Cary, N.C. – The Nike RBI Mid-Atlantic Regional began play last Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, where eight teams across two divisions reached the culmination point of their summer, fighting for two spots at the Nike RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Florida.

“These boys are prepped for it. All summer long, they’ve been playing so much baseball; they’re just primed for it,” said Washington Nationals Sr. RBI Head Coach Harry Thomas.

The Nationals RBI squad kicked off day one of the regional alongside seven other teams competing across two age groups, each chasing a coveted berth to the RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Florida.

The Nike RBI program – short for “Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities” – is Major League Baseball’s youth outreach program. Created by former MLB player and scout John Young, the program provides disadvantaged 13- to 18-year-olds an opportunity to learn, compete, and grow through baseball.

“RBI creates opportunities for kids and helps shape them into major league citizens,” said MLB RBI Manager Steve Smiegocki. “Not everyone will go pro on the field, but RBI helps them go pro in life."

This year marks the third time USA Baseball has hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional, and for MLB representative Chris Haydock, the event continues to set a high standard.

“We love coming here, it’s a first-class event from the facility to all the people that they have,” said Haydock. “I think that makes an impression, not only on the kids, but on the families. For them to glimpse that there could be a future in baseball by seeing some of the USA Baseball players here is really kind of special.”

Behind the scenes, USA Baseball’s Tyler Collins and Isaac Brown work closely with Major League Baseball to bring the regional to life.

“There’s so much that goes into making this event a success,” said Tyler Collins of USA Baseball. “It’s a privilege to partner with Major League Baseball to host this regional and give these young athletes the opportunity to compete at one of the premier baseball facilities in the country. It’s truly a special experience for everyone involved.”

Players and coaches echoed that appreciation, even as they battled high temperatures and tight games.

“I think we’re blessed. I think for RBI regionals, this is probably one of the best venues you can ask for,” said Thomas. “To experience playing on a field like this, you get to see some of the Team USA players walking around, and you can feel that it’s a special place for baseball.”

Durham Triple Play, the defending champions in both divisions, returned to the title games in 2025, aiming to secure their spot in the World Series in Vero Beach, Florida.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity. We’re humbled by it, nobody deserves that kind of generosity. Just very happy that we have the opportunity, because it opens a lot of doors for guys who might not otherwise get or be in a situation like this,” said Durham Triple Play Jr. Head Coach Noah Martinez.

While winning and advancing to Vero Beach is the goal, many emphasized the value in the journey itself.

“Playing different teams from different backgrounds, or from similar backgrounds, we’re all here trying to play baseball,” said Thomas. “We all come from different backgrounds, but at the end of the day, the game connects us. So, the friendships you make on this trip, with the teammates, and playing other teams, it’s an experience you can’t forget.”

After a weekend of competition, Durham Triple Play once again swept both the junior and senior divisions to repeat as Nike RBI Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions.

“We’ve been grinding for the past two months, two months with this team. You know we’re continuing the legacy back-to-back, heading to Vero,” said Durham Triple Play Jr. pitcher Anders Sotak.

“I would like to thank the parents, as well as the players, for making such a great sacrifice,” said Durham Triple Play Sr. Coach Robert Singletary. “These guys, they work hard all year, they show a lot of resilience. They stayed on course, and they came out to do one job, and that was to win the regional.”

For both squads, the excitement now shifts to what awaits in Florida.

“Most looking forward to winning. But, just the boys getting a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For a lot of them, it’ll probably be the only time they do something like that, and it’s just a memory they can share as they get older, with their kids, grandkids, and with one another,” said Durham Head Coach Noah Martinez.

“Good competition, I want to compete. I want to leave it all between the lines. That’s all I’ll ever ask from these guys; all I’ll ask for is effort. Everything else will find its place,” said Singletary.

As Durham Triple Play heads back to the World Series, the final out also closed another successful regional for Collins and his team.

“Watching the growth of these teams and programs since we began hosting the regional has been incredible,” said Collins. “It’s an honor to work alongside Major League Baseball to bring this event to life. Providing these athletes and their families with an unforgettable experience while growing the game is what it’s all about.”