Evergreen Park Wins Regional Title Against Oak Forest

Junior left-hander Cadyn Kummer took the mound on Saturday, aiming to help Evergreen Park clinch its first regional championship since 2017. The game had added significance, as the opposing pitcher for Oak Forest was Cadyn’s cousin, Jake Kummer. “We were texting Friday,” Cadyn shared. “Jake said, ‘I’m pitching,’ and I replied, ‘So am I.’ It was a unique experience.” Both delivered impressive performances, but Cadyn and the Mustangs emerged victorious.

Cadyn pitched 4 1/3 strong innings, allowing two earned runs. Evergreen Park eventually rallied for a 6-3 win in the Class 3A Oak Forest Regional championship. Noah Munoz secured the win in relief, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. He excelled at the plate, going 3-for-4 and hitting a crucial two-run double in the sixth inning for the Mustangs, who now hold a 24-13 record.

Evergreen Park advances to face top-seeded St. Rita, a 13-1 winner over Bremen, in the Brooks Sectional semifinal. This matchup marks the fourth consecutive year Evergreen Park and Oak Forest met in a regional final, with Oak Forest winning the previous three.

Munoz reflected on the victory: “It means so much for the team, the program, and the whole village. Seeing the community support us is huge.” Oak Forest’s Jake Kummer allowed four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out three for the fifth-seeded team, which now has a 20-17 record.

Cadyn admitted to previous struggles with composure but showed improvement, containing Oak Forest to one run in the first inning and managing to keep his cool under pressure. “I’ve struggled with staying composed,” he said. “But this game, I did better. It didn’t affect my team, and I maintained my focus on the mound.”

Evergreen Park coach Andrew Massey emphasized Cadyn’s potential: “Cadyn has a great arm. When he’s focused and positive, he’s tough to hit.” The Mustangs trailed 3-2 before rallying in the sixth inning. A key RBI single by Yarim Garcia tied the game, pushing Jake Kummer out of the mound, followed by Munoz’s decisive double.

Munoz shared insight on his pivotal hit: “We got the scouting report that the new pitcher favored fastballs. I seized the opportunity on the first pitch.”

The victory was a turning point both for the Mustangs and for Cadyn, who had faced losses to Oak Forest in prior years. “It was challenging losing to Oak Forest,” Cadyn acknowledged. “We’ve finally achieved what past teams couldn’t. My older brother was among them.” Cadyn relished the family’s achievement: “This is the first time someone in our family accomplished this.”

On beating his cousin, Cadyn added, “We’ll definitely discuss this at family gatherings.”