"These games have implications and historical proportions when you look at whaUt means to kids that play baseball, specifically African American kids who are getting the opportunity to play two powerhouses in UCLA and USC," [Roger Cador] said.

While Bethune-Cookman or Southern didn't get a victory against the Trojans and Bruins in the sixgame series, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats head coach Mervyl Melendez said he was proud that his team was invited to take part in the invitational.

"Now you can get kids to think about college and young people are into music, so baseball needs to capture their attention - music will do it, so they'll come and capture their curiosity and they may see something that they'll remember," Cador added.

Black college baseball received a major boost recently when teams from Southern (Baton Rouge, La.) and Bethune-Cookman took part in Major League Baseball's first Urban Invitational.

Tournaments & championships