The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League will host its annual Inner City Classic championship week of activities with a virtual Bobby Bonds Memorial Symposium, an in-person home run derby and nine in-person baseball games at fields around Metro Richmond.

William Forrester Jr., executive director of the MJBL, said 32 teams from Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Columbia and North Carolina are expected to participate in the event from Wednesday, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 8.

The games were postponed last year because of COVID-19.

The symposium, tilted “Getting Recruited,” will be held online from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 4, and will address the issues that plague youths in inner-city communities and how baseball and education can help alleviate some of the problems. Panelists include J.D. Elliby, a scout for MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays; Sherman Reed, head coach for Coppin State University; Jimmy Williams, head coach for Prince George’s Community College in Maryland; and Thomas Eaton, a former pro scout who is now head coach at Prolific Post-Grad Baseball Academy.

The opening ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Klehr Field, 8000 Diane Lane in Henrico. It will be preceded by registration and a skills showcase featuring Keith Stubbs at 10 a.m. The home run derby, additional skills event and a throwing competition follow.

Pool play in the five designated age group divisions starts at 5:30 p.m.

The championship game for age division 10 and under will be played Saturday, Aug. 7, while the title games for 12 and under, 14-under, 16-under and 19-under will be held Sunday, Aug. 8.

Details and registration: mjbl.org