Newhouse News Service

Jordan Bufford, 13, of the Cleveland RBI 13- to 15-year-old All-Star team, scrambles during a steal attempt Aug. 2. His team is traveling to the RBI World Series in Caifornia. (Photo by Lonnie Timmons III)

c.2008 Newhouse News Service

CLEVELAND — The play was a bit sloppy for a team headed to the World Series.

Batters waved at outside pitches. Bases went uncovered. And when an infielder failed to charge a slow grounder, manager Chris Scott had seen enough.

"I'm glad we're doing this today,'' he mumbled.

The recent Saturday morning practice game at dusty, gusty Brookside Park was just a tune-up for a bunch of carefree teenage boys from the city who are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime.

They're one of eight teams from this side of the globe competing in Major League Baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Junior Division World Series in Compton, Calif. The boys, ages 13 to 15, qualified by winning all four games in the regional tournament in Pittsburgh last month.

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Newhouse Spotlight

The Mississippi Press covers southeastern Mississippi from its base in Pascagoula. Its staff has won numerous awards from the Mississippi Press Association and the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors Association.

Featured Correspondent

Jonathan Tilove, Newhouse News Service

Jonathan Tilove has covered race for Newhouse News Service since 1991. Before that he worked for the Springfield (Mass.) Morning Union, in Springfield and Washington.

Special Reports

'Johanna: Facing Forward' — Anguish, Tears And Judgment At Ruiz's Sentencing

CLEVELAND — When Juan Ruiz smacked her, pushed her to the ground and berated her, Johanna Orozco buried her torment in a journal. As she was raced to the hospital, her face blown off and bleeding, Johanna remained stoic. When she was trapped in the hospital, wondering whether she would ever be beautiful again, she put on a brave face for everyone.
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