Local nonprofit Helping Kids Round First became official partners on Friday with the Major League Baseball (MLB) “RBI” program.
The organization, founded by Craig Severtson, received boxes of equipment from MLB for the first 16 kids’ teams in Nicaragua. The equipment will furnish eight boys baseball teams and eight girls softball teams.

Severtson said the project has taken five months, and MLB purchased all equipment and paid for shipping to Flandreau.  Helping Kids Round First will haul the equipment Nicaragua and will use the MLB Logo in its work.
This will be the first girls’ teams and leagues in Nicaragua for MLB/RBI by Helping Kids Round First.
“In our world of getting equipment into girls and boys hands, play, practice, exercise and compete, MLB is the ultimate partner. It’s MLB’s goal, also,” Severtson said.  
Helping Kids Round First already has formed its first eight teams and two leagues in Nicaragua, and the teams are ready to play soon, he sa