BALTIMORE, Md. (June 4, 2017)-Morgan State softball assistant coaches Bob Ullman and Myron Vanterpool along with sophomore pitcher Erica Hawkins participated in the Baltimore Orioles' ninth annual RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program, which kicked off the 2017 RBI season on Saturday with a youth clinic held at Radecke Park.
The program, which teaches baseball and softball skills to city youth, had over 300 youth participants from the local inner city of Baltimore recreational leagues attend its Baltimore City Youth Baseball and Softball clinic. The event also coincided with the "PLAY BALL" initiative between Major League Baseball, USA Baseball and USA Softball, which encourages widespread participation in all forms of baseball/softball activities among all age groups, especially youth.
Morgan State softball oversaw the softball portion of the day and was joined by Baltimore Orioles players, coaches and alumni in teaching fielding, pitching and hitting drills to the youth. The girls experienced fundamental skill sets and discussions on expectations of playing at the college level, which included softball skill demands with an emphasis on strong academics.
"I had a good time working with the kids from the RBI program," said Vanterpool. "Introducing softball to the inner city girls has been a mission of mine and I was glad to be a part of it."
"It was a nice experience to help these girls with softball and it was just nice to see a range of girls, from the age of eight up to 18, out here playing the game I love and interested in it," said Hawkins. "I know softball isn't a huge sport especially in the city, it's more of football and basketball, but to give these kids help and pointers on softball I think really boosted their idea of the game. I think as well as having a college softball athlete there it kind of gives them the thinking and hope that they too can get there. It's all about love and passion for softball, which I hope the coaches and I could express to them."
About the Orioles' RBI Program: Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a youth outreach program designed to promote interest in baseball, increase the self-esteem of disadvantaged children, and encourage kids to stay in school and stay off the streets. The program is a national Major League Baseball initiative administered and financially supported by the Orioles at a local level. The Orioles have been a proud sponsor of RBI since 1989.
The Orioles also provide additional unique experiences for participants, including hosting team members at inner city youth clinics involving current and former players providing instruction, as well as hosting all participants to watch a game at Oriole Park and recognizing the champions from each division on field in a pregame ceremony.
Each year, Orioles RBI All-Star teams are put together from the Junior Baseball, Senior Baseball, and Softball leagues and given the opportunity to play at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament hosted by MLB. In 2017, the tournament will be played in Philadelphia, PA, with the Orioles providing bus transportation, per diem and hotel accommodations for three teams.
In 2016, for the first time in Baltimore Orioles RBI history, a team from the program advanced to the RBI World Series. The Orioles Junior RBI Baseball team, competed in the RBI World Series in Cincinnati, OH after defeating Harrisburg RBI in the Mid-Atlantic Junior RBI tournament. During the RBI World Series, the team played against RBI teams from around the world and competed at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, among other local fields. Other RBI World Series events and activities included a "Workout Day" in front of Major League scouts, a Reds baseball game, and a community service event. The Orioles provided the Orioles Junior RBI team with uniforms, turf shoes, batting practice pullovers, t-shirts, and catcher's equipment. The team advanced to the semi-finals of the RBI World Series, but fell to Atlanta Metro RBI.
