The River Forest 12U baseball team entered the Little League District 10 tournament with a modest opening loss, but the squad quickly turned the tide.
After dropping their first game to Elmhurst, the team reeled off three straight victories, including two over Elmhurst, to capture the district championship and earn a spot in the Illinois Little League Majors state tournament.
Coach Frankie Giglio praised the effort, saying the title was a long‑awaited reward for a group that had worked tirelessly throughout the season.
Matt Irvin was the offensive catalyst, delivering a grand slam in the fifth inning of the decisive game that lifted River Forest to a 7‑5 win, and later adding a home run and two RBI in a 9‑6 triumph.
The team’s defense also shone, with Liam Goggin and Charlie Goldhaber making pivotal plays, while winning pitcher Jack O’Keefe limited Elmhurst to four unearned runs over 1.1 innings.
Key contributors such as Aidan Connelly, Grayson Elfvin, Valentino Giglio, Louie Lothson, Owen Medina, Paddy Sheahan and Danny Zarco each played integral roles, and the coaching staff of Bayard Elfvin, Pat Sheahan Sr. and Tom Irvin provided steady guidance.
State Tournament Run
River Forest opened state play with a 3‑2 victory over Olney, where Paddy Sheahan earned the win on the mound, but the momentum faded in an 11‑1 loss to Bell Park.
The squad showed resilience in a 7‑6 extra‑inning win over Beardstown, highlighted by Danny Zarco’s three‑run homer in the first inning and Goldhaber’s two‑out double that plated the go‑ahead run.
Connelly closed out the Beardstown game by retiring the side in order in the seventh to record the save, but the team’s final pool‑play contest against Burbank ended in a 10‑9 defeat that eliminated them from the tournament.
Coach Giglio reflected on the experience, noting the team’s grit and character despite the early exit, and expressing pride in the players’ growth.