The Stella-Olson Foundation for youth baseball in inner-city Omaha enters the new year fully armed with national partnerships.
Among those are Major League Baseball’s Nike RBI, Kansas City Royals Amateur Development System, Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation’s Badges for Baseball and USA Baseball.
New for 2025 will be a Nike RBI Bob Gibson Memorial Juneteenth tournament for 24 high school-age teams, half from Nebraska, June 19-22 during the College World Series. One of the visitors will be the New Zealand open 18U national team.
Stella-Olson co-founder and vice-chairman Tim Lukowski said each of the national groups provides distinct tools his group can use.
Nike RBI shows how to get the word out about a program and how to connect with other youth groups.
The Royals offer programs that an affiliate city can pick and choose for what works best.
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Badges for Baseball, a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, shows how local first responders can be involved.
USA Baseball, the national governing body for amateur baseball, has 1979 Omaha Burke graduate Eric Campbell as general manager of its collegiate national team and professional team. It plans to co-sponsor with the Stella-Olson Foundation some NCAA D-II and NAIA national player of the year awards beginning in 2026.
“Being in the CWS town opens a lot more doors,” Lukowski said.
Local partnerships have been forged with Warren Academy/Dream Omaha, Heart Ministries, Omaha Public Schools, Archdiocese of Omaha, Boys/Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Ball Park Village (The Matt) and Chik-Fil-A.
For the second annual Stella-Olson winter dinner March 1 at Cascio’s Steak House, former Kansas City Royals player and major-league manager Clint Hurdle will be the keynote speaker. Twelve scholarships will be awarded.
Legacy Awards will be presented to coach Bill Lynam of Papillion-La Vista South, retired coaches Ron Johnette and Dave Cork (Millard North), Frank Ryan (Millard West) and Jim Thomas (Papillion-La Vista South) and long-time Rosenblatt Stadium groundskeeper Jesse Cuevas.
Photos: Nebraska baseball hosts fourth game in annual Red-White Series
Nebraska’s Joshua Overbeek (4) celebrates after a run during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Case Sanderson (14) catches the ball to out Nebraska’s Matt Evans (2) at first base during the third inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Devin Nunez (43) leaps up but misses the ball to allow Nebraska’s Kanon Sundgren (24) to slide back onto second base during the third inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Robby Bolin (25) collides with Nebraska’s Gabe Swansen (44) at first base during the third inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Riley Silva (1) catches a fly ball during the third inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jalen Worthley (42) pitches during the fourth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Rhett Stokes (9) stands during the natinoal anthem before a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s TJ Coats (47) pitches during the first inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Riley Silva (1) bats during the first inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Devin Nunez (43) throws to first base during the first inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Case Sanderson (14) waits for the ball as Riley Silva (1) slides back into first base during the first inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jalen Worthley (42) pitches during the first inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Joshua Overbeek (4) slides into second base past Devin Nunez (43) during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Joshua Overbeek (4) slides into second base past Devin Nunez (43) during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Dylan Carey (15) throws to first base during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Case Sanderson (14) makes the out at first base during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Will Jesske (13) swings during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Cayden Brumbaugh (0) catches a fly ball during the second inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Rhett Stokes (9) throws to first base during the third inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Jaron Cotton (13) leaps up for the ball as Nebraska’s Case Sanderson (14) slides into second base below him during the fourth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s TJ Coats (47) pitches during the fifth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Casey Daiss (45) pitches during the fifth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Casey Daiss (45) pitches during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Evan Borst (8) pitches during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Hayden Lewis (17) slides into home plate to score a run during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Gabe Swansen (44) connects during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Blake Encarnacion (15) pitches during the sixth inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Aiden White (36) pitches during the seventh inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Nebraska’s Devin Nunez (43) bats during the seventh inning of a scrimmage at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.