Little League World Series: Jackie Robinson West inspires hope, Chicago pride

A baseball team from Chicago’s South Side that has been battling its way through the Little League World Series is giving the city something to cheer about.

Hundreds of people who packed a watch party Saturday afternoon at a far South Side community center unleashed deafening roars, danced to blasting music and exchanged hugs as the Jackie Robinson West All-Stars defeated a Las Vegas team in the U.S. final in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Chicago team, made up of all black players, is making its first appearance in 31 years in the Little League World Series. But there’s more than baseball at stake for some in a part of Chicago that has grappled with poverty, gang violence and the negative media attention those problems have drawn.

“It means a whole lot to the community and the kids. With all this violence going on, it gives them hope,” said Sabrina Johnson, who was with her 8-year-old grandson, a baseball player in a church league.

U.S. championship: Joshua Houston survived a rocky start to pitch five innings and also brought in the tying run with a line single in the fifth to lead Chicago past Las Vegas 7-5 on Saturday in the U.S. final at the Little League World Series.

The Great Lakes Region champions from Jackie Robinson West advanced to meet South Korea in today’s championship game. Las Vegas will play Japan for third place.

Trailing 3-0 after the first and 5-4 heading into the home half of the fifth, Chicago scored three times to win it. Houston’s single tied it after two walks, with runs also scoring on a fielder’s choice and an error.

International championship: Dong Wan Sin’s three-run single helped South Korea defeat Japan 12-3.

South Korea had a seven-run second inning on just two hits. Leadoff batter Hae Chan Choi also brought in two runs on a double during the inning. He went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.