Will more kids play ball after Jackie Robinson West Little League win?

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Does the success of Chicago's Little League team mean more kids will take a swing at baseball? The director of the Jackie Robinson West League thinks it will be so.

"This is our 43 year and I expect a lot more young people will come out next year," Bill Haley said.

Jackie Robinson West has a fabulous tradition, great parental support, and no shortage of interest. But that is not necessarily the case in other inner city neighborhoods where organized baseball carries a price tag and has arguably lost its glamour rating to other sports.

"Is there anything more glamorous than what happened over the last two weeks? Not at all. So imagine as a 12-year old, I want that opportunity also," Kevin Coe, White Sox youth baseball director, said.

The Chicago White Sox have invested heavily in promoting youth baseball, particularly in the inner city through its Amateur City Elite, or ACE, program. Six of the young men who play for Jackie Robinson West are on the ACE teams. Ken Fullman is the ACE director.

"I think citywide baseball will grow. Just seeing a group of African American inner city males play baseball at such a high level, I think all the leagues will prosper," Fullman said.

"You'd love to have one of the kids leave you a ticket to come see them play on a Major League Ball field. But in the meantime, all the other character development and the education piece we provide, and doing that in the inner city is what the program is about," Christine O'Reilly, White Sox director of community relations, said.