Cubs host thrilling RBI Tourney in Chicago
Over July 21-24, 315 of the best athletes from the Midwest converged in Chicago to test their skills in a baseball and softball tournament, hosted by the Chicago Cubs Charities.
The MLB RBI Central Regional Tournament is a part of MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities initiative. The program includes college preparation courses, creative outlets for athletes as well as summer leagues and tournaments for players to hone their skills while competing for their cities.
The RBI program has influenced the lives of thousands of kids all over the country, many of whom were involved in this tournament. Cubs RBI Alumni served as scorekeepers, field coordinators and broadcasters, as well as operating the scoreboards and social media platforms.
The four-day-long tournament began on July 21 with a welcome dinner, featuring appearances from Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and the team’s beloved mascot, Clark the Cub. Players were also given an RBI-themed Hawaiian shirt as a reminder of their participation in the tournament.
Thursday had more in store. Both 18U teams played on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago. Three-time MLB All-Star and UIC legend Curtis Granderson threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game, hosted fittingly at Curtis Granderson Field, followed by an anthem performance by Chicago legend John Vincent.
The White Sox RBI team took the victory, 10-2, against the Cubs, led by five strong innings by their starter, Carter Green.
Across campus at Flames Field, home of UIC Softball, the 18U Softball game was equally thrilling. After a first pitch from UIC coach Lynn Curylo and a national anthem performance by recent Lane Tech grad Celia Porter, the Cubs team would not be outdone, showing its prowess with a dominant 12-1 win over the Indianapolis squad.
The action did not stop there, as the following three days were packed with action all over the city. From the Kerry Wood Cubs Field on the North Side, to La Villita Park on the South Side, the city of Chicago was spoiled for high-level baseball and softball action.
In the 15U Baseball action, White Sox ACE club stole the show, with dominant wins against the Twins, Tigers and Indianapolis. It also logged a victory in a crosstown grudge match against the Cubs by a score of 2-1, foreshadowing their championship matchup two days later. The Cubs team rattled off wins against the Guardians, Tigers and Indianapolis outfits by a combined score of 33-5, led by the bats of Luke Yolich and Ellis Tyler (tournament leaders in quality at-bats and RBIs, respectively). Despite the Cubs success, White Sox ACE displayed their strength all weekend, taking the championship by a score of 4-3.
It was a similar story in the 18U bracket, as White Sox ACE, led by the tournament leader in slugging and OPS, Adison Worthman, continued to show their dominance, going unbeaten in their four matchups before the championship game back at Granderson Field.
However, they would face a new opponent, a Major League intradivision rival in the Guardians RBI team. They lost only once to Cleveland, logging three wins and scoring at least 10 runs in each game (16-0 vs Twins, 10-1 vs Kansas City, 11-2 vs Cubs).
In the matchup for the Championship on Sunday, White Sox ACE once again triumphed, shutting out the Guardians, 5-0, clinching a sweep of both baseball tournaments for the South Siders.
Despite their loss in the 18U baseball matchup, it was a different story for the Guardians in the 18U Softball bracket. Cleveland felt right at home at Cacciatore Field, home of DePaul University Softball, going 5-0 over the weekend.
Olivia Lopez, who led the tournament in slugging, RBI and OPS, and standout pitcher Maddie Booth, who led the tournament in strikeouts, helped lead their team to victory. Following a pair of emphatic victories and a pair of one-run wins, the Guardians rode their hot-streak to take down the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 7-3, against the backdrop of the Chicago skyline.
The tournament victors, along with the runners-ups in each baseball division will now travel to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., to compete against other regional winners in the RBI World Series. It will take place Aug. 1-6.