Nike RBI Baseball Season Starts in OKC, Empowering Youth with Access
The Nike RBI baseball season is underway in Oklahoma City, marking a significant milestone for the OKC Baseball Club and Rookie League Foundation of Oklahoma. This program continues to make baseball accessible to youth, offering stipends to coaches and providing equipment donated by Good Sports. By eliminating financial barriers, the initiative allows children to learn the sport, compete, and pursue opportunities like the Allie P. Reynolds Scholarship.
Now in its third year of affiliation with the national Nike RBI program, OKC’s league has expanded from six to eight baseball teams. Additionally, it includes eight softball teams that play in a spring season, bringing the total number of participants to over 175 children. The league, composed of middle school students from Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), is led by teachers and coaches from their respective schools. OKC PAL (Police Athletic League), which helps organize and run the league, is actively involved in supporting the development of these student-athletes on and off the field.
Key local partners have contributed significantly to the league’s success. Cleats 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization, donated cleats and socks to the players, while Fields & Futures provided the fields in the OKCPS district where the teams practice and play. Additionally, Delta Dental supplied mouth guards for each player, ensuring their safety during games.
National partners have also played a crucial role. Good Sports, a partner of both MLB and Nike RBI, provided a $10,000 grant that supplied essential equipment, including pants, bats, gloves, and Gatorade bottles for each team. Support from MLB and Nike RBI enables leagues like this to thrive across the country, providing resources for youth who may not have had the opportunity to participate in baseball or softball otherwise.
This year’s program focuses on middle school students aged 11 to 14, establishing a clear pathway for young athletes to progress from youth sports, such as the Rookie League (ages 4-12), to high school baseball and softball programs. The OKCPS district has integrated baseball into its middle school curriculum, formalizing this pipeline and helping students build skills for long-term athletic and academic success.
Ahead of the season, OKC PAL and the Rookie League hosted a coaches’ masterclass to prepare the mentors guiding these young athletes. The session included a Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) workshop led by Joe Scally, aimed at equipping coaches with the tools to foster both athletic and personal development among players. With strong support from national and local partners, the Nike RBI program in Oklahoma City continues to grow, providing opportunities for children to learn the game and develop as individuals. Now in its fourth year of offering baseball to OKCPS students, the program is making a lasting impact on and off the field.
