Illinois Wins Senior League World Series

The U.S. Central region champion from Chicago, IL are the 2016 Senior League World Champions after besting the team from Australia by a score of 7-2 in the championship game on Saturday.

Illinois scored early on in the contest when Zach Verta drove in the first run to give his side the lead.  His teammate Noah Miller would add on to that lead in the second inning with an RBI double.  Another run would come across on a wild pitch and Miller would then score a fourth run by stealing home on a throw back to the pitcher.

Australia would start to mount a comeback after scoring a run on a sacrifice fly and then shutting Illinois down in the fourth inning.  The Aussies would challenge to add to their total, but instead stranded two runners on as Zach Verta work around the jam.  After a passed ball by Australian resulted in another Chicago run, Gage Olszak would clear the bases with a two-run triple to make the score 7-1 in favor of U.S. Central.

Australia was able to score a final run in the top of the seven inning before Central recorded the final out.

Zach Verta earned the win with 5.2 innings pitched as he allowed just one run on two hits, two walks, and struck out eight batters.

There was an extended rain delay in the top of the fifth inning as both teams had to wait 95 minutes for the storm to pass through and get the field back into shape.

The championship is the first from a team from Illinois.  The Australian side that made the championship game was a part of their first ever Senior League World Series.

Past Senior League Champions...