KCK RBI FYI Newsletter

2014 Season Review

2014 KCK RBI Board of Directors October baseball returned to Kansas City in 2014 with our beloved Royals playing in the Cle Ross - postseason for the first time since 1985. The Royals finished the year Wild Card, Division, and Executive Director American League Champions. Congrats to the Royals! Now, let’s recap the amazing Success Tom Witter - Achieved in Future Environments (S.A.F.E) 2014 KCK RBI season. Director of Sales (Flextronics Lighting Solutions) KCK RBI partnered with the Unified Government Parks & Rec Dept. to provide baseball/softball Matt Druten - for 904 players, ages 3-18, that participated on 47 baseball and 4 softball teams in four locations - President (Freightquote) Eisenhower, City Park, Heathwood, and Regan Park. The season began in May with a visit from Royals mascot Slugerrr and Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Mark Holland during the opening Kevin Uhlich - th Senior Vice weekend Joe Hooker Memorial Tournament. 2014 was KCK RBI’s 5 season of operation (2010- President ( Kansas City 2014). Royals)

Dave Frantze - Partner (Stinson Leonard Below is a list of accomplishments & milestones achieved during the 2014 season: Street)

David James - Classroom Success - Education is something KCK RBI takes pride in and we are pleased that our RBI Director - Major league G.P.A has risen from 1.9 to 2.7 since 2010. In 2015, KCK RBI will begin selecting a League Baseball RBI student of the month, an award given to a league participant that achieves excellence in the 2014 KCK RBI Advisory Board classroom, on the field, and in the community.

Tim Barton - Founder Gloves for Kids - Six league participants were blessed to be a part of the Ryan Lefevbre Gloves (Freightquote) for Kids fundraiser held at the Kansas Sampler in Lenexa, KS. The participants had the Bob Kendrick - opportunity to meet Royals manager Ned Yost and current and former players that included: President (Negro League Lorenzo Cain, Chris Getz, Louis Coleman, Tim Collins, Jeff Montgomery, and Rex Hudler to Baseball Museum) name a few. The funds raised provided local RBI programs with brand new baseball and softball Tim Schaffer - equipment. The event has raised more than $93,000 for area ball players. Executive Vice President (Red Brokerage) Joe Hooker Memorial Tournament - Each year the season gets kicked off for youth ages 3-12

Bob Milan Sr. - with our Joe Hooker Memorial Tournament. This tournament is hosted each year in honor of a Board of Public former KCK RBI player whose life was tragically taken from us at too young of an age. Joe Utilities Hooker Memorial tournament champions were: Coach Pitch (7-8) – Yankees; Kid Pitch (9-10) – E.K. Frank - Director of Royals; Kid Pitch (11-12) Rangers. Recruiting University of Arkansas RBI Night at The 'K' – The Royals, along with Major League Baseball support Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. The league provides boys and girls ages 3-18 the opportunity to play organized baseball and softball, while placing emphasis on life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and interacting with others. The Royals play an active role in fundraising, securing facilities, and recruiting players and coaches for RBI. In addition, the Royals host all RBI players to a special night at Kauffman Stadium. In 2014, the KCK RBI night at the K was held in June when the Royals hosted over 950 players and coaches to watch a game against the Baltimore Orioles. It was the first Royals game attended for over 200 league participants.

Kansas City Kansas RBI - PO Box 12443 - Kansas City, Kansas 66112 Executive Director, Cle Ross - 913.980.4273 Jr. RBI Classic/MLB All Star Game- KCK RBI Executive Director Cle Ross attended the 2014 MLB All Star Game & Jr. RBI Classic as a team host for the Willie Mays RBI Birmingham, Alabama team. Ross helped lead the team from Birmingham to an undefeated 6-0 record outscoring all opponents 43-2 giving up 2014 KCK RBI Board of Directors the only 2 runs to Durham NC RBI. Ross was also fortunate enough to spend time

Cle Ross - with MLB Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ozzie Smith along with wounded Executive Director warriors who participated in the 2014 Celebrity Softball Game.

Tom Witter - Director of Sales (Flextronics Lighting League Champs for the 2014 season - Softball (10-13) – Lady A's (Head Coach – Lynsey Solutions) Justice) Coach Pitch (7-8) – Yankees (Head Coach – Raul Mancinas); Kid Pitch (9-10) – Royals

Matt Druten - (Head Coach- Raul Martinez); Kid Pitch (11-12) Rangers (Head Coach - Mike Walden/Andy President Gigstad); Jr. RBI Division I (13-15) – Marlins, (Head Coach - Cle Ross); Jr RBI Division II (13- (Freightquote) 15) - Turner Cubs (Head Coach – Justin Ray); Sr RBI (16-18) - Marlins (Head Coach- Cle Kevin Uhlich - Senior Vice Ross). President ( Kansas City Royals) Central RBI Regional Champs - For the first time in local RBI history (KC Missouri RBI has had a program since 1992), a Kansas City-area RBI baseball program advanced to the RBI World Dave Frantze - Partner Series. Advancing to the title game after games against Minnesota Twins RBI, Chicago White Sox (Stinson Leonard Street) RBI, and KCMO RBI. KCK RBI Sr. STICKS (16-18) defeated the Chicago Cubs RBI team 8-6 in the championship game at Miller Park home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Since the RBI regional David James - RBI Director - Major began, it’s the first time a team not from Illinois claimed the Midwest Regional Championship. League Baseball RBI The Cubs program had won 10 of the last 14 titles, while the White Sox claimed the other four. 2014 KCK RBI KCK RBI STICKS (16-18) became the first team in Central RBI Regional history to defeat both Advisory Board teams from Chicago in the same tournament. Tim Barton - Founder (Freightquote) Major League Baseball Players Trust Association - One hundred and fifty KCK RBI players

Bob Kendrick - joined the MLB Players Trust and Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation for a day of hands-on baseball President instruction from Kansas City Royals players Lorenzo Cain, Billy Butler, and Aaron Crowe in (Negro League Baseball Museum) areas such as base running, pitching, hitting, throwing, and fielding. During the session attendees participated in a question and answer session with the MLB players and received free t-shirts and Tim Schaffer - Executive Vice autographs. Sixty participants were invited to ride on the Royals fan express charter bus and attend President (Red Brokerage) a Royals game.

Bob Milan Sr. - Board of Public RBI World Series - Major League Baseball welcomed 24 teams who advanced to the Sr. RBI Utilities World Series in Arlington, TX, home of the Texas Rangers. First ever appearances for teams from E.K. Frank - Austin, TX, Kansas City, KS, and Prince George County, Maryland. KCK RBI STICKS finished Director of th Recruiting in 5 place with a 2-2 record with victories against Houston RBI and Anaheim RBI. Our STICKS University of team was the only team at the World Series that had 10 of its 15 available roster spots filled by 16 Arkansas year old players. Needless to say we are beyond excited for the next two seasons and look forward to the hard work it will take to return next year and compete at the highest level possible.

Royals Charities check presentation - On October 13th Royals Charities presented a $200,000 check on the field before game 3 of the ALCS for the KCK RBI (Wyco 3&2) field renovation project. Royals Charities will also donate an additional $100k to the project in 2015. Special thanks to the KC Royals and Royals Charities for helping us Revive Baseball in the Inner City of Kansas City, KS! In 2014, KCK RBI raised a total of 1.2 million dollars towards the 1.8 million dollar renovation project.

Kansas City Kansas RBI - PO Box 12443 - Kansas City, Kansas 66112 Executive Director, Cle Ross - 913.980.4273 2014 Awards - Award winners will be honored during the 2015 opening day ceremonies. Any league participant (player, coach, or Angel in the Outfield) are eligible to win awards, individual/team winners are as follows: 2014 KCK RBI Board of Directors

Cle Ross - Phillip & Meta Hull Newcomer of the Year- Kyle McClish- Dodgers (7-8) Executive Director

Tom Witter - Darrell Krulic Jr. Ironman- Caden DeMoss- Royals (11-12) Director of Sales (Flextronics Lighting Solutions) Charles Johnson Best Catcher- Caleb McDonald- Indians (16-18)

Matt Druten - President Nate Cornejo Best Pitcher- Nicolas Figueroa- Royals (13-15) (Freightquote)

Kevin Uhlich - Senior Vice Torii Hunter Best Outfielder- Donovan Corrigan Jr- Marlins- (13-15) President ( Kansas City Royals) Jackie Robinson Best Infielder- JaRon Byrd- Rangers (11-12)

Dave Frantze - Partner Rickie Weeks Best Hitter – Estevan Pinon-Yankees (7-8) (Stinson Leonard Street) Patricia Ringo-Schneider Angel In the Outfield – ShaMekia Davis David James - RBI Director - Major League Baseball RBI Jud Mitchell Legacy Most Giving Person- Christian Spitz- Marlins (13-15) 2014 KCK RBI Advisory Board Tim & Susan Nance Team of the Year Award – Royals (9-10)/Raul Martinez- Undefeated 16-0 Tim Barton - Founder (Freightquote) Raina Esparza Sportsmanship- Sydney Harris – Orioles (11-12)

Bob Kendrick - President Cat Osterman Softball MVP - (Negro League Baseball Museum)

Tim Schaffer - Hannah Orrick- Royals (7-9) & Chayanne Gomez- Lady A's (10-13) Executive Vice President (Red Brokerage) Theo Frost Baseball MVP -

Bob Milan Sr. - Board of Public Chris Mancinas (7-8) & Raul Martinez Jr. (9-10) & JaHawn Byrd (11-12) & Mikal Whisler Utilities (13-15) & Central RBI Regional Champs/World Series Team (16-18) E.K. Frank - Director of Recruiting Steve Burelson Coach of the Year (One coach/age division was selected)- University of Arkansas T-ball(3-6) Rich Devine- Marlins ~ Coach Pitch(7-8) Raul Mancinas- Yankees

Softball(7-8) Calvin Williamson-Diamond Divas ~ Kid Pitch(9-10) Seth Estes-Dodgers

Kid Pitch(11-12) Seth Linton – Tigers ~ Softball(10-13) Lynsey Justice-Lady A's

Baseball(13-15) Brett Boyle- White Sox ~ Baseball(16-18) Dave Gavel -RBI Regional/World Series Team

Kansas City Kansas RBI - PO Box 12443 - Kansas City, Kansas 66112 Executive Director, Cle Ross - 913.980.4273 On behalf of the KCK RBI Board of Directors, Happy New Year to all KCK RBI players, coaches, parents, fans, partners, and sponsors. I personally thank each one of you for the contributions you made throughout the year to allow the 2014 KCK RBI season to be possible. KCK RBI just completed its 5th 2014 KCK RBI Board of Directors season of operation and during that time the league has provided baseball/softball

Cle Ross - to over 2,300 youth and the yearly participation numbers grew from 310 players in 2010 to 904 Executive Director participants in 2014. I am blessed and honored to be the director of KCK RBI and I look forward

Tom Witter - to the memories we will share in 2015 and years to come. Happy New Year and GOD bless you Director of Sales and your family!!! (Flextronics Lighting Solutions)

Matt Druten - KCK RBI President (Freightquote) Cle Ross, Executive Director Kevin Uhlich - Senior Vice President ( Kansas City Royals)

Dave Frantze - Partner (Stinson Leonard Street)

David James - RBI Director - Major League Baseball RBI

2014 KCK RBI Advisory Board

Tim Barton - Founder (Freightquote)

Bob Kendrick - President (Negro League Baseball Museum)

Tim Schaffer - Executive Vice President (Red Brokerage)

Bob Milan Sr. - Board of Public Utilities

E.K. Frank - Director of Recruiting University of Arkansas

Kansas City Kansas RBI - PO Box 12443 - Kansas City, Kansas 66112 Executive Director, Cle Ross - 913.980.4273