I manage my son's little league team. Today my son's little league team entered a game with a 7-1 winning record against the team that thumped us the first game of the season. They lost the first game the season only to go on to win the next 7 games in a row. I'm proud they all responded so well to learning more about the game and how to win.
Today's game went to extra innings. We led in the top of the 6th which is normally the last inning in little league regulation games. Our lead was 4-1. Now if you don't know little league baseball, a 4-1 game is impressive. It's a defensive struggle. And this game was a battle. We tug two players out stealing home, as did the team we played. We tug players out attempting extra bases with a crucial tag out at third by our only female player. I was very proud of her.
So in the top bottom of the 6th all we needed were three outs and it would thankfully be over. My son was pitching and his fast ball looked great. In fact, the little guy was even showing off to five girls as the umpire pointed out to me. Oh my...my son is growing up. But he seemed to go into a small funk and with a strange pop up in the infield that bounced in fair territory and refused to roll foul, they had a man aboard. He stole second and then my son walked another runner. The next batter promptly hit a three run home run to tie the game. I felt the tide turning. Then my son snapped out of it, and proceeded to pull out the inning. We made out of the inning without giving up the winning run. We were going to extra innings with the score tied 4-4.
Now you should also know, I'm all about positive energy. My articles here are not wasted on adults only. I am always telling the kids, "If you never quit, you get there." And "Never let anyone say it can't be done." I call the kids in for a coaches pep-talk.
"Look, this has been a great game. It's been stressful. It's been hard. But look, at this point I just don't care if you win, or if you lose. Right now you should all just be proud of yourselves. You came so far this year and now that team over there respects you. There is only one thing I expect of you now. Have fun. You've got nothing left to prove. Just have fun."
Now before you figure, "How noble Lars", let me tell you this. This season has been much like last season, I've had no altercations with parents or managers. The kids love me and to that end I'm pleased more than you could know. But I'm human and flawed like anyone. I've always told the kids, "Never argue balls and strikes with the umpire, let us coaches do it." So in keeping with that, I don't argue with umpires, but I have thrown my hands up or made the general one liner complaint from coaching third, "That was at the ankles ump!" And likewise when I've had to umpire games, I've had other coaches give me the same exasperated response from time to time. I've heard a parent yell from center field just earlier today...."That was down the middle of the plate ump!" I then said to myself, "Yes, and it was high too."
Today's game was intense for us two managers as we both wanted to see our kids win. And as I did this once today at third base, the other manager yelled over, "That was a strike Lars, we are supposed to be setting a good example for the kids."
I was in the wrong and as it is in today's world what we say and do becomes more and more important to how society expects us to behave. I was humiliated, where as in the past it I thought little of it. While this was not over the top bad behavior, it was something that made me look in the mirror and remember..."This is the kids experience, not mine."
So later in the game with the game on the line, I was glad for what happened earlier because it put everything in perspective. While winning is more fun than losing and we do play to win, it can't come at the cost of our self respect and decency. And while I've said many times to the kids in tough situations, "Have fun" this time it was a point I wanted to really drive home.
Our kids proceeded to go out and get two more runs. My son, thankfully made short work of the opposition in the bottom of the 7th and we finished with a win of 6-4 and upped our winning record to 8-1.
For the kid's sake I hope what I said was part of the reason we won. I'd like to think I helped them take the pressure off and that in playing to have fun, they were able to play at that higher level it took to win the game. And even if they didn't win, I sensed they were playing to have fun and no matter the outcome, it was a great game where we gained the respect of our opponents and in turn we respect them.
In life there are lessons you can take from every experience. The kids learned something today, as did I. I asked my assistant coach today, "Reign me in if I look like I'm going to take pitches too serious." For myself, I plan on just taking a deep breath when don't agree with pitches. After all, I know others do the same for me when I'm umpiring. Even we adults have to remember, just have fun.
