I watched my seven year old nephew play pitching machine ball tonight, and, as I was so many times before, I found myself discouraged for his teammates. These kids go out once or twice a week and, for the most part, do their best to play ball. At times, everything falls apart, and at times, they are all in sync.
Tonight wasn't their best game, but they still played with integrity. They still played like they had a chance at winning, and I commend them for that. The game started ten minutes late, and, although it's a timed game, they somehow finished early, even though they could have played another inning.
For me, this is where my problem comes in. Unfortunately, his league only has two teams, so they play each other every game. They win; we win. It's a back and forth. Although the season started off being unfair (the coach on the other team is also the president of the league and changes rules mid game if it benefits her team), our guys managed to win some games. In fact, they were on a winning streak when the latest spiral happened.
We were playing several weeks ago. We had a runner on second and third and another at bat. The batter was called out at first by the field ump but the ump behind the plate called him safe. In most games, the lead ump has the definitive call, but somehow, the kid being safe was overruled by the field ump. Then, our player on third scored, and the player on second was halfway between third and home when the other team called time. I don't mean they called time out. I mean they called time, game over, in the middle of a play. A coach calling the game over. Really? At this point we had two outs, so we still had an inning to finish. The ump just stood there watching the kids line up, shake hands, and say good game. Both teams were excited because they thought they both won.
Turns out, we were winning, but they thought they called time before we pulled ahead of them. Once they found out we were ahead, nope, we had to finish the game, with them last at bat. Arguments ensued as they couldn't figure out who was supposed to be where. There was confusion over whether the kid was safe on first, and then they said our run didn't count because he was midway between bases when the "coach of the other team and president of the league" decided to call the game over.
Our kids became flustered, upset their win was being stolen from them, especially when the other team called it and changed their minds when they realized they were losing. The coaches kept interrupting every pitch, going on about some call they weren't happy with. I mean, we're dealing with 7 year olds, y'all.
The game ended with them winning by a run. Our kids were deflated, and they realized that the people they are supposed to trust to be fair, to be a moral compass, were shady characters.
We haven't won a game since. Each game, something happens. One of the coaches from the other team got ejected one night for mouthing off to the wrong parent. I guess he thought the fence made him bullet proof. He soon found out that wasn't the case, and he cowered next to a grown man.
So tonight, we're losing, but our guys are showing some promise. One of our kids hits a line drive down first and the first baseman misses it. The kid hears a man call foul, so he goes back to home plate. The other team got the ball to first and the kid was called out. Why? Because the male coach from the other team called foul, and the kid thought the ump called it. The ump never contradicted the call, and, instead of calling dead ball, a replay, and chastising the coach, the ump called the kid out. There were several other questionable calls throughout the night just like this, and it was a repeat of the whole season.
If the head coach from the other team, you know, the president of the league, didn't like a call, she'd overrule it. Apparently, she has some power around there and everyone is scared of her, so much so that they don't contradict her and show fairness all around.
On a side note, the last three weeks, every time I've entered the park to park in my usual spot, there's been a burgundy SUV that's been pulled too far ahead, so you can't turn down the row. It's a huge inconvenience. So, out of spite, last week, I parked behind the vehicle so they couldn't get out until I was ready to leave. And guess who it was? The coach and her daughter (one of the other coaches). And tonight, I looked for that SUV and found it parked in the only handicapped spot in the park. No decals visible and nothing on the license plate. It's sitting there for hours and no tickets. I really wanted to put a note on the windshield to let them know that "Ego" was not an acceptable disability by the DMV or the DSM (I may have these initials mixed up since I'm not a mental health specialist).
Anyway, we head home, knowing we've got three more games and a tournament in our future, only to find out they are now canceled. I'm not sure if winning those games would have made a difference in the long run, but they would have made a difference for those boys. And they might have played a little harder tonight, knowing it was their last game. This team did something similar a few weeks ago. They changed the game date because Glenmora was graduating on Thursday night, game night. They changed it to Friday and didn't tell us. We only found out on accident.
These coaches are what's wrong with our kids playing sports. Despite the fact that they were winning, the kids took their time returning to the field. We're halfway in the game, they're ahead, and, all of a sudden, the coach has to walk to every position, telling the kids where to stand. I think they figured that out games ago. When they were at bat, the coach walked to the plate, and all but picked the kids up and put them in the right spot. Their meandering did not go unnoticed by our team or its family and friends. But still, the ump stayed mute. It depleted our kids moral. And just when things were looking up, the game ended early, and Lil' Sluggers had their last bat of the season.
It's probably no secret that I have an issue with a head coach being the president of the league. I'm not quite sure how it's allowed. What are we teaching our kids when we tell them to play by the rules, but the rule book is different if you're on the right team? What does it say that umps have no authority? That coaches can call the game?
It makes our kids not want to play, especially in that league. And maybe that's for the best. I mean, who can she coach if there's only one team in the league?
Despite the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of my ex brother in law, the coach of our team, I give him props for teaching our kids to play fair, to do their best, and to try to have fun. Unfortunately, in this league, having fun may be the only winning we'll ever accomplish.
