Evergreen Park Girls Softball Team Vies For Spot In Little League World Series

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- The Evergreen Park Girls Softball League has two teams competing in regional finals with hopes to make the Little League World Series. The 12 and under team, dubbed "The Electric" for their neon green uniforms, were hours away from first pitch at the Little League Central Region Finals in the Indianapolis area early Monday afternoon while an EPGSBL 16 and under team was preparing for a similar tournament in South Bend, Indiana.

"We have 13 wonderful players who play their hearts out and have learned to compete under pressure situations," said Jerry Mulvihill, manager of the EPGSBL 12U all-star team that has gone 13-2 since they began playing as a team at the start of July.

It's the first time a 12 and under girls softball team from the Evergreen Park Girls Softball League has made it past the state championship.

"The Electric" consist of an all-star group of girls softball players from the EPGSBL season that ended in June. Mulvihill says the team competed at two all-star invitational tournaments before defeating Brown County on July 18 to capture the Illinois State Championship.

The team has been carried by the stellar pitching of Maddie Davis, Analise Mulvihill and Nicole Reynolds. In the 1-0 state championship win over Brown County at South Elgin, Davis tossed a one-hitter.

Mulvihill says the offense is led by "a strong power hitting team" of hitters like Olivia Jensen, Isabella Crespo, Bridget Murphy and Sam Paredes.

Players like Isabelle Harmon, April Kirts, Maura Racz, Annie Buckley and Keira Jarrett "provide the defensive skill and foot speed in our lineup," Mulvihill said.

Kerrigan Collins, the team's first baseman, broke her hip playing this year but has since been called "a cheerleader and spiritual adviser to the girls in the dugout."

The team is now one of nine Midwestern teams playing at the Grant Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana seeking the regional championship. Now known as "Team Illinois," The Electric will advance to the Little League World Series in Portland, Oregon if they win this tournament.

They are scheduled to play Team Ohio on Monday and Team Wisconsin on Tuesday before the elimination bracket takes place on Thursday and Friday. Regional championship teams from Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Indiana are also seeking a spot in the World Series. The World Series consists of all super regional winners in the United States as well as some international champions as well.

Mulvihill is assisted by Erin Davis and John Jensen.

Photo: TOP: (left to right): Olivia Jensen, Bridget Murphy, John Jensen (coach), Erin Davis (coach), Jerry Mulvihill (manager), Maddie Davis, Kerrigan Collins MIDDLE: April Kirts, Maura Racz, Analise Mulvihill, Isabella Crespo BOTTOM: Sam Paredes, Nicole Reynolds, Isabelle Harmon, Keira Jarrett, Annie Buckley.