Clarendon Hills 12U softball team plays on ESPN during regionals

CHILL1-e1725897292718

By Jeff Vorva | Photos courtesy of the Clarendon Hills Little League

People from all over the nation got a chance to see what Clarendon Hills Little League softball is all about.
The CHLL 12-under team became the first team in the organization’s history to qualify for the Little League’s Central Regional tournament after winning the state tournament July 6-10 and competing in the regional tournament in Whitestown, Indiana, two weeks later.

The regionals were broadcast on ESPN-Plus, and people had a chance to watch the team as it went 2-2 for the tournament.

“My mom’s in New Jersey, and she watched, and a lot of other grandparents were watching across the country,” manager Rob Goeckel said. “A lot of people were watching it, and we were getting a lot of texts. It was very cool.”

He added that the players had a chance to gather around a computer and watch one of their previous games that was broadcast by ESPN.

This is the first time in the seven-year history of the CHLL softball program that a team advanced to the regionals.
Helping to make history on this team was Hinsdale’s Kate Sunderson, Charlotte Goeckel, Abby Przyzycki, Sloane Breton, Payton Kunitz, Emmy Havens and Anna Makstenieks, Oak Brook’s Sawyer Hilding, Clarendon Hills’ Olivia McEwen, Emme Campos, Gia Sikorski and Meghan Wierzbicki, Burr Ridge’s Grayson Contreras and Willowbrook’s Despina Patos. Rob Goeckel was assisted by Jason Havens and Michelle Speziale.

To get to be TV stars, CHLL needed a furious rally to win the state tournament after losing its first game to Beardstown. The team went on to win five straight games, including a 10-0 revenge win over Beardstown in the semifinals and a 6-1 win over Brookfield in the championship battle.

Last year, this team won the 11U state title over Brookfield, but that age group did not feature regional or national play.

So, this year’s state championship had more on the line.

“Winning state was always the goal,” Goeckel said. “Since we won it last year, we wanted to win it at the more competitive 12U level. And we wanted to experience going to the regionals. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The fields were immaculate. They treated us like royalty. The opening ceremonies…being on ESPN…it was a really great experience top to bottom.”

Screenshot

 

Author

OB_MAR-2025-Cover

POWER IN UNITY: Oak Brook resident Kaarina Lebrun helps bring the community together

EH-MAR_2025-Cover

CHAPTERS OF SUCCESS: Local author Shelby Saville

Realsy-COVER-PHOTO-Realsy-202449of78

TASTE OF TRIUMPH: Sophia Karbowski, Co-Founder of realsy

David-Ellis-Cover-DSC_4989_FINAL-EDIT

PLOTTING SUCCESS: Homegrown author David Ellis

Alaska's Chugach National Forest covers 5.4 million acres, which is roughly the size of New Hampshire. It is home to thousands of glaciers and has more than 500 miles of trails

The Last Frontier: An unforgettable summer adventure awaits

VINCAS3

Vincas Buzelis is serious on the court and serious about joining his brother in the NBA

Say-Yes-to-the-Dress-PHOTO-2-Maddie-Jen-and-Leighton-Chillo-backstage-e1741311495938

Once-worn formalwear gets a second chance through a nonprofit prom boutique run by Hinsdale’s Jen Chillo

YC2-Photo-1-CMF-1124

Students give back through local nonprofit’s high school program

Harp-PHoto-1-IMG_9249-e1741310405836

Harp-Struck: D181’s Harp Program flourishes at local schools

51st Stagg Bowl - 
NCC Football vs. Mt. Union

Skokna waits his turn to help lead North Central College to national football title

woman in hat on the terrace Kentucky Derby promotion - made with

Hinsdale Auxiliary’s 70th annual Derby Day fundraiser supports Brightpoint

Chryslerettes-Team-Photo-Photo-2b

A League of Our Own: The Downers Grove Chryslerettes