True Sportsmanship/A Must Read Story

[bluegrass]

Let me preface this story with one of my own, then PLEASE follow the link and watch the VERY SHORT video clip...I know this is the PATRIOTISM FORUM, but this one will make you feel good...first my story...

I am the coach of a real talented baseball team. We are comprised of 15-16 year olds who excel at baseball largely due to their efforts, some small credit goes to my coaching I have to say...they work hard and try to win every game they play. We were extremely successful this season, going 10-4, winning a District Championship here in Michigan....District 9, which is the largest district in Michigan, is very competitive and we won whats called the Seniors League (ages 15-16) in Class B, which due to our league size is quite an accomplishment. BUT, before we went into tournament play I had a rather unique opportunity to teach my kids TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP....let me back up a few games first...we were playing against a not so good Byron Center team...they had TWO teams but chose to put all their talent on ONE team and put together another team of basically what they considered leftover players...anyway, this team had 17 players, quite large, and we had to play at their field one day. WE didnt have enough players show up due to a football camp that was going on that day, I had 7 players there, only two of which were my better players. This team from Byron Center offered to loan us two players so we could play the game. I accepted, reluctantly so, and they sent a couple of players to our bench. One player was a good player, one not so much. The one that was limited is named Pete. Pete was the equipment manager for Byron Center High School, always wanted to play ball but was NEVER on a team. So we have Pete as one of our 9 players, an automatic out every time he gets up...this story could be longer, but let me just say that Pete didnt get a hit, we won the game, BUT the Byron coach let me know about Pete and his love of the game, just no talent at all. Pete is not handicapped or mentally impaired, quite the opposite Pete is quite bright, just not athletically gifted whatsoever. The Byron Center coach told me that the little ground out back to the pitcher that Pete hit in the 5th inning was THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SWUNG THE BAT ALL SEASON...he wondered what I told Pete to get him to swing. I had not done anything special, just encouraged him to do his best....

Fast forward to our last game of the year...we are playing this same BC team, and we are killing them since we are at full strength and very much on our game...top of the seventh inning, we are up by 11 runs, and they have two outs...guess who comes to bat. Yep, little Pete. I have absolutely no intention of letting Pete be the last out of their season, KNOWING that he hasn't gotten on base all season, or ever in his LIFE. I called timeout, went to my pitcher and told him to WALK PETE so he wouldnt have to make the last out...my pitcher complied. Somehow though that just wasnt enough for me, I wanted to do more. I called timeout again after Pete got to first and told my catcher that on the next pitch I wanted him to throw the ball down to first in an "attempt" to get Pete out...in reality my catcher was instructed to throw the ball as high and far over the first basemans head as possible and still make it look believable...please know that NO ONE other than a couple of players know what I am doing here. Before the pitch I moved my right fielder away from the line, A LOT, so he couldnt get to the ball right away. I dont have any way to let everyone know what I have in mind so I am just hoping they catch on....THEY DID. My catcher throws the ball waaaaaaay over the first basemans head, my right fielder trips and is VERY SLOW about getting to the ball...Pete runs to second on the overthrow, his coach caught on as well and waved him on to third. My right fielder FINALLY got to the ball against the fence and had thrown it to the cutoff man in shallow right field by now...I yelled out to the Byron Center coach to "send him home coach" and as I said he had already caught on to what was going on. He yells to Pete to go home, Pete is chugging around third as fast as he can go (which isnt very fast) and I was just praying that my fielder in shallow right doesnt throw Pete out at home. He is a good, decent kid and smart enough to figure things out by this time, and his throw to home was high, not high enough to look stupid but high enough so theres no way our catcher can catch it. Pete scores for the first time in his life in a baseball game, and it may even be the last time since play only gets harder and more talented the older you get....I got to teach my kids that day that some things are more important winning, and although we werent in any danger of losing that game, we got the chance to absolutely CEMENT that game into Pete's mind, a game I dont think he will ever forget, and neither will I. I still remember very vividly the cheers Pete got from his teammates when he got back to the bench, most of all I remember the smile on Petes face as he crossed home plate. I think his team knew what was going on by this time too but they didnt let on. We won the game, and then the District Championship (second year in a row) but I won more than that by being able to demonstrate true sportsmanship to my kids that day....NOW, after reading this, please follow the link to a short video. This story is about football and a down syndrome kid, but heartwarming just the same, made me think of our gift to Pete that day.....we can put aside politics for this one I think.


Tony

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32925774/ ... er_sports/

[Moore Beagles]

Blugrass
Your lesson will hang with those young men for a lifetime, and I hope they follow your lead someday when given the chance. You could coach my son anyday!
This world definately could use more compassion.
Thanks for sharing......
God Bless!

~Gregg

[TC]

This World Could use a few MORE coaches like you!!!!
it Aint Always about the WIN!!!!

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

That is a great story and it is great their are coaches out there like you. I coached for years...golf, baseball, softball and basketball and it can be a challenge at times to keep things in perspective. Job well done Tony!

[tommyg]

Well done COACH.You can coach my kid anyday.