VERO BEACH, Fla. -- For those familiar with the Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program, the city of Chicago conjures up reverent thoughts of White Sox baseball’s rampant runs at the RBI World Series.
White Sox RBI baseball has put together dominant groups, stamping a World Series legacy that supersedes perhaps any other program in the event's history. Its dominion includes: 10 Junior Division (ages 13-15) RBI Central Regional Championships, five Senior Division (16-18) RBI Central Regional Championships and four RBI World Series titles, including a clean sweep (both Junior and Senior Division wins) in 2022.
But thanks to the efforts of Booker Hatcher, Eugene Pillow, a supportive staff, hosts of helpful Chicagoans and a gritty group of girls, White Sox RBI Softball is inscribing new ink into the city’s storybook of success.
This ink in particular is special: It’s coated with the permanence of pioneers. The 2025 Chicago White Sox RBI 18U softball team was the first of its kind to make the trip to Vero Beach, having done so after going 4-1 in regional play a month earlier.
“When we first came to [RBI] a few years ago,” Hatcher, Chicago’s head coach said, “we always said we had a three-year plan to make [a World Series berth] happen.”
Hatcher’s vision laid the groundwork for a new standard in Chicago youth softball. And surely, his plan began to take shape year by year.
In 2023, the squad came within a day of Championship Sunday after a valiant effort during regionals. Last year, White Sox RBI 18U earned a title bid in regional play, but it was unable to qualify for the World Series.
“We took our lumps, we took our bruises,” Hatcher said. “But we knew we had a great young core. It was all about the players hustling, believing in us … that made it possible.
“… It was a dream come true for the girls. … Seeing this group come back this year, it was very extraordinary, very awesome for us coming down here to make a name for ourselves.”
That they did.
After going 1-2 in pool play, Chicago lost a nailbiter to perennial power Houston in its first double-elimination matchup.
But it bounced back to collect a 4-1 win over Arizona Diamondbacks Nike RBI Softball 18U, spearheaded by a three-hit, one-run performance in the circle from Olivia Calderone. She also knocked in three runs to help her cause in the win. She finished with a team-high 11 RBIs throughout the tournament.
US Virgin Islands ended its run with a 9-3 victory Thursday. But despite the blow, White Sox RBI 18U rebounded with a resounding 16-4 win over City of Perth Amboy Nike RBI 18U in consolation competition.
Though it didn’t accomplish its ultimate goal, heads were high, and hearts were in a posture of gratitude for the Chicago girls during the tournament’s banquet Friday evening.
“On the field, I feel like we had some tough times,” said Janiya Pillow, a multi-time Breakthrough Series alum. Pillow, who also plays baseball for Simeon Career Academy, was invited to participate in November’s Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series as well. “But we were able to fight through. I [made] sure everybody stayed strong and everybody had their A-game at all times.
“[We were] definitely underestimated. A lot of people didn’t think somebody from our region was going to come in and shake the table like we did. So for us to come in and [do what we did] … we’re going to come back. And next year we’re definitely coming to win.”
“I think we showed we can ball,” Zahria Hatcher said. “We’re not scared of [anybody]. … We’re competitive. We’re not going to back down, we fight until the end. That’s what I feel like we showed.”
Hatcher touched on the magnitude of the team’s unprecedented run.
“It feels good,” she reflected on inspiring her community. “I really like to help the youth, so knowing that I’ve got kids that look up to me in my program and understand that I've been … where they're at, and they can actually lean on me as a sister, it feels amazing.”
For her father, investment is the biggest advent he’d like to see in Chicago softball.
“I believe [in] investment -- investing in Black and Brown young girls that aren’t afforded these opportunities,” Booker Hatcher said. Hatcher’s actions back his sentiments: He has already overseen several funding initiatives to foster local participation in the game.
“We definitely want to make sure that we run a program that’s able to afford these young ladies the opportunity to go play in these big tournaments. … Exposure to all of this is a blessing. I think what MLB is doing right now is beautiful … very special.
“My only thing is keep pushing it forward. … If we keep [pouring] the passion, the love into these ladies, we can grow this game and make it just as big as the WNBA, just as big as soccer. We can make this thing bigger. These young ladies, if they could see now -- they don’t know that they’re laying a foundation. They’re going to look back in 20 years -- when the AUSL is big and has 20-something teams -- they can say, ‘Well, we laid the foundation.’ So kudos to MLB for doing this.”
And for fans anticipating what’s next for Chicago’s girls, Booker Hatcher says the best is yet to come.
“I appreciate MLB for seeing the hard work that we’ve put into Chicago on the baseball side,” he said, “but now they see it on the softball side.
“So I just want to say, 'Thank you, we really appreciate that.' And I’m just thankful for the vision they’re putting out here. So we’re going to keep it coming. This is going to start it. White Sox, we’re going to stay for quite some time. We’re trying to do that Houston [five-time champions] run.
“We’re going to do it.”