RBI League Aiming To Get More Kids To Play Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The grassroots effort continues around the country to get more kids into playing baseball.
There is no question other faster sports have taken over. Here in the Twin Cities, the RBI League is doing its part.
It's is the perfect urban setting for what they continue to try and revive as an urban game: Baseball through the RBI league.
"RBI is mostly geared towards urban centers, leagues like Little League and Babe Ruth, but geared towards inner city kids and really growing the game again in the inner city. Especially with diverse populations," Bryan Donaldson with Minnesota Twins Community Relations said.
That's why these days are important. The Minnesota team plays for a legend, Bill Peterson. He coached Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor when they were growing up. He is tough love.
"Nothing but great things to say about him. He's a really intense guy, he's good," RBI League player SirRon Adams said. "He's a tough guy."
And then there is the reward for their effort: A championship game against Milwaukee in the stadium the Twins play at. A little awe in inspiration.
"It's actually really special. This is my first time playing here," RBI League player Dominic Maietta said. "Playing with these guys, it's been a pretty fun weekend."
Because revitalizing baseball in the inner city takes a lot of work. Because the competition has changed to recruit kids to America's past time. They're hoping to bring them back.
"There are so many more things that kids are doing in the summer now than when we were growing up. Baseball is what you did in the summer. Now these guys play lacrosse, hockey, they have basketball and it's just not as automatic as it used to be," RBI League coach Steve Winfield said.
