Community Corner

Soccer Team Finishes Perfect Season After Promise to Injured Teammate

When Alex Fitzgerald was hospitalized in April, his teammates rallied and promised to go undefeated for the season. On Sunday, they kept that promise.

It was a promise to an injured teammate.

Alex Fitzgerald, 12, was in the hospital recovering after he was hit by a car near when his soccer team made a promise to go undefeated for the season.

On Sunday, the Tinley Park Bobcats followed through and finished league champions with a 7-0 record.

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fitzgerald (known as Fitz to his friends) had simple words of gratitude for his teammates on Sunday.

"Thanks and nice job," he said.

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fitz returned to this home on Friday. He had been hospitalized at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn on April 20 before being transferred to Hope Children's Hospital.

Sunday was the first time Fitz had returned to see his teammates on the field since the accident. 

His mother Lisa frequently updated a website with Fitz's status and recovery.

Lisa wrote on June 2 that she "cried tears of extreme joy" at her son's recovery.

"I don't know why it happened on this particular day and time, but I started crying and had a hard time stopping," Lisa writes. "These were tears of extreme joy though! I looked at Alex and he looks so good, his personality is back, his brain is healing but his memory is intact and I was just in awe of how far he has come in such a short time."

On Sunday, talked to Patch about the massive community response during Fitz's recovery. A is scheduled for July 1 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park. "Fighting for Fitz" t-shirts made to help raise money sold out in minutes at his school.

"The outpouring has been amazing," Lisa said. "I can't believe it."

Fitz didn't even realize, at first that all the attention was for him while he was still hospitalized, Lisa said. He is now recovering well but isn't quite 100 percent yet. Fitz suffered head trauma in the crash and was wearing a helmet on Sunday as part of his recovery.

The game itself was a nail-biter.

After a scoreless first half, the Bobcats pulled ahead of the Wildcats in the second half and held the lead to victory. 

"The last six or seven minutes, I was just thinking 'hold on,'" said team Coach Martin Roche.

Sign up for Oak Forest Patch's daily newsletter!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here