The Brookfield Little League softball Major 12-and-under all-stars were fueled by success and high expectations. That was the only disappointment as another great run came up just one victory short with a 6-1 loss to Clarendon Hills, July 10, in the state championship game in downstate Rushville.
Team members are Ema Beattie, Lea Becker, Grace Campbell, Justina Costello, Kallie Hickey, Viv Kowynia, Nena Melendez, Lyla Pigoni, Maeve Toland, Josie Stremski, Josie Swanson and Yannis Villamil. Mike Melendez is the manager, with assistant coaches Dave Campbell and Ed Kowynia.
This group wanted to repeat last year’s first 12-U state title since 2006 and berth in the Central Region in Whitestown, Indiana. This group was part of four District 9 titles every year and five for Campbell, Kowynia, Melendez, Pigoni and Swanson, counting two in the Minors 10-U age group.
“I think in time they’ll appreciate what they’ve been able to do, especially that kind of core group,” Mike Melendez said. “Since they had lofty ambitions, they don’t appreciate the little things. The stream of success they’ve had is incredible. Right now, it’s still a little raw and they might not fully appreciate it. A lot of people were watching and following us. The girls should be proud of what they’ve done.”
Clarendon Hills scored all six runs in the first inning. Pitcher Nena Melendez and Brookfield hung tough from there with solid defense, but Mike Melendez said Clarendon Hills was solid defensively the entire game.
Brookfield’s lone run came on a massive home run by Hickey.
“It was one of the hardest balls I’ve seen hit. Period,” Mike Melendez said. “There was nothing cheap about it. Definitely a crowd pleaser.”
Brookfield made the single-elimination semifinals with a 2-2 record in pool play, and remained positive after losing their last two games 7-1 to Oglesby and 20-10 to Clarendon Hills.
In the championship semifinals earlier, July 10, Brookfield beat Oglesby 6-1 with perhaps its best state performance and after falling behind in the first inning. Oglesby was the No. 1 seed for the semifinals after a 4-0 pool record, outscoring opponents by a combined 52-8.
“We played really strong defense. [The game] was tight, 2-1, for a large chunk,” Mike Melendez said. “(Our players) were always pumped up. Once they realized we were where we want to be (in the semifinals) after losing two in a row, they were (still) two wins from a state title.”
Little League baseball
Brookfield finished third and Riverside fourth in Majors 12-U. Brookfield was 3-2 with two losses to LaGrange Park and eliminated Riverside, which had a 2-2 record.
In 11-U, Riverside and Brookfield were 1-2 with Brookfield beating Riverside in the opening round of the six-team bracket.