Yuma baseball players help propel D-Backs Nike RBI All-Star team in region play
Juan Chavez, Julio Reina and Carlos Gonzales help guide D-Backs to two wins on opening day.
SEATTLE (KYMA, KECY) - On Friday, the D-Backs Nike RBI All-Star team began Region play in Seattle and came away with two wins.
In the early game, a 8-3 victory over BBB Nike RBI representing the Seattle Mariners and later in the day, a 9-3 win over Gamers Alaska Nike RBI.
Juan Chavez from San Luis started game two versus Alaska. While on a short pitch count, Chavez pitched three innings and struck out five batters. Assistant coach James Kuzniak said the plan was to have Chavez pitch under 44 pitches so he could be used again on Sunday if they reach the championship game.
"He was really dominating," Kuzniak said. "On the radar gun they had him at around 88 to 90 mph. He was throwing the ball great."
Another San Luis product, Carlos Gonzales, started at first base in the same game and finished 1-2 with a walk and a single.
Kofa's Julio Reina was one of the standouts at the plate in both wins, in game one Reina finished 1-3 with a single and a run scored, in game two Reina doubled and drove in two runs and also walked twice.
"All the guys really performed well," Kuzniak said. "It's cool to see them out there with the D-Backs on their chest and the cool city connect uniforms. Not only to be on the team but to be major contributors as well."
The D-Backs RBI All-Stars will enter round two of pool play this morning at 9:00 a.m. followed by a second game at 2:30 p.m.
Should they win both, they'll be elevated to the championship game on Sunday. If they split, it could come down to tiebreakers to determine who moves on.
Prior to the trip to Seattle, On Tuesday, Juan Chavez, Cesar Chavira, Carlos Gonzales, Julio Reina and Eli Lujan were surprised with a locker room ceremony and gifting of City Connect Serpientes uniforms and gear. The five players from Yuma were selected to the Diamondbacks Nike RBI All-Star team.
"It kind of shows the talent that we have and it's really awesome that we get to showcase it and you know, they get to get out here and really show off their skills," Yuma RBI Head Coach and assistant RBI All-Star coach James Kuzniak said. "They're some of the best guys in the league and I think they come out here and they do well as a team and it just means the world to me to come from Yuma and to be a guy that played high school there and played juco there and now to see these guys get this opportunity."
The RBI program stands for (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) with the All-Star teams selected through the D-backs Baseball Academy’s summer league, supported by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, that gives student-athletes from underserved communities the chance to play on Major League fields and compete at a higher level.
It's a program backed by Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll.
"The Diamondbacks do a really good job of being involved with the community and you know not only funding it, but you know, giving the kids uniforms, giving them equipment, coaching practices, you know, paying for travel," Carroll said.
The athletes, who represent 12 different schools across Arizona, were blown away with new Nike uniforms, cleats, backpacks and more for their trip to Seattle this weekend.
Carroll, who has been heavily involved with the program, surprised the All-Stars with an in person visit ahead of the "Nike RBI Regional Sendoff" pregame ceremony on the field.
