Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Councilman Brandon M. Scott, School CEO Dr. Andres Alonso, Doug Duennes, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Baltimore Orioles, and centerfielder Adam Jones announced that, beginning this year, the Baltimore City Public Schools Baseball Championship will be held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This builds upon an ongoing partnership with the Orioles that gave City Schools teams opportunities to play at Camden Yards in 2010 and 2011. The Orioles’ partnership with the City is part of their commitment to the Baltimore community and the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) initiative.

“Playing the biggest game of the year at the greatest baseball stadium in the country is a priceless opportunity for our student athletes,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I am grateful to the Orioles for being a great partner and supporting our community. I encourage everyone to come out and ensure that the game has the full championship experience.”

The championship game will take place on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 2:05 p.m. Admission is free. The gates will open at 1:00 p.m. Parking is available in lots B and C. Councilman Scott is working with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks to bring little league teams from across the city to Camden Yards to attend the championship game.

“The City Schools Baseball Championship should have a championship atmosphere and be held at championship caliber facility,” said Councilman Brandon Scott. “Oriole Park is America’s premier baseball stadium, and I am grateful to the Orioles for continuing to allow our student athletes the experience of playing on a major league field.”

“This event highlights perfectly the positive impact that Oriole Park—the ballpark that forever changed baseball—has had on our neighborhoods and our community,” said Doug Duennes, Orioles Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “Hosting Baltimore City’s baseball championship will be a highlight for the ball club, and we welcome the opportunity to utilize our ballpark for this important community event."