PHILADELPHIA – The RBI Regional Mid-Atlantic Tournament held in Philadelphia last weekend represented the pinnacle of Under-18 achievement for baseball and softball athletes.
The Senior Phillies Softball team celebrates after defeating the D.C. Gray's 4-3, garnering a trip to the RBI World Series in Cincinnati - Photo courtesy of RBI Phillies Softball parent Laurie Rockey
All three Phillies teams played in the finals of RBI Mid-Atlantic Regionals, held July 23rd in FDR Park in South Philadelphia. Although the Senior Boys lost to the Orioles, 8-4, the city of Philadelphia will remain represented in the RBI World Series as the Senior Girls Phillies surged past D.C., 4-3, in the championship.
Both the Senior Girls and the Junior Boys will head to Cincinnati to play in the RBI World Series at the Reds stadium, with week-long festivities beginning August 1st.
For these teams, reaching the RBI World Series is a long time coming—a full year to be exact from summer tryouts.
“I remember our winter practices, inside the cage hitting. This was our goal all along and we got it,” exclaims pitcher Sierra Velasquez.
But most players would not have the opportunity to play their beloved sport at the highest youth level if it were not for the RBI—Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities—program.
RBI Regionals is comprised solely of teams at the All-Star level, but in total, the RBI program serves 230,000 young men and women of all levels in 300 programs across 200 cities worldwide since 1989. The goal: to encourage participation in baseball and increase the pool of talented prospects, while also providing an excellent opportunity to develop life skills.
Phillies pitcher, Sierra Velasquez - PSD photo by Emma Thornton
For teams such as the Phillies’ Senior Girls softball team, they know what it’s like to experience the fruits of hard work and success. At the All-Star level, the team practices once a week at Citizens Bank Park where they use the same field and batting cages as the Philadelphia Phillies.
After a set of tryouts in July, the team practices throughout the school year while playing various rec tournaments and meshing with new teammates in preparation for the ultimate tournament: The RBI World Series.
Along the way, the community-oriented components of the RBI program are also invoked. In season, the team participates in the Citizen Bank Park’s Green Team, collecting recyclables during games. During the fall, the team also helps out in the Phillies' 5k where they hand out water to runners.
Shortstop & pitcher Ginny Britto with teammate Natasha Torres - PSD photo by Emma Thornton
“It feels great to give back but also do something that we all love (softball),” said catcher Natasha Torres. “I’ve never met a group of girls as diverse as us and yet we all get along really well.”
Despite ages ranging from 14 -18 and representation from all different school districts within Philadelphia, the involvement off the field has helped to foster a community of friendship and belonging within this team,
“I’ve found a home in this program,” says Velasquez.
“Our whole group is best friends. We have so much fun together,” adds shortstop Ginny Britto.
The bonds formed within the Senior Girls team are not unlike the atmosphere amongst most RBI teams—a attribute the program as a whole strives to foster.
“Obviously, learning the game of baseball, softball—having kids play sports—is huge," said Phillies Director of Youth Baseball Development and RBI Philadelphia Administrator John Joaquin. "But the other aspect is being able to reach out to these kids and find other opportunities whether it’s life skills, or finding their education goals.”
During the school year, the RBI Philadelphia program holds career development programs to its 8,000 participants. Additionally, the program organizes integrated sessions where those interested in the sports industry can connect with Phillies' front-office personnel.
“We have been increasing our presence and affecting kids and finding good ways to get kids to play ball but also really helping them grow as a person,” said Joaquin. A characteristic which he believes serves as the cornerstone of the RBI program.
“We’ve seen kids get drafted in MLB, but we’re most proud of the fact that kids in our program have graduated college, have professional jobs, and are now giving back to the program as well,” said Joaquin.
2017 Phillies Softball Mid-Atlantic Regionals
So, while playing in MLB stadiums against teams from all over the world—South America, the Caribbean—is exceptional, the RBI program remains to serve an even bigger picture of life development for its youth.
2017 RBI World Series Dates:
Baseball: July 31 – August 5, 2017
Softball: August 6 – August 11, 2017
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Inter Academic League Softball Philadelphia Catholic League Arch. Carroll Softball Arch. Ryan Softball Arch. Wood Softball Bishop McDevitt Softball Bonner & Prendie Softball Cardinal O'Hara Softball Conwell-Egan Softball John W. Hallahan Softball Lansdale Cath. Softball Little Flower Softball Saint Hubert Softball Neumann/Goretti Softball West Catholic Softball Inter-Ac Notre Dame Softball Agnes Irwin Softball Baldwin School Softball Episcopal Acad Softball Germantown Acad Softball Springside CH Softball Penn Charter Softball Baseball Philadelphia Catholic League Arch. Carroll Baseball Arch. Ryan Baseball Arch. Wood Baseball Bishop McDevitt Baseball Bonner & Prendie Baseball Cardinal O'Hara Baseball Conwell-Egan Baseball Father Judge Baseball La Salle Baseball Lansdale Cath. Baseball Roman Catholic Baseball Saint Joseph's Prep Baseball Neumann/Goretti Baseball West Catholic Baseball Inter-Ac Episcopal Acad Baseball Germantown Acad Baseball Haverford Baseball Malvern Prep Baseball Springside CH Baseball Penn Charter Baseball