10-Year-Old Little League Team Wins District With Consecutive Comebacks

The Western Springs 10-year-olds district team saw their playoff life flash before their eyes.

Down 1-0 in a best-of-three series, up by a single run in the bottom of the sixth after a saving three-run rally in the top of the inning, the team had let Riverside load the bases with one out. A simple single could end the team’s run—even a deep fly ball would mean extra innings.

“It [was] scary,” Jimmy Riordan remembered. “I was really nervous, and I didn’t know if we were going to win or lose.”

But then pitcher Thomas Remijas fanned one batter, and got the next to ground out to second to secure a 5-4 victory and a rubber match. One game later, after another comeback that saw the Western Springs team rack up four runs in the bottom of the fifth to win 6-3, they were district champs.

“Intense,” was how Michael Mohler described it—intense, and rewarding. “After we won districts, we went to Guido’s [Pizza].”

The team is 5-1, having beating Lyons Township twice and North Riverside once in addition to their series win over Riverside. They will play their first sectional game Friday at 7:00 p.m. versus Clear Ridge at Hinsdale’s Pierce Park.

“The strength of this team is the experience, believe it or not, for 10-year-olds," said team manager Bob Waunn, noting that nine of the boys have played in the competitive I-80 travel league. “They have a lot of game experience. They don’t get flustered.

“They love playing baseball as a team. They’ll pick each other up. We’ll have a two-hour practice and they’ll still be out here afterwards, playing a home run derby or a pickup game… Every one of these guys made a [critical] play somewhere along the line.”

“It’s fun,” pitcher Remijas said simply. “I’ve had a lot of fun so far, and I really like it.”

Always clutch with the game on the line, the team also fields well and particularly shines on the basepaths, with an aggressive running style designed to promote panic and misthrows in defenders.

“It’s pretty intense at these higher levels,” offered Rian O’Connor. “You don’t know what’s gonna happen when you’re up to bat.”

“It’s pressure, but it’s fun,” added catcher Owen Waunn. “These are good guys, they have good personalities and they know how to play ball.”

Manager Waunn has high hopes for the team’s progress, but added: “No matter what happens in sectionals, these boys have made Western Springs proud.”

The team are: Nick Panos, Jimmy Riordan, Owen Waunn, Andrew Gatland, Eric Steensma, Luke Schlender, Thomas Remijas, Danny Feldmeier, Rian O'Connor, Graham Sands, Michael Mohler and Billy McNamara. Coaches are Jason Schlender, Dean Panos, Jon Remijas and manager Bob Waunn.