MANLIUS — Bureau Valley High School frosh/soph (F/S) and varsity baseball players got a once in a lifetime opportunity Thursday to pose with the World Series trophy the Chicago Cubs won in 2016.

"We were outside practicing; and the varsity players had went into the gym; and the F/S was on the field," said coach Brett Helms. "I was talking to Mrs. Litherland in the driveway, and the Cubs car drove around, left and then circled back. He asked if I was the coach and said I have something your players may want to see.

"Mrs. Litherland rounded up the F/S kids, and I went into the gym and got the varsity boys," said Helms. "When we came back outside, the F/S boys were getting their picture with the trophy. He then came over to the other side, took a few pictures and said he had to go. It was about 4:30 p,m. at the time, and they had to be in Sterling by 5 p.m. So he came in real fast, took the pictures and off they went. As a matter of fact, at least one player did not make it out of the gym in time for the picture."

Helms said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. "A very great thing for the man and the women to stop by to offer the players an opportunity to see the trophy. We never exchanged names or anything. Kind of a blur," he added.

The World Series trophy had been in Peoria earlier in the day and was being transported to Challand Junior High School in Sterling.

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