I would like to comment that the sportsmanship on ALL sides, not only at Elfstrom Stadium but at all our games was just terrific. It was a pleasure to see that the games were really all about the kids. Everyone was a real class act!!!! It was great baseball.
quote:Originally posted by nc42dad:
I would like to comment that the sportsmanship on ALL sides, not only at Elfstrom Stadium but at all our games was just terrific. It was a pleasure to see that the games were really all about the kids. Everyone was a real class act!!!! It was great baseball.
hmmm, I had a much different take on the sportsmanship. On a number of occassions yesterday I witnessed fans booing, fans walking down to the screen behind the plate to jeer players and umpires, fans screaming at kids trying to catch popups near the stands, and fans yelling at the officials from their seats; each of which is completely and totally outside of what was warranted and what would be considered good sportsmanship.
Then to top it all off after the final had ended the ST Patrick team waited 7-8 minutes while the NC team celebrated and then they lined up and walked to the plate to congratulate their opponents. After standing in line for 5 minutes with no acknowledgement from anyone connected with the NC team (most of the players/staff was jumping into the stands beyond the dugout to celebrate with friends and family) the St. Patrick staff allowed their kids to return to their dugout, instead of remaining to continue to be subjected to the humiliation of just standing there waiting.
Someone must have noticed because this is when coach Seiple started to try to get his players to go to the home plate area. After a couple minutes of work he had most of the guys more or less lined up, and at this point ST. Patrick refused to come out of the dugout to meet the champions.
Coach Seiple then went and spoke to the people in the ST Pat's dugout and (from the little I could hear from my seat behind home plate) he congratulated them on a great season. When he walked back to his team the ST. Pat's players remained in the dugout and the NC players just kind of hung out at the home plate area (no longer in a line) since the awards ceremony was being set up and would start shortly.
At this point it was nearly 20 minutes after the game ended and the teams still had refused to congratulate each other (first one, then the other), so Anthiny Holman (bigwig from the state office) finally went into the St. Patrick dugout and was able to convince them to come out and shake hands.
What a debacle! I was embarrassed for both coaching staffs. What a shame after the baseball was so good all day.
Congrats to Bill and Phil along with Colin and Lou. Great two days of baseball. Congrats to St. Pats! Copeland's first pitch strikes were quite amazing.
First, I didn't attend the games in Geneva. I just wanted to relate to you what I once went through. In 1991, when I was still at Edwardsville, we lost to Thornwood. In that game, we ended a 64 game winning streak, lost the state championship and #1 ranking in the nation. It was very hard to get both our players and Thornwood's players to home plate to shake hands. Our kids had so much pressure on themselves and they just fell apart. Thornwood went crazy because they had not only won a state championship but had also beaten us to end our winning streak. Naturally, they were celebrating on the field and in the stands. Still, Coach Dunlop (Thornwood) and Coach Pile (Edwardsville) managed to get the kids there to shake hands. I would note that it isn't always as easy as you would think to get the kids to shake hands at such an emotional time. JMHO!
quote:Originally posted by CoachB25:
I would note that it isn't always as easy as you would think to get the kids to shake hands at such an emotional time. JMHO!
Fair enough, but IMO good sportsmanship is judged strictly on how good a sport someone is when it is natural to be a bad sport. Anyone can be a good sport in those situations where it is easy to be a good sport.
I don't want to give the impression that I don't understand the difficulties of winning or losing the big game because as a player and a coach (before I moved strictly to officiating) I had the opportunity to win and lose some big games, so I do understand. Emotions (especially in kids) can be difficult to control, but again IMO that is what differentiates good sportmanship from poor.
Both Coaches at NCHS have had cancer the entire school year. They have been alternating chemo treatments so that at least one of them could be with the team every week. The kids were told this and have riding an emotional roller coaster all year long and are probably the best group of kids that have ever played baseball at our school. They wanted to win this for their coaches, not themselves. The kids worked to raise over $7000 for the Cancer Society. If they "over celebrated" I personally apologize for my two but maybe the situation here is a little different. This is not something that was done to hurt anyone's feelings, it was probably an emotional release that needed to come out. Sorry.
fvb10,I agree that when things are their worse is when a person should find inside of themselves the ability to grow as a person. I can remember one mentor once telling me that when I hurt the most, do something kind for another. nc42dad, WOW! I didn't realize that those young men and their coaches have had such heartache to deal with. Having had a very rough year personally with what has happened to both my Mom and Dad, what an inspiration!
NC42DAD -- I don't think you have anything to apologize about. From what I saw, I didn't think NC's celebration went too overboard. Especially compared with some of the celebrations in past years. The handshakes probably should have gone more smoothly, but I think the NC folks just got caught up in the moment.
I firmly believe in the importance of post-game handshakes, but it's tough timing right after the title game. One team's on top of the world and the other is usually crushed after a tough defeat. Handshakes should be done, but it's a bit awkward after that game in particular.
The timing wasn't perfect, but I don't think you can question NC's sportsmanship because of it. From what I saw they were a class group -- starting at the top with Seiple if he did in fact make a trip to the St. Patrick dugout to offer his congratulations. The players just got caught up in a really emotional moment considering all the turmoil with the coaches this season.
Congrats to both teams on their amazing runs and thanks for a great game!
I firmly believe in the importance of post-game handshakes, but it's tough timing right after the title game. One team's on top of the world and the other is usually crushed after a tough defeat. Handshakes should be done, but it's a bit awkward after that game in particular.
The timing wasn't perfect, but I don't think you can question NC's sportsmanship because of it. From what I saw they were a class group -- starting at the top with Seiple if he did in fact make a trip to the St. Patrick dugout to offer his congratulations. The players just got caught up in a really emotional moment considering all the turmoil with the coaches this season.
Congrats to both teams on their amazing runs and thanks for a great game!
Congrats to Naperville Central. Great pitching from Bates & Kaminska. Johanns & the rest very good defensively.
Great finish to storybook season & hope both coaches are doing well.
Great finish to storybook season & hope both coaches are doing well.
I just want to offer an apology on behalf of my NC player to St. Pat's if the players felt shown up. St. Pat's played a great tourny & deserves a lot of respect. Sportsmanship has always been a priority for the staff, parents and players at NC. Fortunatly the program has been able to keep a good reputation in that regard.
Unfortunatly the program has never had to deal with a post title celebration.... I hope next year they get it right!
Unfortunatly the program has never had to deal with a post title celebration.... I hope next year they get it right!
stpats boys may have been down because of the call at the plate you must have the ball to tag a player out comcast showed it pioneer press has great pictures of the play. the player made the tag without the ball you see it on the ground in front of the plate as the tag is applied 6umps but the home plate ump would not ask for help i hope they change that rule that rule so it does not happen again. good job st pats
When i got my local Pioneer Press paper last week and i saw that picture in the sports section...i couldnt believe it .
The ball was clearly on the ground as the catcher was applying the tag . St Pats got hosed by the umps on that one . What a shame for those kids .
The ball was clearly on the ground as the catcher was applying the tag . St Pats got hosed by the umps on that one . What a shame for those kids .
It's all part of the game!!!