When the Brookfield Minors 10-and-under all-star baseball team lost its District 9 tournament opener by one run, there was no room for error in the double-elimination format.
“We chanted a lot and we got courage in ourselves we could do better in every game,” said Louis Petronella, the tough-luck losing pitcher. “We never give up. We always try our hardest.”
Brookfield not only won its next game but and another and another. By Saturday night, Brookfield achieved five straight victories to capture the District 9 title by beating La Grange 5-4 in the winner-take-all final at Sedgewick Park in La Grange after winning the earlier game 8-5 despite La Grange scoring five runs in the first.
Brookfield team members are Adonis Acevedo, Geno Belmonte, Keo Brown, Lorenzo Creedon, Jack Deegan, Dean Forest, Lucas Ginez, Cameron Glassi, Kiaan Hala, Petronella, Leo Pilotto and Sebastian Walus. EJ Belmonte is manager with assistant coaches Jeff Creedon and Bill Glassi.
The state tournament begins Saturday, July 17 hosted by Rosedale.
“It feels great to win a championship. I’ve only won one Little League championship for my team in our Brookfield league. It’s kind of crazy and a surprise to be winning again,” said Wilus, the winning pitcher in the final game. “Everything was on the line. Just to make sure perfection, don’t get nervous, knowing this is the last game. If you’re not going to try your hardest, don’t try at all.”
Brookfield players were even more excited that it’s the program’s first 10-U District 9 title since 2016.
“It feels really good just knowing how much we put into it to make it here. Knowing that we haven’t won in a couple of long years makes it feel even better,” Brown said.
After the tough 1-0 loss against La Grange Park in the July 7 opener, Brookfield had four one-run victories, including 4-3 over LaGrange Park 4-3 Friday to reach the championship series. Brookfield also beat Western Springs 4-3 Thursday and Lyons Township 11-10 July 8 for victory No. 1.
La Grange Park and Lyons Township were walk-off victories.
“It was pretty wild. I’m pretty speechless. The kids played amazing and it was a lot,” coach Belmonte said. “They’re big fighters. In our travel ball season, that happens a lot. Pitching and defense, that’s how we do it.”
In the final game, Brookfield grabbed a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning behind great pitching efforts by starter Walus and Brown, who got the save.
The four-run second included a two-run single by Glassi, RBI single from Pilotto and Petronella scoring on a wild pitch.
Brookfield scored in the first on a delayed steal after singles by Hala (run) and Belmonte, who was 2 for 3 with a double. Walus was 2 for 2.
“I felt really good on the mound, like I was throwing it good. My accuracy was pretty good,” Walus said.
Because of pitch counts, Brown was basically the last eligible option to relieve Walus on a staff that also includes Petronella, Belmonte, Deegan and closer Acevedo. After La Grange’s furious rally with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, Brown entered with one out and a runner on second and got five straight out to end the game. The fifth finished with a strikeout and deep flyout to left fielder Acevedo. In the sixth, shortstop Belmonte handled two solid grounders for the first two outs and center fielder Deegan caught the final out on his knees.
“I normally catch,” Brown said. “That’s probably one of my first times pitching in a championship. To win it pitching, it feels really good.”
In Saturday’s first game, Walus delivered the key hit with Brookfield trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the third. Brookfield loaded the bases with no outs but then came two strikeouts and Walus facing an 0-and-2 count. He battled back and hit a three-run double scoring Acevedo, Glassi and Hala.
“That was a game changer,” coach Belmonte said. “We were dead at that point. I thought we were for sure not getting a run and then Sebastian comes through.”
Brookfield pulled ahead with a four-run fourth on a two-run double by Hala and RBI single from Acevedo. Winning pitcher Deegan worked 5.1 innings and retired the last 10 batters he faced with two great catches by right fielder Ginez. Reliever Acevedo got the final two outs. Hala was 3 for 3 and Acevedo was 2 for 2.
On Friday, Brookfield beat LaGrange Park 4-3 when Walus scored on a walkoff passed ball in the bottom of the sixth with Petronella batting and the bases loaded with no outs. Brookfield tied the game 3-3 with a two-run fourth on a sacrifice fly by Pilotto and Wilus scoring on a wild pitch.
Riverside and North Riverside were 0-2. Riverside lost 13-3 to Western Springs, July 8, and 11-0 to LaGrange Park in their July 6 opener. North Riverside lost to Lyons Township 25-1, July 7, and 16-1 to Western Springs, July 6.
In the 11-U baseball District 9 all-star tournament, fourth-place Brookfield was 2-2, losing to Lyons Township 10-3 Saturday after beating North Riverside 6-4, Friday, and Riverside 6-5, Thursday, and losing to Western Springs 4-0, July 8.
Riverside and North Riverside were 0-2. In their openers, North Riverside lost to La Grange 12-1, Thursday, and Riverside lost to La Grange Park 7-5, July 8.
The six-team, Majors 12-U baseball District 9 tournament is scheduled to start Tuesday with Brookfield playing Riverside. North Riverside is not entered.
District 9 softball
Brookfield’s third baseman Hailey Franklin (21) makes the throw to first against Riverside during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside’s first baseman Hazel Jurgens (16) fields a hit up the first base line by Brookfield during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside’s pitcher Maeve Dan (10) delivers a pitch against Brookfield during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside’s Evie Pisano (15) gets a fist bump from coach Trent Sheridan after her base hit against Brookfield during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Brookfield’s short stop Eulalia Sokol (88) covers second as Riverside’s Tegan Sheridan (8) safely slides in during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Brookfield’s pitcher Sarah Lopez (15) delivers a pitch against Riverside during the Illinois District 9 Little League Majors 12U softball tournament Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
In Minors 10-U softball, Brookfield advanced to Tuesday’s scheduled District 9 championship series undefeated after beating Riverside 12-2, Sunday.
Co-finalist Western Springs, which beat third-place Riverside 16-9, Monday, will have to beat Brookfield twice Tuesday for the title.
Brookfield previously had beaten La Grange 21-6, Friday, and Western Springs 6-5 in the July 9 opener.
Riverside and North Riverside were 1-2. Riverside beat North Riverside 13-2, Friday, and North Riverside lost to Western Springs 15-9, Saturday, after beating LaGrange Park 13-2, Thursday.
The four-team 11-U softball District 9 tournament began Monday with North Riverside beating Riverside 8-5 and Brookfield beating La Grange Park 12-4.
In Majors 12-U softball, La Grange Park beat Western Springs 4-3, July 7, in the winner-take-all District 9 final.