Contact: LeDyke Yates
Phone: 336-509-7771
        

Annual Junior Baseball Tournament Returns to Greensboro

GREENBORO, NC -- (July 20, 2010) – The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL) will host its 20th annual Inner City Classic July 28-August 1 in Greensboro. The City’s Parks & Recreation Department is a co-sponsor of the event and the games will be held at several of its facilities.

The MJBL was designed to provide urban youth the opportunity to travel to other cities, compete in the game of baseball and to be exposed to diverse cultures.

Registration for teams will be held Wednesday, July 28. Teams will be classified under five age groups: 19 and under; 16 and under; 14 and under; 12 and under; 10 and under.

The Classic Showcase will be held at 9 am Wednesday, July 28, at the War Memorial Stadium. Professional scouts will be on-hand to lead older players in skill drills. Tours of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum and NC Agricultural & Technical State University will also be given on that day to expose players to social and educational opportunities in Greensboro.

The opening ceremony for the Inner City Classic will take place at 5:30 pm Wednesday, July 28, at the War Memorial Stadium. Competition starts on Thursday, July 29, at various facilities throughout Greensboro, including: War Memorial Stadium, Barber Park, Latham Park, Carolyn Allen Community Park & Athletic Complex, West Market Complex, Leonard Center field, Deep River Park, and at Dudley, Page, Smith and Western Guilford high schools. 

The 7th annual Bobby Bonds Memorial Symposium will also be part of the Inner City Classic. The symposium, held at NC A&T’s Harrison Auditorium on Thursday, July 29, at 7 pm, will address issues that plague the African-American community and explore how education and the game of baseball can help to remedy some of these issues. Former Major League Baseball players such as Mookie Wilson have joined community leaders in the past for this enlightening discussion.

For more information, including team and player registration, call Ledyke Yates at 336-509-7771.

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The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees, who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members. For more information on the City, visit http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/ or call 336-373-CITY (2489).