GREENSBORO TO HOST NATIONAL YOUTH BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Larry Barber
RICHMOND, VA – The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), a 51 year old 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, will present its 27th Annual Inner City Classic July 14th – 18th in Greensboro, North Carolina. MJBL, a national youth organization that boasters the motto “Preparing Our Youth for Success”will offer it’s championship.. series in four different age groups for youth 13 to 19.

The event was previously held in Greensboro during the 2009 and 2010 baseball seasons. Chicago, Orlando and Richmond hosted the event during the last six years. The City of Greensboro will host the tournament and games will be played at War Memorial Stadium, Barber Park, Leonard Complex, Stoner White Stadium and Ed Price Field in High Point. The immaculate fields that Greensboro possesses were a major factor in solidifying the return of the Classic.

The Classic also features the Bobby Bonds Memorial Symposium. The symposium is a think tank for issues that plague youth in the African American communities and how baseball and education can help remedy these problems. Bennett College has signed on as a sponsor and will host the symposium at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at the Global Learning Center, 521 Gorrell Street, Greensboro, NC. Featured panelist will be Guilford County Commissioner, Skip Alston and Rickie Weeks Sr., father of MLB players Rickie and Jamile Weeks.

The Classic opening ceremony will be held Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at War Memorial Stadium. Mayor Pro Tem, Yvonne Johnson, will bring greetings from the City and former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner and MJBL board chair, Ken Free Sr., will throw out the first pitch. Howard University hall of fame inductee and MJBL North Carolina Commissioner, J. B. Baynes, said “Some of the best youth baseball competition is played right here at the Classic. It’s great to have this event back in Greensboro and I hope all baseball enthusiasts will come out and support it.” The defending 19 and under champs, the Richmond All Stars, will square off against the Charlotte Crushers at 7:30 p.m.

However, there will be tournament games played Friday. In 19-under at Ed Price Field in High Point: 1pm, Bridgeport Baseball vs Next Level Fire; 3:30pm, Boston Red Sox Prime vs Bridgeport; 6pm, Illinois Pirates vs Boston; 8:30pm, Monte Irvin Giants vs Detroit A's. In games at War Memorial Greensboro: 3pm, Philly Black Sox vs Chicago Satchel Paige; 6pm, Rocky Mount Mudcats vs Richmond All Stars; 8:30p, Charlotte Crushers vs Rocky Mount; at Leonard Center Greensboro: Chester Diamondbacks vs Great Day Tigers of Savannah.   In 16-under at Stoner-White Stadium: 1pm, Illinois Panthers vs Greensboro Bison; 3:30pm, Next Level Smoke vs Raleigh A's; 6pm, Richmond All Stars vs Bridgeport; 8:30pm, Bridgeport vs Next Level.

In 14-under at Smith High School: 6pm, Carolina Tigers vs MJBL Richmond; 8pm, Baltimore Rattlers vs Gray Sharks. In 12-under at Barber Park Greensboro: 3:30pm, Greensboro A's vs Greensboro Knights; 6pm, Carolina Grays vs Greensboro A's; 8:30pm, Boston Red Sox 12 vs Greensboro Knights. The remaining schedule can be found on website www.mjbl.org.
 
 Website: www.mjbl.org