Man Shovels Pitcher's Mound at JRW Stadium to Show Support

For many fans, what the Jackie Robinson West Little League team accomplished can withstand the decision to strip them of their U.S. title. And for one man, their impact went far beyond their championship title.

“Those guys accomplished something that was great, that stirred the city up, that brought the city together and that’s something that’s never going to be wiped off their plates,” said Poloe Dockery.

When Dockery learned about news the team had lost their championship title following an investigation into residency violations, he decided to show his support on the baseball field.

On Wednesday morning, Dockery was spotted shoveling snow from the pitcher’s mound at Jackie Robinson West Stadium.

"They are still champions to us," he said. "We have to get ready for next year.

It’s a sentiment many have echoed in Chicago.

"These young men united a city in a way that I have not seen this city united to support a singular cause,” said Kenny Williams, the Executive Vice President of the Chicago White Sox. “It gave hope to a lot of kids in the community, not so different from a community in which I came up, where you're looking for things, you're looking for reasons to believe in something.”

"They are winners and they are champions for far more than they did on a field. They are a class act,” said Father Michael Pfleger.
 

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