Teams from around the nation took the field again today to help determine the seeding for the playoffs that start on Sunday morning.  The seniors that competed at the Urban Youth Academy played with passion and intensity and left everything they had on the field.  I’ve posted some pictures from today’s games below and you can find scores and in depth coverage of the 2008 RBI World Series at :

 http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/rbi.jsp?content=ws_home_2008

As baseball is such a team sport, it is also a game of individuals who make up a team.  We are going to try to highlight some of the faces from the 2008 RBI World Series.  Please check back often for new pictures.  -DMS

At the Academy, we had opportunity to feed over four hundred people after the Workout Day.  This was a chance for players from around the United States and the Dominican Republic to socialize together in a very baseball friendly environment.  As the RBI World Series takes a breather for the day to allow the young men to workout with the experienced coaches of the Urban Youth Academy, it also an opportunity to meet new people and hopefully build bonds as these players make their way in their baseball careers.  Maybe, just maybe these young men will meet again at a major league ballpark in the new future.

 -DMS

Fungo extradinaire Coach James Bishop works out the teams with infield and outfield drills.  What is a fungo you might ask? As defined by Merriam Webster dictionary, a fungo is: “a fly ball hit especially for practice fielding by a player who tosses a ball in the air and hits it as it comes down.”  

The importance of a well designed workout can not be overstated. Coaches like Coach Bishop have the immense experience with running a tight workout, which allows all the participants to be involved in the workout and for everyone to learn something.  His instruction on the field is critical so that players can understand the task at hand as well as ensuring the safety of all position players who workout. 

No games were played today as the young men from around the country all descended on the Urban Youth Academy for a half day of workouts.  Coaches from the Urban Youth Academy worked out the young men with a multitude of drills to help strengthen their abilities and showcase their skills in front of many Major League Baseball team scouts and the MLB Scouting Bureau. 

For many of these kids, this is one of their first opportunity to play in front of this many scouts at one time. 

 As important as workout is for development of these young men, at the Urban Youth Academy the ability to have fun and enjoy the great game of baseball is just as important.  Take the young men from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Smiles never left their face and the joy of the game was evident by all those they came in contact with. 

 -DMS