Community sports | Bradenton RBI hosts first All-Star tournament
The RBI Suncoast All-Star Tournament, Bradenton RBI's first All-Star tournament, began Monday evening with the host facing Sarasota Christian 1 in the first game at Norma Lloyd Park.
The 12U tournament features five teams from Bradenton RBI, Sarasota Christian, Childs Park League, Newton League and Sarasota Baptist League -- Sarasota Christian has two teams -- and is not affiliated with Little League. Instead, the inaugural Suncoast All-Star Tournament is a chance for athletic director Al Cox and Bradenton RBI to bring awareness to Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities to Manatee County.
The RBI initiative was started by Major League Baseball in 1989 and more than $30 million worth of resources is poured into the program each year by MLB and its clubs. In its 16-year history, RBI has produced several MLB All-Stars, including C.C. Sabathia and San Diego Padres outfielder Justin Upton.
Teams will play one game a day during a tournament with byes mixed in to accommodate the odd number of teams. Every team will play each of the other four once and the two teams with the best records will play in the championship game Monday at 6:30 p.m. after having Sunday off.
Wednesday is other day off for all teams as they will instead be at McKechnie Field to watch the Bradenton Marauders host the Fort Myers Miracle in a Florida State League game. All games start at 6:30 p.m. except Saturday's, which will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Playoffs begin
Bradenton RBI 18U was the dominant team during group play at the Prospect Wire Baseball Tournament held in Bradenton and Sarasota this weekend, but had their run come to a sudden end in the round of 16 with a 13-1 loss Lakeland Legends 18U. Derek Paparella, who also plays at Inspiration Academy, doubled and drove in Bradenton's only run. Suncoast Mizuno 18U, a Sarasota-based team that includes Manatee High School catcher Jonathan Aragon, beat Freshwater Storm 18U in its quarterfinal game. Palmetto Baseball Club 18U didn't qualify for bracket play after going 1-2 in upperclass pool F.
Bradenton RBI also fielded a team in the 15U/16U division, although Bradenton RBI 16U also missed out on bracket play after a 1-2 finish in underclass pool A.
Sunshine State Games
Seven sports held competitions in Sarasota for Florida's Sunshine State Games this weekend and a local man won the recreational division championship in disc golf. Chris Hernandez, a Sarasota resident, posted a score of 86 and claimed the men's championship. The winners in the men's and women's advanced divisions were St. Petersburg's Michael Vaughn and Fort Myers' Meg Sapp, who both scored 97s.
The seven other sports contested in Sarasota were archery, synchronized swimming, ultimate, swimming, racquetball, canoeing and kayaking, which had the most notable gold medalist. The fastest times in the 200-, 500- and 1,000-meter were posted by 76-year-old Miami resident Rafael Paz, a Cuban refugee who escaped the country by kayak in 1964 and spent 24 hours in the water before a United Fruit Company ship picked him up.
David B. Wilson, Herald sports writer, can be reached at 941-745-7057. Follow him on Twitter @DBWilson2.