LLWS games: Clarendon Hills, Illinois team advances to 2025 Little League World Series tournament with win over Ohio team
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CLARENDON HILLS, Ill. (WLS) — A Little League baseball team from the western suburbs is making Chicago Proud as it inches closer toward a championship.

Clarendon Hills won a regional tournament Wednesday, advancing to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series. They took on and won against Ohio, a team they lost to just a couple nights ago, making this a comeback win and one that came with a regional title.

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There was a thunderous roar throughout downtown Clarendon Hills as their Little League team took to a national stage, advancing in the Little League World Series as the Great Lakes Regional Champions.

The game coincided with the village’s weekly concert series, which had restaurants and bars packed, making for a community-wide watch party.

“Being able to see members of our community move up and move a little bit closer to their dreams is really important to us,” said Natashia Hilentzaris, owner of Thassos, which hosted a watch party.

Support for the team could be seen in signs posted inside downtown businesses as all televisions screens across multiple restaurants featured their little hometown heroes that refused to give up.

“We watched the other night and our heart was broken when they had lost so the fact that they’re coming back and they’re actually meeting the same team is super exciting for us,” fan Christen Sadowski said.

Clarendon Hills won 9 to 4 against Ohio, coming back after Monday’s loss.

“The fact that they lost to Ohio the other night and they came back through from the loser’s bracket, it’s a big deal and it shows the depth of their team,” former Little League coach Tim Etter said.

Now the team is off to Williamsport, where they will once again be in the national spotlight as contenders in the Little League World Series Tournament.

“It gives power to driving the dreams of the young people which is really, really important,” Hilentzaris said.

The Little League World Series starts next week, and the village says they are ready to cheer on the team all the way to the big win.

“The fact that these kids have enough grit and determination to able to do this. It’s a journey. It’s not easy,” Etter said.

The game aired on the ESPN app. Watch ABC7 Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. to see highlights from the game.

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