DROP IT!

Last weekend the N played in his first competitive baseball tournament. Up until now he's always played in recreational leagues where things are quite a bit more casual. This year they are wearing spiffy, all matching uniforms, kids can typically throw the ball from one to another without it sailing over some one's head, there aren't many swings at balls pitched up above their heads, and if you hit a ball in the infield it will probably cause you to get out at 1st base. There are no more Lucy's in the outfield. These kids actually run to try to catch the ball.





Along with the increase in skill comes an increase in the intensity and the expectations of the parents, coaches, and kids. Which we were okay with. We definitely bought into it. Competitive teams typically cost much more than the rec leagues. But we wanted a chance for the N to play with other kids like him.

It was so disappointing last year when the N would pitch an awesome game, but once the pitchers had to be switched the next kid up would throw so wild that they would end up losing due to walked in runs. It was a good learning experience for the N; it's good to know you cannot control the outcome of everything and that you should really try your hardest anyway. But...it's also was less rewarding, too, and there wasn't a lot of improvement in his game that season. If this season plays out like this past weekend we'll see not only improvement in the N's game, but we'll be watching a lot of real baseball. Even last year I could see why people love to go watch baseball so much. It really got into our blood being outside, sitting in the grass, little siblings playing in adjacent fields, having the cows on the other side of the fence sauntering by.

In our family we also have soccer and flag football being played so there will be games that we don't all see. The M had soccer so the J, the M, and I missed the N's first game on Saturday. I guess we didn't miss the best the team had to offer. They started with the first of the two losses allowed for the tournament. We arrived towards the end of the 2nd game and missed the N pitch. We got that opportunity in the 3rd game. He was able to pitch most of the game and the team played well. That game was called early since the N's team was so far ahead. It seemed odd to me that the mercy rule could be used to help the team that would advance by allowing their pitchers to have extra innings for the next game. It's easy to be excited about a good baseball game when your team ends up winning.

Sunday was different, however. N's team would have to beat the team that didn't lose on Saturday two times to come in 1st. This other team came out playing a great game from the first pitch. These kids know baseball. The first two innings went okay for N's team. The other team only scored once. The 3rd inning was pretty ugly. N's team couldn't really get much in the way of hits, and the boy who took over the pitching from N had a rough time of it. N sat in the dugout icing his arm and drinking gatorade. He was doing okay. But in the next inning after a pitching change N's team woke up. They went in down by about 7. During this inning the other team was still able to hit a little, but didn't score. The transition in the game for me came when one of the boys on the other team batted a ball almost straight-up and our pitcher tried to catch it and from out in the bleachers I heard the deep voice of a dad, uncle, or grandpa, yelling


"DROP IT!"




What the ....?

After a couple of years hearing parents' nice voices saying "Good try" when the kid swings at a ball a foot above his head, I was a little stunned to hear a PARENT voice requesting a bad play from a child on the opposing team. I mean, really... cheer your kids on by all means, but to me it is bordering on bad sportsmanship to actually yell something disparaging to a kid on the other team. This is a 10U team, for crying out loud. I've only heard compliments tossed out...even to opposing players who make a great play. At that point the boy wasn't even close to catching the ball, and our team was down by quite a bit. I mean really,...I think that if our team had been so far ahead I would've been wanting the other pitcher to have that moment of glory, of actually catching the ball. They are just kids after all. Don't get me wrong. If it had been reversed and the game was on the line, and the other team had an error I would be glad for our kids if they could capitalize on it. But even then I'd feel bad for the kid who made the error.


After the "DROP IT" my voice got a lot louder and I cheered for every good thing our team did (and even now I'm still paying the price with a sore throat). N's team really made an incredible comeback effort and actually tied the game. And I have to admit feeling a little snotty when the other parents for the other team were yelling like we were as they recognized this wasn't going to be as easy as it had first appeared. I don't think I would have felt like that had it not been for Mr. "Drop-it".

Oh, the other team ended up winning, but it was close. They had that needed great hit when there was only one out left to go. And maybe I would've liked it if the boy had hit the ball directly to first base or not hit it at all, instead of hitting such a great hit. It just would never occur to me to hope for it or to actually do something like yell "MISS IT".


But along with the 2nd place plaques the N's team knew they had played a game to be proud of. All of the boys did, both teams. Both teams applauded each other as they got their plaques. That's what matters the most. In spite of the parents.