Hail the State Champs! Evergreen Park Boys Club's 10U Team Is Regionals-Bound

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- While the Chicago Cubs and White Sox may be playing mediocre baseball, there’s a group of 10-year-olds on fire in the Cal Ripken League. Fresh off their state championship, the Evergreen Park Boys Club 10U team is bound for the regionals. It’s the next stop for a shot at playing in the Cal Ripken League World Series.

"This is a great group of kids that work hard,” Coach Jeff Keyser said. “They’ll remember this summer for the rest of their lives. They’re a fun team and we have fun parents.”

Comprised of the best players from the Evergreen Park Boys Club 10U teams, these all-stars won the league’s state championship July 9. Mayor Jim Sexton and village trustees made sure the boys got a grand reception when they came home to Evergreen Park with the state championship trophy. If you were hearing sirens, that was the Evergreen Park Fire Department escorting the champs home.

The next stop on their journey to the Cal Ripken League World Series are the regionals next weekend in Vincennes, IN. If successful, they will be one of 18 talented young teams to advance to the league’s world series.

To help cover expenses, the Evergreen Park Boys Club will be holding two fundraisers Friday and Saturday. The first is a tag day Friday, July 14. Volunteers from the boys ball club will collecting donations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 95th Street and Kedzie Avenue.

The team will also be hosting a carwash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 15, at Most Holy Redeemer Church, 3650 W 96th St., in Evergreen Park. Players will wash your car for $5, and $10 for vans and SUVs. iAll proceeds will go toward expenses for team at the regionals.

“We just want to thank everyone for standing behind us and donating the help to pay for our next trip,” Coach Terry Doran said. “It’s making it easier for some families to be able to afford it.”

The Evergreen Park Boys Club well celebrate its 60th anniversary next year in the Cal Ripken League, a division of the Babe Ruth League. The youth baseball club draws players from Evergreen Park, Mount Greenwood and Oak Lawn.

Keyser still remembers winning the Illinois State Championship playing for the Evergreen Green Boys Club’s 12-year-old team.

“My dad coached me and now I’m coaching my son (Caleb),” Keyser said. “I’m still good friend with everyone on that team. These guys will be friends for life.”

“We’re creating memories,” Doran said. “These guys will remember this summer for the rest of their lives. They’re having fun.”