Youth baseball field ribbon-cutting planned Thursday

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Kansas RBI baseball field at 5325 Parallel Parkway is planned at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 5.

The new field will be named the George and Doris Haley Field at the Barton-Ross complex.

RBI is an acronym for Reviving Baseball in the Inner City, a program sponsored by Major League Baseball. Kansas RBI has restored the old 3&2 field in Kansas City, Kan., that had fallen into disuse.

The public is invited to the ribbon-cutting at the field, said Cle Ross, executive director of Kansas RBI.

In conjunction with the ribbon-cutting, a fundraising banquet will be held later in the day at the Vox Theatre, 1405 Southwest Blvd., in Kansas City, Kan. Reservations and tickets are necessary to attend the banquet.

The keynote speaker at the event will include Dayton Moore, general manager of the Kansas City Royals.

Honorees will include Tim Barton, founder of Freightquote; Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-34th Dist.; Ryan LeFebvre of the Kansas City Royals; and David Segui, former Major League Baseball player.

Special guests at the event will include Mayor Mark Holland, the Doris Haley family and Cal Ripken Jr.