach Andy Righeimer was doused by a large cooler with freezing cold water, down to the last drop.

“It was me and Molly,” Chavez said.

“I’m pretty smart. [Luci Jareczek’s] dad was distracting him,” Beattie said. 

Brookfield swept Riverside 16-2 and 16-5, July 15, both in four innings, to win the two-team, best-of-three district series. Brookfield advanced to the three-team state tournament in Clarendon Hills Saturday but lost to Clarendon Hills 11-1 and Kaneland 10-0 both in four innings in round-robin pool play and did not advance to Sunday’s championship game.

Brookfield 11-U team members are Beattie, Ellie Chase, Chavez, Olive Costello, Brooklyn Depke, Mallory Faught, Jareczek, Amelia Johnson, Elizabeth Lentz, Eloise Righeimer, Fiona Stenson and Annabelle Villasenor. Coaches are Righeimer, Erin Depke and Joe Lentz.

“They really came together. They worked hard. They’re always there for each other, which is huge for our team because they’re always picking each other up every moment they can,” Andy Righeimer said after districts.

“They’re still learning a lot but at the same time, the way they come together as a team, very proud of them.”

Chavez (triple, double, 5 runs batted in), Johnson (5 for 6, 5 RBIs) and Faught (4 for 6) were top hitters over the two district victories. Both pitching complete games, Beattie struck out seven on July 16 and Chavez eight on July 15.

“[Winning districts] means a lot to me because I feel like our team has come really far and we worked really hard for it,” Chavez said. “I think having teamwork really helped us in this.”

“[Districts] went really well, especially the players who haven’t played for this team or didn’t really know each other,” Molly Beattie added. “Everyone’s heads were up and we just kept cheering each other on.”

Riverside 11-U team members are Mila Caputo, Mia Drenth, Emery Fitzgerald, Olivia Galindo, Elena Kasparek, Libby McKay, Evie Pisano, Annalisa Sandorff, Angie Tokarz, Molly Wojowicz, Sophia Wyskiel and Annika Yanz. The manager is Nick Caputo with assistant coaches Scott McKay and Vic Yanz and volunteer assistants Mike Drenth and Missy Wojowicz.  

Sandorff (triple, 2 runs) and Pisano (double, 2 runs) both reached base in three of their four district plate appearances, Fitzgerald hit a two-run double and struck out three in 1.1 innings pitched with no earned runs, McKay struck out four in three innings and center-fielder Caputo stopped two potential homers with a catch and relay. 

“I told our girls you’re representing your community, which is a very rare opportunity for any athlete. And we’re really proud of them,” Nick Caputo said. “We’re really thankful to the hosts. This tournament represents everything it’s supposed to be about, good sportsmanship, working hard and having fun. I think Brookfield [also] exemplified those qualities.”

At state, Brookfield was hampered by a seven-run first inning by Clarendon Hills. Brookfield only trailed Kaneland 2-0 entering the third inning.

In 2023, Brookfield lost the 11-U state championship game to Clarendon Hills. This season’s 12-U team came one victory from the state title and a berth in the Central Regional after the 2023 team captured Brookfield’s first state title since 2006. 

“[I liked] our ability to stay positive despite what was happening on the field. They were always still pumping each other up and battling and encouraging each other,” Andy Righeimer said. 

“If they make all-stars again [for 12-U], they already know what it’s like to be there and the attitude they need to come with, the determination and how much work you have to put into it to come out on the positive end.”