Volunteers, Equipment Sought For Utica RBI League

Utica, NY (WIBX) - The Reviving Baseball in the Inner-Cities Little League program in Utica is back for its third year, and is looking forward to another summer of baseball.

RBI was introduced two years ago to help bring baseball to children living in the inner-city. In it's first year alone, nearly 180 kids registered to play in one of the two divisions. The goal for the RBI program is to help kids learn to play the game while keeping them off the streets and out of trouble.

For the past two years, the Little League was open to all children between the ages of 7 and 15. However, due to a lack of coaches this year, only children ages 9 to 15 may participate this summer. Commissioner Bernie Hyman asks that anyone willing to lend their time to the group come forward.

"If we can get more volunteers, somebody willing to come forward and volunteer to coach these teams, then we'd be able to expand to include the younger kids," Hyman says. "But at this point, we've kind of maxed out our volunteers."

RBI is also in search of baseball necessities, including bats, balls and gloves. As more kids sign up to play, added strain is placed on resources.

"We can always use equipment," Hyman says. "Every year, we seem to need more equipment; the kids grow quickly. We do get some help from Major League Baseball in this area, but some of the kids have outgrown some of the things that have been donated."

Lastly, because of recent renovations to Jack Price Field, RBI is still looking for a field that the older kids may play on.

There is no cost to register a child for the upcoming season, although a 10-dollar donation is encouraged. For registration forms visit www.OfficerLindseyAthleticLeague.org. To learn more or to volunteer as a coach or umpire, contact Commissioner Bernie Hyman at (315)-798-5034.

(By WIBX intern Gino Geruntino)