I have "lurked" here for a little while, responded a few times in a few threads, but I feel that what I witnessed yesterday at a tournament deserves a post.
My son's team, the Jumbonos Stix, participated in last week's Triple Crown World Series for 14U teams, in Steamboat Springs, Co. They went 2-1 in pool play, were seeded 8th, and proceeded to make a run in bracket play. They defeated the #9 seed from Kansas, the #1 seed from Texas, and the #10 (or 12) seed from Washington state enroute to the semi-final game on Sunday morning. Sunday morning, they defeated the Pepsi Royals from Olympia, Washington, 11-1, to advance to the championship game. The Pepsi Royals then battled off a Texas team to make their way back to the championship game from the loser's bracket.
The Royals brought out a very good pitcher for the championship game. He threw decent gas; but, most importantly, he hit his spots and kept the bulk of our hitters guessing. The Royals also had a grand-slam against one of our best pitchers, and led the game, 4-2, going into the bottom of the 6th inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, we were able to score 2 runs and make it a tie game. In the top of the 7th, the Royals threatened, but did not score. They held us scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, and we entered the top of the 8th with a 4-4 tie.
My son then took the mound. The first batter he faced launched one out, and the Royals were up 5-4. As the ball left the yard, my son bent double over the mound, dropped his glove, and looked into the dugout at his coaches with tears in his eyes. As the base-runner rounded first, my son stared at the ground and shook his head. As the base-runner rounded second, our 3rd baseman walked to the mound, followed closely by our 1st baseman and catcher. The 2B and SS were close on their heels. Each young man then threw their arms around "their" pitcher, giving words of encouragement and promising that they were behind him, win or lose. As the Royals parents, coaches and players understandably rejoiced; the Stix team rallied behind my son as one unit. Not a negative comment was made. Players who have been the "go-to-guys" on their respective teams for years showed by word and deed that for that week, that game, that inning, the 11 young men wearing Stix jerseys were a "team" in every sense of the word. I stood in awe that 14-yr-olds could display the kind of teamwork and support that seems so difficult for many adults to achieve.
My son was able to strike out 2 of the following 5 batters, the 3rd out coming on a change-up that one of the Royals better hitters misjudged with 2 runners on base.
The Stix entered the bottom of the 8th needing 1 run to tie and 2 to win. They scored those runs with 2 outs. The first coming from our 1B, who launched one off the fence. Our next batter blooped into right, the RF overran the ball, and our 1B scored. In the ensuing throws, our base-runner made it to 3rd. The winning run was driven in by the catcher who moments before had stood beside his best friend and future HS teammate, on a 3-2 count. As the Stix players went nuts, I stood there, tears in my own eyes, trying to "lock in" each individual as they rejoiced.
I will carry many moments in my memory of my son's youth baseball career. However, the one that will stand out is the memory of 10 players rallying behind "one of their own", with 5 of them walking to the mound and unashamedly hugging their teammate at one of his lowest times.
Many of those young men will play on rival teams in HS. Two of them will play with my son. All of them have my respect and admiration for showing the kind of character so many of us as parents and/or coaches want our young men to display; either on or off the field. They earned no less.
If you have read this far...thank you for your patience in indulging a baseball dad sharing his son's moment. I thank the HSBBW for giving me the opportunity to learn about the road ahead from those who have "been there and done that"; and I thank you for giving me the outlet to share what I believe is a true team moment.
Thank you MN-Mom,
27's Dad
Original Post
. However, the fact that I held my piece, and when my son did look to me (after they came in for the bottom of the 8th) my words were: "Way to hold it to one, son. Way to keep it together and help your team."