EPBC State Champion 10U Ghosts Headed To Crown Point World Series

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Give it up for the Ghosts. The state champion EPBC 10U team has been invited to play in the 2024 Cal Ripken League World Services in Crown Point, Ind.

The invite marks the first time a youth baseball team from Evergreen Park has ever played in a world series championship. The Ghosts are all 10-year-olds from the Evergreen Park Baseball Club who live within a mile-and-a-half from Duffy Park, where EPBC is based, as well as other fields around Evergreen Park.

The EPBC was established in 2020 merging two long-time youth community leagues into one – Evergreen Park Athletic Association and the Evergreen Park Boys Club – that filled village parks for over 60+ years with youth baseball. EPBC serves both boys and girls ages 4 through 16.

EPBC Ghosts is a part-time travel program offered by the youth league, serving all interested players 8U+ in the Cal Ripken League, a division of the Babe Ruth League.

The 10U team won the state championship in Illinois, and came in second at the Ohio Valley Regional in Lexington, KY. The first-place winner bowed out because it was too far to travel.

“We thought our season was over and we got a call from Babe Ruth League headquarters inviting us to Crown Point,” said Brian Harmon, head coach for the 10U Ghosts. “It's the first time in our club history that we made it to the world series.”

The Ghosts are one of 24 teams playing pool games, which include 20 teams across the United States, and four international teams in the Czech Republic, Australia, Germany and Panama.

The 10-year-old team’s first game is at 12:15 p.m. Aug. 10 against a team from Hawaii. The Ghosts will play four pool games, which will determine if they advance to the finals.

To help families out with out-of-pocket costs for travel, uniforms, tournament fees, online donations can be made at EPBC Donations. For more information, email Brian Harmon at t harmon@epbaseballclub.com

The Ghosts will also be holding a car wash Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon at Most Holy Redeemer, 9525 Lawndale Ave, Evergreen Park. The Ghosts are also asking for donations of non-perishable food items for the Evergreen Park Food Pantry.