Kids and youth baseball were a focal point of the off-field and pregame ceremonies during the Atlanta portion of the World Series, with multiple groups being recognized for various accomplishments and honors.

Several youth players were recognized before Game 4 at Truist Park on Saturday, including the 2021 RBI World Series champions. Those teams included Atlanta Braves RBI (junior baseball division), Cincinnati Reds RBI (senior baseball division) and Houston Astros RBI (softball division).

Additionally, 10 members of the MLB Youth Academies from around the country and Puerto Rico were also recognized during pregame ceremonies. The members are their respective academy’s “Youth of the Year,” which recognizes a member who has had a positive year on and off the field, has overcomes challenges in their life or has made a positive impact in their community.

This year’s honorees include: Oswaldo Martinez (Compton Youth Academy); Shannon Martin Jr. (New Orleans Youth Academy); Julian Scott (Houston Astros Youth Academy); Liani Torres (Philadelphia Phillies Urban Youth Academy); Marcellus Brown (Nationals Youth Baseball Academy); Ke’Juan McDaniel Watts (P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy); Gabriel Rios (DREAM Youth Academy in the Bronx, N.Y.); Diego Aponte Rivera (Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School); Jabari Parker (Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy) and Andrew Reece (Texas Rangers Youth Academy).

Four young women were recognized during a special video presentation as the recipients of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award presented by ARM & HAMMER. These women demonstrated leadership characteristics on and off the field. Representatives from Church & Dwight Co., Inc. were on hand to commemorate a $40,000 scholarship donation, $10,000 on behalf of each winner.

A blue-ribbon panel, including Finch, chose the winners, with one representing each of the MLB softball development events:

Alma Tatem from Detroit P.A.L. RBI (Softball Breakthrough Series); Stephanie Viera from Paterson (N.J.) RBI (RBI Northeast Regional); Angelina Sannicandro from the Philadelphia Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy (Jennie Finch Classic); Makayla Stephens from Atlanta Braves RBI (RBI World Series).

During Game 4, 40 youth baseball and softball athletes were recognized as finalists of MLB’s Youth Skills Competitions: Pitch, Hit & Run presented by MLB Network, and Jr. Home Run Derby powered by @MLBDevelops.

The finalists, ages 7-14, will compete in the finals at Truist Park on Monday, following the conclusion of the Atlanta portion of the World Series.

And finally, there was one more kid-oriented World Series activity that took place this weekend, continuing a tradition that originated away from the spotlight some 70 years ago.

The Worcester Red Sox sent a pair of children from Worcester, Mass., to two World Series games in Atlanta. According to MassLive.com, this exercise began around 1950, when Hank Soar, a Major League umpire and alum of the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Clubs of America, obtained tickets to the Fall Classic and gave them to kids who were also part of the organization.

The trip continued beyond Soar over the years, with help from sponsorship from the city. In 1989, the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox took over the program, and after the club moved this year, the Worcester Red Sox have kept the tradition going. This year’s BGCA members attended Games 3 and 4.