Baseball Players from the Compton College Baseball Team made themselves available to help with the presentation.

The kids were not only treated to music and great positive messages, but they also enjoyed a snack of Pizza and an Academy t-shirt as a souvenir of their visit.

Who are Karen Chatman and J. Flexx?
Rapper J. Flexx
Ohio Native, J. Flexx has successfully parlayed his passion for rap and hip-hop inot a supporting role in Karen Chatman’s Music Edutainment Program. J. Flexx made a big impact on the music world by writing songs for popular artist Dr. Dre, Warren G and Shaquille O’Neal. J. Flexx Success continued when he wrote Dre’s part in “California Love”, duet with Tupac Shakur and sold more thank 3.5 million records. J. Flexx has taken years of experience and now shares his knowledge in songwriting into reaching youth around the world.

Karen Chatman
Karen Chatman is an entertainment producer and writer who brings high standards of creativity and excellence to all her endeavors. Karen managed the careers of writers adn producers signed to Universal, Sony and Warner. As a music manager and producer, she worked on songs that collectively sold over 60 million units.

As she brokered star-making deals, she was troubled by what she saw when she peeled back the skin of the record labls. Repulsed by the glorified violence that resulted in the murders of leading rappers, Karen heeded a call to a higher purpose in her life and made it her one-woman mission to change the conditions and circumstances through music and education. Karen’s music workshop reaches youth with a diversity of messages and touch their hearts and change behavior in very positive ways. Karen’s movement has been featured on Good Morning America in response to the negative surroundings facing young people, particulatrly in the world of hip hop.

http://mlb.mlb.com/community/uya.jsp

-Academy Staff

Kenny Landreaux, Bobby Castillo, Sweet Lou Johnson, James Loney were some of the Major Leaguers visiting.

After, everyone had a great time getting autographs and talking to the players.

Our Compton College Baseball Team:

Our Beautiful Compton College Softball Team:

Compton Little Leaguers 2011

Compton Little League Application 2012

Final Score of the Game:
Pros: 14
All-Stars: 8

–Zee

-Zee

King Drew’s Golden Eagles Softball Team headed by Coach Chay will be hosting The MLK Softball Tournament at the MLB Urban Youth Academy on Saturday January 07, 2012 and on January 21, 2012.

COME JOIN US!!

-Academy Staff

Come join us this Saturday for an exciting Event.

Since the grand opening of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in 2006 there have been many talented athletes who have had an impact or have been impacted by the Academy. In six years, numerous members have gone on to play baseball at the collegiate level and others have signed professional contracts with a MLB organization.

The City of Compton Alumni Game on Saturday, January 28, 2012 is being held to acknowledge, celebrate and inspire upcoming, aspiring professional baseball players. Individuals such as Trayvon Robinson (Seattle Mariners), Efren Navarro (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) and Aaron Hicks (2007 1st round selection of Minnesota Twins) are among the large group of individuals that were part of the Academy and still continue to contribute to MLB’s mission.
With a new generation of talented high school athletes, including Ron Miller (committed to UNLV), Darrell Miller Jr. (committed to UCLA), Jordan Aboites (committed to Arizona State University) and Rio Ruiz (committed to USC) on the verge of making a transition to the next level of baseball, the Academy wants to merge both generations and present an opportunity for both the current and the future MLB players to exchange knowledge and advice.

-Zee

Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park to be Primary Site of
Collegiate Baseball Tournament Designed to Give HBCU Baseball Programs National Exposure

Two Games on Saturday, February 18th at Minute Maid Park To Be
Featured Live on MLB Network and MLB.com

The Urban Invitational, the annual, round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed to give Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their baseball programs national exposure, is relocating to Houston, Texas and will feature five HBCUs – the most-ever in the tournament’s five-year history. The Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park will be the primary site of the tournament on Friday, February 17th and Sunday, February 19th, while the games on Saturday, February 18th will be played at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. Two of those contests will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

HBCUs Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama), Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana), Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas) and Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas) will all participate in the Urban Invitational along with NCAA Division-I school University of California, Irvine.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Houston Astros in bringing these six outstanding programs to Houston for this year’s Urban Invitational,” said Jimmie Lee Solomon, Executive Vice President, Baseball Development, Major League Baseball. “Through this event, Major League Baseball strives to bring much needed exposure to these individual institutions and attention to collegiate baseball programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Additionally, we are very pleased to give local high school students the opportunity to learn more about higher education directly from the more than 20 colleges and universities at the college fair. This will be a great experience for all involved, especially these young men playing in a beautiful ballpark such as Minute Maid Park.”

“The Houston Astros are extremely excited about hosting the Urban Invitational in Houston this year,” said Daryl Wade, Manager of the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy. “This event gives the organization a chance to reach out to inner-city high school youth with a message that seeking education after high school is attainable for anyone. The high quality of baseball, music and schools, at our college fair over the weekend, should give these students the idea that there are many routes that can be taken to reach that next step in their lives. Whether it’s through baseball, music, academics or all three, these kids have a chance, and we’re happy to support such a cause.”

**ADDITIONAL QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED QUOTE SHEET**
As an additional aspect of the Urban Invitational weekend activities, MLB and the Houston Astros will host a college fair at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, February 18th beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. More than 20 colleges and universities will be represented and will provide information about college preparation, undergraduate and graduate degree programs, financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT (4:00 p.m. ET), the games at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, February 18th will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com, with play-by-play from Greg Amsinger and analysis from two-time MLB All-Star Harold Reynolds. In between these contests, fans at Minute Maid Park will be entertained in a collegiate “battle of the bands,” with live performances from Southern University’s “Human Jukebox,” Texas Southern University’s “Ocean of Soul” and Prairie View A&M University’s “Marching Storm.”

Tickets to the games and events at Minute Maid Park will be available to the general public for $5.00, and parking for Minute Maid Park is also available for $5.00. There is a special ticket package available for $10.00, which will allow access to the ballpark and provide a concession voucher for a hot dog and soda. High School students and below with a valid student ID will be admitted to the ballpark for free. Games at the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park will be available on game day for a suggested $5.00 donation. Children 12 and under, and any student 18 and under with a valid student ID, will be admitted free. All proceeds from the ticket donations at the Academy will benefit the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Foundation, which is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) corporation.

Games and Entertainment Schedule (all times Central):

Friday, February 17, Southern University vs. Prairie View A&M University, 11:00 a.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Friday, February 17, University of California, Irvine vs. Alabama State University, 2:30 p.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Friday, February 17, Grambling State University vs. Texas Southern University, 6:00 p.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Saturday, February 18, Alabama State University vs. Grambling State University, 11:00 a.m. at Minute Maid Park

Saturday, February 18, University of California, Irvine vs. Southern University, 3:00 p.m. at Minute Maid Park – LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com

Saturday, February 18, Texas Southern University vs. Prairie View A&M University, 7:00 p.m. at Minute Maid Park – LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com

Sunday, February 19, University of California, Irvine vs. Texas Southern University, 11:00 a.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Sunday, February 19, Alabama State University vs. Southern University, 2:30 p.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Sunday, February 19, Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M University, 5:30 p.m. at Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park

Major League Baseball is committed to addressing the issue of African-American participation in professional baseball through its various community and multicultural programs. With the three MLB Urban Youth Academies operating in Compton, California, Houston, Texas, and Gurabo, Puerto Rico; one under construction in New Orleans, Louisiana; two others announced in Hialeah, Florida and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and additional soon-to-be announced facilities, MLB has continued to pledge resources to bringing America’s pastime to young people in urban communities.

HBCUs have long offered quality educational and athletic programs and have a proud tradition of outstanding baseball players. Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Brock and Andre Dawson, as well as current Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks, played in HBCU baseball programs. Thirteen HBCU players were selected in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, six of whom played in last year’s Urban Invitational in Compton. Through the annual Urban Invitational, MLB aims to help these programs continue providing young players from underserved communities the opportunity to play collegiate-level baseball.

In just its first year, the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy has registered approximately 700 young athletes, conducted ten one-day baseball clinics and five week-long summer day camps, and currently provides daily Major League-style instruction. The Academy has hosted 150 games including NCAA, high school, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and Jr. RBI contests. The Academy also offers off-field and academic opportunities, and this spring provided students with Texas Assessment of Skills tutorials in advance of area-wide testing. In addition to baseball and softball instruction, boys and girls attending the Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park can participate in free seminars on umpiring, athletic field management, scouting and player development, sports and broadcast journalism, public relations and statistics, as well as athletic sports training. Information about the Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy is available at Astros.com/uya or by calling 281-960-9166.

“The national holiday honoring Dr. King is an occasion for joy and celebration for his life and his work toward nonviolent social change in America and the world. Traditionally, we celebrate holidays with parties, family picnics, fireworks, a trip back home or to the seashore. However, we must also be mindful that this is a special holiday – one which symbolizes our nation’s commitment to peace through justice; to universal brother- and sisterhood; and to the noblest ideal of all: a democratic society based on the principles of freedom, justice and equality for all people. Whether you celebrate Dr. King’s birthday on January 15th or during Black History Month, the holiday is an occasion for thanksgiving, unselfishness, and rededicating ourselves to the causes for which he stood and for which he died.”

To commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s day, the Urban Youth Academy hosted our annual MLK Tournament to support the spirit of collaboration, friendship and harmony that this Holiday promotes.
The Championship games were played on Monday January 16, 2012
Here are the Final Results:
10:30 AM Games:

Game 1: Aux. Field
Hamilton vs. San Fernando’
Hamilton: 3
San Fernando: 7

Game 2: Show Field
Bell vs. Cathedral
Bell: 2
Cathedral: 4

1:30 PM Game: Show Field
Championship Game:
San Fernando vs. Cathedral
San Fernando: 3
Cathedral: 2

Winner: San Fernando.

Pictures of the Tournament Teams:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/71834922@N08/sets/72157628914361477/show/

Congratulations to the Winning Team!!
Winning Team Pictures:

-Z. Aguilar