OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
BRANDON JOHNSON
MAYOR
May 24, 2023
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Robinson, Yancy, Silverstein, Conway, Moore, Ramirez-Rosa, Hall, Waguespack, Nugent, Martin, Reilly, Vasquez, Mitts, Rodriguez, Lawson, O'Shea, Dowell, Mosley, Scott, Hadden, Knudsen, Chico, Villegas, Gardiner, Mitchell, Ramirez, Sigcho-Lopez and Sposato, a resolution congratulating Kenwood Academy High School for winning the 2023 Chicago Public League City Baseball Championship game.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Kenwood Academy Broncos won the Chicago Public League Baseball Championship for the first time; and
WHEREAS, With a season win-loss record of 25-4, Kenwood Academy entered the semi-final game against the CPL's reigning City baseball champions, Lane Tech, with a goal of winning their conference; and
WHEREAS, Kenwood pitcher Kevari Thunderbird has been a stalwart player the whole season and administered eight strikeouts before being pulled out of semi-final game after more than 100 pitches; and
WHEREAS, In their May 13th game against Lane Tech, runs were scored by Khamaree Thomas, Savion "Big Power" Flowers, and Jimmy Downs; and
WHEREAS, The whole team has played well this season and includes: Sophomore Jonathan Patterson, Sophomore Damaurion Butler, Junior Kevari Thunderbird, Sophomore Daniel Luster, Sophomore Jimmy Downs, Senior Christian Carr, Senior Jason Hodges, Senior Elisha Cooley, Senior Kevin Thunderbird JR, Junior Khamaree Thomas, Senior Nicholaus Asiyanbi, Junior Savion Flowers, Sophomore Brandon Stinson, Senior Kvion Thunderbird,
Junior Malcom Flemming, Senior Charles Graham, Senior Colin Stone, Junior Jaylin Drew, Sophomore Evan Stinson, Junior Destin Edwards, and Sophomore Phillip Thigpin; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Romey Bracey said of the team, "We believe in each other. We have been a team that has overcome adversity for the past two years. We are a true team. If somebody doesn't come through, their teammates got their back. That's what the Kenwood Bronco way is"; and
WHEREAS, The Championship game occurred on May 22, 2023 at Guaranteed Rate Field against Walter Payton College Prep; and
WHEREAS, Kevari Thunderbird threw twelve strikeouts and Destin Edwards hit a sacrifice bunt to help the Broncos win the game 2-0; and
WHEREAS, With regards to the win, Coach Bracey said, "I always tell them, 'It's better to be a trailblazer than to ride somebody else's coat tails.' I don't want to sound like I'm not extremely happy about today, but our main number one goal is to become the first minority team to ever win a state championship. It's never happened before in the history of Illinois. We did what we were supposed to do for our school. Now, we're trying to do something for our community and for our state"; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fourth day of May 2023, do hereby congratulate the 2023 Kenwood Academy Broncos baseball team on their CPL Championship win and extend to them our best wishes for continued success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Kenwood Academy Broncos baseball team as a sign of our commendation.