RBI Baseball Club Three-Peats in Wood Bat League

Congratulations, RBI Baseball Club (RBI), for putting on a successful RBI High School Eligible Junior Varsity (16-and-under) fall wood bat league championship tournament at Riva Park October 24-27, 2012.

Congratulations to everyone who made the championship tournament and season wonderful for everyone involved.

The tournament provided an excellent opportunity to show off the Riva baseball complex. Eight teams with players from 5 counties came here to compete for the fall tournament championship. Seven games were held from Wednesday through Saturday, with the championship match played on Saturday.

More than 100 players in the 16U age classification traveled here to compete. Joining them were parents, relatives and friends. They were treated to an RBI Baseball Club proud of its baseball complex.

Congratulations to those club volunteers who toil to keep the complex and its 90-foot field in top shape. Players who travel the country competing in baseball tournaments said they’ve seen few nicer fields.

Professional sports teams could learn from RBI Baseball Club president John Pineau who maintains the grass field at Riva, which remains in great shape even after a downpour. The field is the major reason why RBI is able to host championships.

“Without the people who volunteer and donate their time to serve as managers and coaches, this quality of baseball doesn’t happen,” said Pineau, coach of the RBI 19U championship team. “We played over 200 games on the Riva 90 this year. So thank you to the RBI and Anne Arundel County baseball community.”

On Saturday evening, the RBI Angels and South River High School JV teams battled in the tournament championship game. RBI won, 5-2, claiming its third consecutive wood bat league championship.

"Our staff of former pro and college players couldn't feel more excited about the results," RBI 16U manager Mike Graham said. "It's a cool mix of players from seven high schools we've got." Throughout the year players participated in college exposure camps and clinics. Several were selected for national, Mid-Atlantic region and state showcase and world series teams.

"We congratulate all the good teams we had the privilege of playing along the way," RBI 16U manager Mike Graham said. "We also thank all the partner clubs who made the 2012 wood bat campaign a success--the RBI, Broadneck Bruins, Maryland Stars, Pasadena Eagles, Southern Maryland Rockfish, Washington Wolfpack, DC Knights, Bay Bridge Baseball Academy, Dematha High School, South River, Severna Park, Kent Island Buccaneers, LFYAA, and Southern Dawgs baseball organizations. They’re all champions."

The RBI Angels full-time year round advanced skills development team compiled a 69-19-1 (54-8-1 league) record March through October and won the fall, spring and summer championships.

‘‘I have great respect for RBI Angels coaches Chris Cummings, Jerry Gamblin, Ken Arnold, Mike Graham, and Ray Albaugh. Obviously, they're doing a phenomenally great job,’’ Pineau said. ‘‘There’s a big target on their backs, but they have great baseball players. They’re very well coached, and I have made that clear to the area and state's college coaches. It’s going to be a good college signing day for the RBI Baseball Club a few years from now."

Read more about RBI here: http://www.rbiplaybaseball.com/