First-timers Reds, Austin vie for RBI WS title

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Cincinnati Reds RBI Senior Division first baseman Cole Francis drove in a run and scored another in a 5-3 win over Miami on Friday to advance to the program’s first-ever RBI World Series championship game. The No. 3 seed Reds (4-1-1) will take on top-seeded RBI Austin (5-0) in a contest streamed live on MLB.com at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday from Holman Stadium at the Jackie Robinson Training Center.

The Junior Division championship game features the No. 2 seed Atlanta Braves RBI (4-1) vs. No. 4 seed Roberto Clemente RBI of Jersey City, N.J., (4-2), beginning at 8:15 a.m. ET. Braves RBI is the only one of the four teams with previous championship game experience.

Francis has been with the Reds RBI program for five years, advancing to regionals several times before but never to the World Series -- until now, his final year in the program. He is set to play college baseball at Division III Marietta College in Ohio when the school year begins.

But as has been a common theme with RBI program participants, it’s not the wins and losses that stand out. Francis said that playing with such a diverse group of kids was his biggest takeaway.

“People from all walks of life, not only seeing where they come from but being a part of it and feeling like even though it’s just a game, you’re contributing something to someone and they’re contributing something to you beyond the game,” said Francis. “There’s a lot of opportunities that the RBI program gives you that other programs could have never dreamed of.”

That has become crystal clear to Francis in his week at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex.

“Just the level of competition and also the way that every team here has its own unique way of being knit. There’s just a lot of camaraderie in between the teams and a lot of guys here that are all playing for the same reasons we are," Francis said. "I think that’s very noticeable and says a lot about the program as a whole.”

Francis has come full circle with the program in a few short years, starting with the Reds Academy when it first opened -- even before their current facility was built -- and now reaching the pinnacle in playing for a championship. If they were to win it all on Saturday, he said, "without a doubt it would mean everything."

“It’s a dream come true for everybody in the program, especially the guys that have been in it a while,” said his dad, Jeff Francis. “He’s enjoyed the atmosphere, the experience, all his coaches. He said he wouldn’t trade the coaches or the experience he’s had here for anything."

Another running theme within the RBI program is younger brothers following in the footsteps of their siblings. That holds true in the Francis household, too. Younger son, Brock Francis, just completed his first year, and according to dad, “He loved it, he can’t wait to come back next year. He watched what his brother was getting to do here and see some of the benefits and rewards, and he was like, ‘I want to be a part of that.’”

The Reds RBI club exemplifies the camaraderie and team spirit the program fosters. Charlie Smith, who was ineligible to compete in the World Series with his team, nevertheless traveled to cheer them on, uniform and all, from outside the fence. But that’s only half of the story; his parents drove 14 1/2 hours to be with their son and the team as well. They even lugged the team’s equipment in their van to spare the transportation costs.

A previous engagement that was two years in the making happened to fall at the same time the Reds played in the regional tournament. At a Boy Scouts camp in New Mexico, Smith hiked 70 miles over two weeks while his baseball teammates captured the regional title. Still, Smith felt compelled to be with the team in Florida.

“I really wanted to be with the team. I’ve really bonded,” Smith said. “It’s probably the best team I’ve ever played on as far as skill, coaching, and the dynamic we have in the dugout. I definitely wanted to be here to support and be here for the experience.”

Smith is headed to Division III Elmhurst University (Ill.) to continue his playing career. He said the RBI program paved the way for that college offer.

“The doors that were opened, my coach talked to so many schools for me and was able to get me the exposure,” Smith said. “It just never would have happened without RBI.”

There’s also a younger son in the Smith family who is anxious to get started next year in the RBI program.

“I’m very excited, it’s a great opportunity to get the experience at the high level of play,” Alex Smith said.

The younger Smith, a pitcher, is hoping to add to his repertoire of fastball, curveball and changeup in order to improve his chances of making it to the next level, zeroing in on another curve and a slider.

Saturday’s championship game is the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of caring people, none greater than Reds RBI head coach Roosevelt Barnes, who has been with the program for more than 15 years. It’s his fifth trip to the World Series and his first time reaching the finals.

“It’s great, a lot of emotions going,” Barnes said. “For a lot of these kids, it’s the last time around, so we’re trying to make it really special. ... These guys have been together since they were almost 10 [years old]. They bleed RBI; it’s in our hearts.

“Some of these guys have been in the program seven, eight years, I just want to see them win.”

Win or lose on Saturday, Nijel Davis, another Reds first baseman who has been in the program for eight years, said the experience is something he couldn’t imagine getting anywhere else.

“This has been like a dream to come here and play in some of the best facilities in the country against some of the best guys in the country,” Davis said. “I think [the RBI program] means a little bit more just because of the atmosphere and knowing that these are the best RBI teams from around the country coming here to play in such a prestigious tournament.”

He, like Francis, said taking home the trophy would mean everything, especially considering he will be off to Morehouse College in the fall.

“This is the year to do it, your final year," Davis said, "it would be a perfect dream; make the dream a reality.”

Reactions from the diamond

The RBI program affords a unique opportunity for young players to be mentored by some of the biggest names who played the game at the Major League level. New Orleans RBI's Dawson Simmons is certainly aware of that, and he offered a suggestion to others coming up in the program.

“You should definitely take advantage,” Simmons said. “Take in everything, write notes down. Learn, take them back home and teach your friends.”

Teammate Mikey Wisner agrees.

“The development and meeting all these new coaches that have been at the big [league] level, have been the best of the best -- [it's] just a great time,” Wisner said. “It’s the best thing I could ask for.”

The Braves RBI program is seeing its players return to give back and become coaches. One of those, Jordyn Glover, knows how important that is.

“The game of baseball itself, and for it to be issued through MLB and RBI, has helped a lot of inner city kids kind of mature as young boys to young men,” Glover said. “It also shows our ability to reach back to the alumni to come back and coach. So it plays a big role in the community.”

Another player-turned-coach, Travious Relaford, is amazed at the level of play today compared to when he put on a pair of cleats.

“Better fields, better ballgames, just better athletes,” Relaford said. “Back then in RBI you might see one or two kids that could really play. Nowadays, RBI is full of competitive baseball. That’s the major difference I’ve seen. ... I played about 12 years ago. It’s very much more competitive now than it was then.”