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U.S. Cellular part of Jackie Robinson West parade

CHICAGO -- U.S. Cellular Field stands as one of six gathering points for fans during Wednesday's championship parade for the Jackie Robinson West Little League team, beginning at 9 a.m. CT at Jackie Robinson Park and making its way to Millennium Park for a rally at approximately 11 a.m.

Six of the JRW players also are part of the White Sox Amateur City Elite traveling baseball program: Marquis Jackson, Ed Howard, Cameron Bufford, Brandon Green, Joshua Houston, and Trey Hondras.

"Our ACE program continues to generate great stories and be a rousing success," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "This is another example of the White Sox outreach having a positive outcome.

"If this exposure leads to more kids getting drafted by other organizations, fantastic. More importantly, if it leads to more kids having educational opportunities, which was the original goal of the program, then even better. How quickly the program has grown in the last few years and how much success we have had is giving everyone great reason for pride and it sure looks like the future is even brighter."

Hahn praised JRW for bringing Chicago together to root for a common goal in baseball, "which doesn't happen around here too often," as well as the kids succeeding on the highest possible level. That greatness resulted in a celebration at Midway Airport upon their return Monday, leading up to Wednesday's parade.

"It is amazing. Yeah, especially this city," White Sox manage Robin Ventura said of the parade. "You could see it in some small towns somewhere, but to be able to do it here, it's hard to imagine that at that age to be able to do that. They did a great job.

"You're playing with your best friends that you grew up with. That's the special part of it. To be able to win the U.S. Championship is special as well."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin.
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