Sox Complete Improbable Finish With Majors Championship Title

As unlikely as it might be for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox to meet for a championship, when the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department's House League Majors season began, it was just as improbable the local versions would advance to a title game. 

The unusual happened with the White Sox edging the Cubs, 8-7, for the title Saturday at Everett Park by making some plays in the field fans on the North and South sides would like to see at the major league level. 

The Sox finished the year at 4-2-1 after dropping their first two games, while the Cubs closed the season at 5-5. 

“It was a fun season,” Cub coach Skoo Walker said. “We were not supposed to be here.”

With the Sox ahead 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, the Cubs had Jack Williams at third and Kyle Wix at second. Matthew Barrett, who pitched the final two innings holding the Sox to two runs while striking out three, was at the plate. 

Barrett smacked a double to left field, bringing in Williams and Wix. As he was heading to third, Sox left fielder Sumeet Thosar chased the ball down to begin what became the winning play. He threw to third baseman Matt Leissner, who tagged Barrett to end the game. 

“I had to make the throw because I knew we could win the game,” Thosar said. “It needed to be good so Matt could tag him.” 

“It was a great throw by Sumeet (Thosar),” Leissner added. “It was easy to catch and tag him (Barrett).”

At that point the team erupted into celebration as Leissner and Thosar charged the plate. 

“We both kissed the plate,” Thosar said of the moment of victory. “We felt such joy.” 

Solid defense was evident by both teams. After scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second, the Sox loaded the bases with two outs, when Leissner sent a ball heading toward the fence only to be robbed of the grand slam by the Cubs' Will Howell. 

“It was amazing,” Howell said of making the catch. “As I watched the ball I kept thinking they (his teammates) were either going to like me or hate me. I wanted them to like me.” 

Not only did Howell make the inning-ending catch in the second, he hauled in a high infield popup while playing second base in the fourth. The Sox had two runs in at that point. Howell’s catch prevented more. 

In the bottom of the fifth, it was Sox pitcher Eric Osuch’s turn to quell a rally with his glove. His team was clinging to a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning as the Cubs brought Barrett to the mound. Barrett quickly quieted the Sox bats. 

The Cubs added a run and loaded the bases when Ryan McKiernan had an apparent infield hit, which would have narrowed the lead even more. Osuch dove for the ball and got a glove on it as he sat looking at Barrett charging home. 

“I was thinking, ‘How can I get him out while I’m sitting down and holding the ball?” Osuch said.

His throw to home was as accurate as his pitches. He forced Barrett for the second out. He fanned the next hitter to end the inning and the threat. 

Sox coach Mike Leissner put a broader perspective on his team’s championship season. He credited the strong finish to development of a deep pitching staff. 

“We started the year with only two pitchers,” Leissner said. “We ended it with four pitchers who could contribute. At any level the game is pitching, pitching, pitching.” 

The four hurlers who helped carry the Sox to the title were Osuch, Leissner, Thomas Talanges and Nicholas Lin.

The rest of the Sox roster included: Alex Ray, Christopher Muth, Alex Bryant and Daniel Attin.

The rest of the Cubs roster included: Jack Galvin, Colin King, Thomas Doheny, Andrew Gherlein, Alex Bunta, and Sam King.