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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE JACKIE ROBINSON WEST U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM
WHEREAS, the Jackie Robinson West Little League team was founded by Joseph Haley in 1971; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Jackie Robinson West is to bring children into a structured program environment intensely supported by adult volunteers where the values of leadership, team work and self-discipline are strongly emphasized; and
WHEREAS, with courage and grace, 13 young ballplayers, have attracted the attention of the Nation, inspiring the children of Cook County to use sports as a viable option to make positive impact on their communities; and
WHEREAS, Jackie Robinson West became the first African American team from Chicago to reach the Little League World Series in three decades; and
WHEREAS, the last Chicago team to qualify for the World Series was West in 1983; and
WHEREAS, using a combination of power hitting, aggressive base running, dominant pitching and strong defense, Jackie Robinson West would defeat teams from Lynwood, Washington; Cumberland, Rhode Island; Pearlman, Texas and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to advance to the United States Championship Game; and
WHEREAS, in the Championship Game, Jackie Robinson faced a rematch with the Mountain Ridge Little League team from Las Vegas, Nevada, having suffered a previous loss to them in the opening round. The game started quickly, with both teams scoring three runs in the first inning. Jackie Robinson scored another run in the second inning added three more in the fifth and ended the game on a double play to win the U.S. Championship by a final score of 7-5; and
WHEREAS, despite falling in the World Series Championship to the team from Seoul, South Korea, Jackie Robinson West had already established themselves as champions in the minds and hearts of residents of the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the entire country; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is the proud home of DJ Butler, Lawrence Noble, Jaheim Benton, Ed Howard, Cameron Bufford, Brandon Green, Darion Radcliff, Marquis Jackson, Joshua Houston, Eddie King, Prentiss Luster, Pierce Jones, Trey Hondras, all once and future baseball stars; and
WHEREAS, the spirit and resolve that Jackie Robinson West demonstrated throughout the tournament reminds us all that the greater the challenge, the greater the triumph, and the greater the glory.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby congratulate the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team, their coaches, JRW organizers and volunteers and sponsors on winning the U.S. Little League National Championship; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered to the members and coaches of Jackie Robinson West Little League in honor of their exemplary commitment remarkable accomplishment.
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