THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407050078
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK MOBLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
More players than fans saw Monday's doubleheader at Harbor Park. But the games helped sustain the national pastime.
Youth teams from Richmond and Washington won to earn spots in the RBI World Series in California. The RBI league - Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities - is sponsored by Major League Baseball to groom players and fans in urban areas ruled by basketball and football.
``This is a good way to spend the Fourth of July - baseball,'' said Emily Swartz, whose son, Brendan, is a catcher for the Washington Cardinals. ``This is a fantastic field, where the grass isn't uneven and rubble and stuff. It's just so great.''
The RBI league ``enhances the chance of people wanting to play baseball more,'' said Frank Marshall, 17, a shortstop for the Cardinals. ``More and more of my friends are getting into it.''
With only a few dozen parents, teammates and other spectators clustered in the shady parts of the park, the Washington Warriors team of 13- to 15-year-olds defeated a Pittsburgh team managed by Roberto Clemente Jr. The game was scheduled for seven innings, but Washington won 10-9 in the bottom of the 10th.
Then a Richmond all-star team of 16- to 18-year olds beat the Washington Cardinals 6-3 to return to the RBI World Series in August in Anaheim, Calif. Norfolk's teams were eliminated in June.
``Since D.C. lost the Washington Senators to Texas, amateur baseball has declined,'' said Cardinals manager Norberto Torres, a Washington police officer. Baseball teams have had to compete with softball and soccer teams for fields. Players and coaches have been in short supply.
But Torres now sees signs of hope. His center fielder, Ka'trail Lewis, has drawn the attention of scouts from the major-leagueMilwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. And the ones who don't pursue baseball careers still learn valuable lessons.
``These kids are not into gangs or drugs,'' Torres said. ``They're students. Most of them like baseball, and a few of them love it.''
Pittsburgh was the most colorful team, in jerseys with team names - Crawfords, Grays, Monarchs - from the old Negro leagues. Pittsburgh also had a mascot, a benched player who danced behind the dugout.
Shirley Jones, mother of Pittsburgh catcher Keenan Jones, led the cheers. ``We're in the house!'' Jones shouted. ``We only got six people in the stands, but we rock the house tonight!''
The day was gorgeous, but the games weren't pretty. Stolen bases and wild pitches abounded. The 3 1/2-hour Pittsburgh-Washington game ended twice because Washington batted out of order and had to be called back to the field.
Clemente said his team could have won if all his players were in the lineup. After defeating Richmond on Sunday, five of them misbehaved at the team's hotel and were suspended. ``They learned we mean business when we say they need to do something,'' he said.
Clemente, 28, is the son of Roberto Clemente, the great Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder killed in a plane crash 22 years ago. In September he founded the Roberto Clemente Foundation to support sports and arts activities for Pittsburgh students. He has played for a number of teams but has been sidelined by knee and back injuries.
``I've been thinking about going back, but there are some days I can't get out of bed because of my back,'' Clemente said. ``I'm going to teach. I'm having a great time.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
Frank S. Marshall of the Washington Cardinals watches a game during
the RBI baseball playoffs at Norfolk's Harbor Park on Monday. The
Cardinals lost 6-3 to a team from Richmond.
Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
From left, Maurice Bruce, Bobbie Boyd, John Lane and Melvin Allen,
all of Pittsburgh, cheer their team at the RBI baseball playoffs at
Harbor Park in Norfolk. The Pittsburgh team lost 10-9 to a team from
Washington.
by CNB