Youth Baseball Champs Get Hero's Welcome In Chicago
WBBM's Bob Roberts
(CBS) -- Chicago's Senior League world champion Clear Ridge All-Stars celebrated their victory Saturday with hundreds of fans on home turf – at Hale Park on the city's southwest side.
Storm clouds threatened before and after the ceremony, but the sun came out for the hour-long, noon-time celebration.
Each of the coaches and players took the microphone and said it was a team effort.
"This is just life-changing for us. It's so exciting," said pitcher Zach Verta, who struck out eight over 5-2/3 innings in the championship game against Australia.
They recounted how, on the bus just after arriving for the World Series in Bangor, Maine, they were told they weren't among the favorites. Australia was.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the Clear Ridge All-Stars didn't disappoint, beating the favored Aussies, 13-8 and 7-2.
"You bet against the kids of the city of Chicago, you're going to be on the losing side of that bet," Emanuel said.
The Clear Ridge team had to overcome an early loss -– to Burbank in the District 15 playoffs –- just to get to the state playoffs. To win the Senior League World Series after that? Player Joe Trezek said no one faltered.
"I'm mostly thankful for my teammates," Trezek said. "Everyone was always there to pick each other up. We always kept the eye on the goal."
Now, they go back to their high school teams, where many expect to be starters in the coming year.
"I'm really going to miss playing baseball with them," Trezek said. "These guys are my brothers."
The players did one last team cheer before the celebration ended with confetti and fireworks, followed by a two-hour celebration in the Hale Park fieldhouse.
