It had been two years since a Western Springs Little League team was represented at the Roy Overholt Tournament due to scheduling conflicts the previous two summers.

Since Western Springs had won the Roy Overholt Tournament in 2004 and 2005, a return to Brookfield’s Kiwanis Field seemed long over due.

In Monday’s semifinal of the 45th Overholt Tournament, Western Springs came off its hiatus with a big late-inning rally to beat Berwyn 13-10 and advance to the championship game. Western Springs will face the winner of Tuesday’s semifinal between La Grange and Lyons Township at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Western Spring trailed 8-5 heading into the fifth inning before exploding for eight runs.
Berwyn will play the loser of Tuesday’s in the third-place game at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Both teams were hitting the ball well,” said Western Springs manager Rick Larsen. “We answered. Up and down the order, everybody hit. We scored in bunches.”

Western Springs opened a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first when Charlie Harrigan roped a double to drive in Jack Harrigan. Berwyn responded with a two-run bottom of the first when Ricardo Morales singled to score Mike Kadela and when Mike Moreno crossed the plate on a Western Springs throwing error. But Western Springs evened the score at 2-2 when Brendan Swinehart drove in Daniel Walkowski on a fielder’s choice.

Western Springs’ Charlie Harrigan made the first big statement of the night with a three-run homer that allowed Maximilian Larsen and Jack Harrigan to score. But Berwyn roared back in the bottom of the fourth.

After Sammy Calixio and Matt VeLazquez both scored by stealing home plate, Moreno tied the game at 5-5 by driving in Joe Daly. Morales gave Berwyn a 6-5 lead after he ripped a double to score Moreno. Berwyn added two more runs when Armando Guzman singled to drive in Morales and Matt Nafziger.

“We try to teach the kids to play level headed,” said Berwyn manager Bill Spisak, whose team had been without starting pitcher Luis Rivera (in Mexico visiting family) and third baseman/relief pitcher Anthony Toro (in Wisconsin on vacation). “We’re proud of our effort. We stressed fundamentals and a positive mental attitude when we worked with the kids. We respected everyone and never underestimated an opponent. I really thought we had the team to do it. ”

In the top of the fifth, Western Springs trimmed Berwyn’s lead to 8-6 when a throwing error scored Maximilian Larsen. Charlie Harrigan roped a double in the next at-bat, which drove in Jack Harrigan. This was followed with a double from Rory O’Donnell, who allowed Charlie Harrigan to cross home plate and even the score at 8-8.

Michael Forberg gave Western Springs a 10-8 lead with a double that drove in O’Donnell and John Meyering. Later in the fifth, Maximilian Larsen added a run with a single that scored Forberg. Jack Harrigan tallied two more runs after slapping a double to drive in Danny Thomas and Maximilian Larsen.

Berwyn posted the final runs of the evening when Nafziger blasted a two-run homer that allowed Kadela to cross home plate. 

“It means a lot to be back,” said Coach Larsen. “The kids are honored to be in the tournament and Thursday night will be the last Little League game for six of our players.”