Hitting the big time

Players in St. Petersburg's RBI league will play two games in the Devil Rays' Tropicana Field.

By JON WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- It's a fantasy come true.

A batch of young baseball players are leaping from the sandlot to The Show -- at least for a few hours.

Usually, a classic St. Petersburg summer-league scenario surrounds members of the RBI League, who play at Campbell Park's Oliver Field.

Last week, for example, Jason Teague made a lunging, belly-flopping catch of a Patron Jones drive into right field. A moment later, someone cannonballed into the E.H. McLin swimming pool just over the fence. A spout of water erupted; a lifeguard's whistle scolded.

A bit later, David Golliner punched a long foul, and all eyes shot to the left-field corner, where downtown bank and condo towers loom as backdrop.

Outfielders patrolled their green, now and then wiping away a humid day's sweat. And now and then raising their eyes across the interstate feeder toward the sloping dome of Tropicana Field, a symbol of baseball's big time.

The young players will be there Friday.

The RBI League's two divisions -- junior (13-15 years old) and senior (16-18) -- will play a session of their showcase tournament at Tropicana, with games scheduled at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity," said Devon Smith, 15. "Just to go out there and and stand on the field is an honor. To play -- it's unbelieveable."

Wade Boggs, who retired from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after logging his 3,000th hit last season, will throw out the first pitch.

After its Tropicana session, the tournament will continue during the weekend at the Ray Naimoli Complex, 7901 30th Ave. N.

In its second year in St. Petersburg, the RBI League is sponsored by the Devil Rays, just as other Major League Baseball cities -- or in some cases, individual players -- sponsor the leagues in their communities.

RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. Registration and uniforms are free. There are about 150 such leagues nationwide, and seasons end with regional and national tournaments.

"It's geared for kids too old for Little League baseball and who don't have a place to play for the summer months," said Liz Lauck, the Devil Rays' community-relations manager.

During a game last Thursday, the junior division teams played in dark Devil Rays jerseys that looked just like the Major League team's.

"It's an excellent league," said Smith, an outfielder who attends Gibbs High. "You meet lots of people. You go places you wouldn't go otherwise. And for a lot of guys who don't make their high school teams, because they only have a varsity and not a junior varsity, it gives them a place to play."

The league has worked hard to get off the ground.

"We're in a position where we're going to try to get the league up and running and help it grow," Lauck said.

The league's home field is in St. Petersburg's Challenge area, where some of the players live.

But boundaries don't define the league. If a youth is looking for a place to play, he's welcome. Skill levels are diverse. Some of the youngsters already are accomplished athletes.

Ryan Harvey, for example, is a two-time national Diamond Skills champion, winning age-group contests that measure hitting, base-running and fielding skills. After the 2000 scholastic season, Harvey earned places on all-county, all-Suncoast and all-state teams. He plays for Dunedin.

Teague has made a mark in football, leading Pinellas County high schools in touchdowns scored and running for the second-highest number of yards -- all as an Osceola High School sophomore. He won all-county and all-Suncoast honors.

Tej Diah, who plays for Lakewood High during the school year, was hitting 1.000 for a while in the summer league, said Richard Litsch, his coach. He since has leveled off at about .600.

Other names on the roster have a familiar ring, too. Luis Arrojo is the nephew of former Devil Rays pitcher Rolando Arrojo.

Kevin D'Amico is a cousin of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jeff D'Amico. Kevin is a promising player who is out for the season after breaking a leg.

David Scott is the son of Donnie Scott, a former youth league star in Pinellas Park who played catcher in the majors and is now a field coordinator coach in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

"We just want everyone to know the level of talent on these clubs," said Charles Dennis, who put the St. Petersburg league together and will organize all-star teams for tournaments.

"We're hoping this will snowball," he said.

A taste of Tropicana won't hurt.

"What a nice carrot to hang in front of them," Litsch said.

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