Alec has played baseball since before he could play on a team. At age 2 we would play "imaginary" baseball in the living room and we would throw an "invisible" ball back and forth (and back and forth) - all the while he wore his "invisible" catchers gear (safety first!). He has a true love for the game that many feel is bigger than he is and sometimes takes over his entire being.
He has been on many teams from recreational non-competitive to Little League to a travel club team and somehow, it always seems more often than not, we are on a team that struggles to pull off wins. Certainly it isn't because they don't WANT to win, but they go right up to it and never grab hold. This year has been no different.
This season Alec is blessed to be playing for one of the most amazing managers and people that we know (Jack). We have played against this manager for the past 3 years and he has ALWAYS had rough seasons, always. But somehow, when the regular season ends and the tournament begins, he is one of the final 2 or 3 (of 6 or 7). I have had my theories as to how or why this happens, but until you are in the thick of it with him, you just don't know. I think I still don't know - lol!
So you can easily assume we did not had a winning season (3-15). We are the team that everyone thinks they can beat and usually do (don't feel too bad because there are 2 teams like that this season and we did beat them once - lol!)!
Our final game was no different but it made a difference to our kids (at least I hope it did!).
Picture this: final game of the season, we really need a win so we don't finish in last place (we are tied at this point and the other 'last place' team plays after our game) - our pitching is fresh and we can use who we want (minus the 1 player not at the game). We are playing the #3 (of 6) team and we see they are throwing their Ace. Great. Don't they know they don't need to do that? They should really look at our record.
We are the home team and our kids take the field. Who is pitching? OUR Ace? Nope. Slow ball sinker (Alec)? Nope. Side armed wonder? Nope. Nick. Nick is pitching. Nick plays his Little League minimum, sometimes a little more. It's his first year EVER and this kid tries hard everyday. His first hit (in game 12) was a triple topped with the biggest grin I've ever seen. Nick is pitching! I cheer as loud as I can during his 4 batter debut!! What a night for him (who cares that he walked 3, 1 grounded out and got pulled after 4 batters!!!)!!!
His relief was another one of the bench players who has never even touched the pitching mound. He faced 6 batters before he got pulled. Again, we all yelled and cheered as loud as we could, if encouragement caused strikes, we'd be in business! Relief #2 and 3 were normal pitchers who finished up the game. Our offense was amazing and our defence was near flawless. Errors were few and unearned runs kept to a minimum...still, we lost.
As I sat there looking at the final score of 9-7, heartbroken by the emotion of the player who just committed the 3rd out in the bottom of the 6th I realized something big.
We could have WON that game, but at what expense? I realize this is Little League and we are meant to be competitive, I get that. But what I hope our kids took from that game last night was that they were the luckiest kids on the field last night. They have a manager that let 2 of his finest (they are all his finest!) pitch last night even tho they never had. So, we lost, but 2 kids won big!
These kids walk with dignity each game. I know they are frustrated and I know they are disappointed, but I can tell you, they are good sports. They congratulate the opposing team with the best attitude they can muster up. They have a great manager who supports them and encourages them.
I know my son would not trade spots with any player on the "winningest" team. To do that would be letting down the team, and he truly is a team player. I hope the rest of the team feels the same way. It really is for the love of the game, not the love of the win.
So, come next week during tournament...we will see where we land. We just might follow in true "Jack Style" and come out fighting and winning!
He has been on many teams from recreational non-competitive to Little League to a travel club team and somehow, it always seems more often than not, we are on a team that struggles to pull off wins. Certainly it isn't because they don't WANT to win, but they go right up to it and never grab hold. This year has been no different.
This season Alec is blessed to be playing for one of the most amazing managers and people that we know (Jack). We have played against this manager for the past 3 years and he has ALWAYS had rough seasons, always. But somehow, when the regular season ends and the tournament begins, he is one of the final 2 or 3 (of 6 or 7). I have had my theories as to how or why this happens, but until you are in the thick of it with him, you just don't know. I think I still don't know - lol!
So you can easily assume we did not had a winning season (3-15). We are the team that everyone thinks they can beat and usually do (don't feel too bad because there are 2 teams like that this season and we did beat them once - lol!)!
Our final game was no different but it made a difference to our kids (at least I hope it did!).
Picture this: final game of the season, we really need a win so we don't finish in last place (we are tied at this point and the other 'last place' team plays after our game) - our pitching is fresh and we can use who we want (minus the 1 player not at the game). We are playing the #3 (of 6) team and we see they are throwing their Ace. Great. Don't they know they don't need to do that? They should really look at our record.
We are the home team and our kids take the field. Who is pitching? OUR Ace? Nope. Slow ball sinker (Alec)? Nope. Side armed wonder? Nope. Nick. Nick is pitching. Nick plays his Little League minimum, sometimes a little more. It's his first year EVER and this kid tries hard everyday. His first hit (in game 12) was a triple topped with the biggest grin I've ever seen. Nick is pitching! I cheer as loud as I can during his 4 batter debut!! What a night for him (who cares that he walked 3, 1 grounded out and got pulled after 4 batters!!!)!!!
His relief was another one of the bench players who has never even touched the pitching mound. He faced 6 batters before he got pulled. Again, we all yelled and cheered as loud as we could, if encouragement caused strikes, we'd be in business! Relief #2 and 3 were normal pitchers who finished up the game. Our offense was amazing and our defence was near flawless. Errors were few and unearned runs kept to a minimum...still, we lost.
As I sat there looking at the final score of 9-7, heartbroken by the emotion of the player who just committed the 3rd out in the bottom of the 6th I realized something big.
We could have WON that game, but at what expense? I realize this is Little League and we are meant to be competitive, I get that. But what I hope our kids took from that game last night was that they were the luckiest kids on the field last night. They have a manager that let 2 of his finest (they are all his finest!) pitch last night even tho they never had. So, we lost, but 2 kids won big!
These kids walk with dignity each game. I know they are frustrated and I know they are disappointed, but I can tell you, they are good sports. They congratulate the opposing team with the best attitude they can muster up. They have a great manager who supports them and encourages them.
I know my son would not trade spots with any player on the "winningest" team. To do that would be letting down the team, and he truly is a team player. I hope the rest of the team feels the same way. It really is for the love of the game, not the love of the win.
So, come next week during tournament...we will see where we land. We just might follow in true "Jack Style" and come out fighting and winning!
Very well said. The coach is to be commended!
ReplyDeleteMom
What you said totally jibes with my Little League experience. When I was on the Braves, who never won many games, I learned so many non-baseball lessons and had so much fun on the field. Then I played a season on the Cardinals, a serious team that usually won, and it really set me back. It was psychologically hard, and I didn't like baseball anymore. What a bad deal, just to win more games.
ReplyDeleteI love the attitude that it's about team. I recall a certain game when Greg was in baseball and the coach was punishing him for not pitching good enough, put him in the outfield and Greg was crying. Completely turned me off of organized sports.
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