The North Riverside Little League softball 11-and-Under all-stars had quite a finish.
The Brookfield softball 10-and-Under all-stars appear to just be getting started.
At their respective state tournaments, both teams came close to their championship aspirations before their seasons ended July 21. North Riverside lost to Clarendon Hills 9-0 in Brookfield for the title of the four-team 11s state tournament to finish with an overall 2-2 state record. It’s believed to be the highest softball state finish in North Riverside history for any age group. The 11s also qualified for state in 2025 by winning the District 9 title but had to forfeit state for not having enough players.
North Riverside 11s team members are Eli Favela, Tre’sur Griffin, Penny Hermsdorf, Audrey Jamriska, Mabel Maloney, Isabelle Mauban, Thalia Medina, Willow Merrill, Grace Runquist, Scarlett Santos and Ella Sotelo. Willie Merrill is manager with assistant coaches Jesse Favela and Monica Parker.
“Winning always breeds success,” Willie Merrill said. “(Our players) were very upset about the loss in the championship but had some solace that North Riverside had never made it this far.”
Brookfield’s Victoria Melendez (77) crosses home plate to score a run against Western Springs during the Illinois District 9 Little League 10U softball tournament Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in North Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Brookfield’s Molly Byrne (5) runs the bases after a hit against Western Springs during the Illinois District 9 Little League 10U softball tournament Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in North Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Brookfield’s pitcher Lexi Fox (11) delivers a pitch against Western Springs during the Illinois District 9 Little League 10U softball tournament Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in North Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Brookfield’s Mila Solis (6) connects for a hit against Western Springs during the Illinois District 9 Little League 10U softball tournament Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in North Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
The Brookfield 10s reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Clarendon Hills 12-6.
Brookfield 10s team members are Evangelina Anderson, Annabelle Beattie, Molly Byrne, Juliet Contreras, Bella Figueroa Dunnell, Lexi Fox, Lindsey Franklin, Antonella Martinez, Victoria Melendez, Penelope Pros, Mia Riddle, Amaya Patel and Mila Solis. Mike Melendez is the manager with assistant coaches John Anderson, Jack Byrne, Jim Franklin, Greg Fox, Joe Riddle and Nello Giampieto.
Brookfield closed to 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anderson tripled and Franklin had two runs batted in.
“I think what they really enjoyed was kind of bonding (at state) as a team. There was a lot of togetherness and I think the families and kids really enjoyed that,” Mike Melendez said. “That’s going to kind of serve as a foundation for the next couple of years. I think that experience of working together as long as they did is going to bode well for us in the future.”
In pool play, Brookfield finished second with a 3-1 record, beating Melrose Park 5-4 and Moline 12-0 in four innings, July 18, and losing to Central District 7-4 and beating Pike County 11-5, July 19.
The Pike County game determined second in the pool and semifinal berth. Brookfield trailed 3-0 before unleashing an 11-run fifth that included six walks or hit batters with the bases loaded, a two-run single from Beattie and a bases-loaded double with two strikes by Melendez for the final three runs.
“Having energy and making plays, just doing plays naturally (helped us),” Victoria Melendez said. “All of the games were amazing. We hope to learn from the experience because we lost this one. We can build off the experience. We all had a lot of fun being together.”
Against Melrose Park, the game was tied 3-3 entering the sixth. Pitcher Fox allowed just one run over the final 2.2 innings in relief of Patel (7 strikeouts in 4.1 innings). Anderson (3 RBIs) homered and Fox doubled against Central District. Figueroa Dunnell (4 RBIs) and Solis doubled against Moline.
In 11s round-robin preliminary play in Orion, North Riverside beat Huntley 7-3, July 19, and opened by beating Orion 20-3 in three innings and losing to Clarendon Hills 11-4, July 18.
In the title game, Merrill had the lone hit against Clarendon Hills. North Riverside had four hits in the first meeting, including doubles by Hermsdorf (2 RBIs), Jamriska and Favela.
After the championship game was rained out, July 20, the site was moved to Brookfield, allowing even more North Riverside fans to show support.
“It feels really amazing we made history for North Riverside Little League. I never thought we’d get a chance to play for a state championship,” Willow Merrill said. “I’m proud that we got to be the team that showed everyone what a group of girls are capable of. Hearing everyone cheering made us feel like we could do anything.”
Favela had three hits against Huntley and Merrill doubled with three RBIs.
Against Orion, Medina homered and Jamriska had four hits and six RBIs with a triple and two doubles. Runquist pitched the final two innings in relief of Favela, who pitched every other inning and all games of the District 9 tournament.
Brookfield 10s baseball
The Brookfield Little League baseball 10-U all-star team has started in 1-1 pool play at the state tournament based at Roseland in Chicago.
Brookfield defeated Ottawa 8-3, Saturday, and lost to Olney 6-5, Sunday, after Olney scored three runs in the sixth. Pool play continues against Rochelle and South Holland Wednesday, July 29.