By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- For the first time in history, a Kansas City-area RBI baseball program has advanced to the RBI World Series.
KCK RBI defeated four teams on the way to the Central RBI Regional title. The KCK team defeated the Chicago White Sox RBI team 12-11 in the opening round.
After advancing to the title game after games against RBI Minnesota and KCMO RBI, KCK RBI defeated the Chicago Cubs RBI team 8-6.
Since the tournament began, it's the first time a team not from Chicago claimed the regional championship. The Cubs program had won 10 of the last 14 titles, while the White Sox claimed the other four.
"Reviving Baseball in the inner cities has been played on the local level in Missouri for the past 22 seasons and to be the first program to win the Central RBI Regional representing the Kansas side of KC after 5 years of existence reflects the passion, dedication, and hard work that has been put forth by our players, coaches, and parents," said Cle Ross, the director of KCK RBI.
"Most of the young men participating in the World Series will be boarding a plane for the first time which is gratifying considering our ultimate goal is to use baseball as a vehicle to educate the future leaders in the community who currently participate in our program," Ross added.
KCK RBI made more history, becoming the first team in Central RBI Regional history to defeat both teams from Chicago.
