CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Research Park Softball League concluded its season with a championship game on Monday, Aug. 4 where the Caterpillar Innovation Center would claim its second consecutive championship.
The league ran throughout the summer, bringing together employees from companies across the Research Park for weekly games. Teams competed in a tournament-style bracket, with matches that mixed experienced players with newcomers still learning the rules.
Caterpillar’s win marked back-to-back titles for the team, demonstrating consistent performance across two seasons. The championship game capped a competitive season where all 10 teams showed improvement from their early matches.
“This year’s league was a blast,” said Bryan Goode, Talent Manager at Research Park. “Beyond the fun on the field, it created friendships across Research Park companies, gave interns a chance to build relationships outside their own teams and strengthened camaraderie within companies. It’s more than just a game, it helps employees old and new connect, encourages collaboration across organizations and builds the kind of trust and teamwork that carries back into the workplace.”
The league has grown in recent years, drawing participants from various Research Park companies. Games are played on summer evenings, giving employees a chance to meet outside their usual work environments.
We extend a special thank you to all the companies who participated in the Softball League: