Jersey City's Jackie Robinson RBI and Dominican Republic RBI win Division Championships of the 20th RBI World Series

Jackie Robinson RBI and Dominican Republic RBI have won the Senior Baseball Division and Junior Baseball Division Championships, respectively, of the 20^th Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series. Jackie Robinson RBI’s title is the first-ever for any Jersey City-based RBI program, and Dominican Republic RBI joins Think Detroit PAL RBI (Junior Division) as the only baseball teams to win three consecutive championships. Both games were played yesterday at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins.

Jersey City’s Jackie Robinson RBI (JRJC) defeated Bradenton RBI by the score of 8-7 in a contest between number four seeds that saw five lead changes, 15 runs, 20 hits and nine stolen bases, including one of home plate. JRJC, which was 0-3 in seeding play in the RBI World Series, won three consecutive games on their way to the championship, and finished the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses. The game, which was shown live on MLB.com, was called by Pete McCarthy, former All-Star Jack Morris, and former All-Star and MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds. It will air on MLB Network today, August 6^th at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Jackie Robinson RBI right fielder Williams Rivera (18, University High School, Jersey City, N.J.), was named the Most Valuable Player of the Senior Division championship game after driving in two RBIs, scoring one run and going 2-for-4, including the game-winning, walk-off hit. Both of his run-scoring base hits were bunts.

Dominican Republic RBI triumphed over Chicago White Sox RBI by the score of 5-1, completing their championship run with a 5-1 record, including an earlier 9-3 victory over Chicago in the seeding round of the RBI World Series.

Dominican Republic RBI starting pitcher Pablo Ochoa (16, San Pedro Macoris, DR) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Junior Division championship game, pitching a complete-game (7.0 innings) six-hitter, surrendering one earned run and notching four strikeouts. After Chicago recorded their lone run in the top half of the 4^th inning, Ochoa retired 10 of the final 12 Chicago batters he faced. He needed only 79 pitches, 57 of which were strikes, to seal the win and allowed just two Chicago base runners to reach scoring position.

The RBI World Series is the international baseball and softball tournament of the RBI program, a Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to provide young people from underserved and diverse communities with the opportunity to play baseball and softball, encourage academic success, and teach the value of teamwork and other important life lessons.

In 2012, RBI served more than 200,000 young men and women in over 300 programs established in more than 200 cities worldwide. For more information, please visit: MLB.com/rbi.