Jackie Robinson West to hear Little League findings; Las Vegas speaks out

Jessica D'Onofrio Image
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Jackie Robinson West to hear Little League findings
Two teams that lost to Jackie Robinson West said the Little League team should be stripped of their national title.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two teams that lost to Jackie Robinson West said the Little League team should be stripped of their national title. One of those teams, based in Las Vegas, spoke out on Wednesday.

"If it is proven to be factual that they did fraudulently increase the boundaries to have some more children on their team, I think Little League needs to enforce its rules and take the championship away from them. I hate to say that for the children, but it's the only right thing to do," said Kristi Black, Former President of Mountain Ridge Little League.

The Jackie Robinson West baseball team that brought the city together this summer is accused of stacking the team with players from the suburbs.

Little League International is investigating claims that JRW violated residency rules.

JRW made national and international headlines last August when the team won the national championship, becoming the city's champs.

The red flag was first raised by Chris Janes, Vice President of the Evergreen Park Athletic Association, another South Side league.

"We even went through public records, voter registration, vehicle registration. We pulled up everything to the point we were satisfied making the accusation," Janes said.

Little League World Series officials have come to Chicago to investigate.

A meeting was held in Pennsylvania on Tuesday to discuss the findings, which are expected to be announced on Wednesday.

ABC7 Eyewitness News reached out to Jackie Robinson West, but there has been no comment.