They say everyone starts out as a kid from somewhere. A kid with a dream. Charlie Long happens to be from Plainfield and his dream has been calling games alongside the great sportscasters since he was in second grade.

That wasn’t too long ago (he’s in ninth grade now), but earlier this month he got one step closer to living that dream than most who ever have it.

Long, a freshman at Plainfield North, was the 2025 winner of Marquee’s Wintrust Junior Broadcaster Contest. As winner of the contest, he got a chance to head to Cubs Live! and be on the air for the Cubs’ home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Aug. 16.

Again, though, it all started as a dream, just calling games out loud while playing baseball with his twin brother, Jake, in the backyard.

“In second grade I started a writers j

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