We hear about a lot of mistakes and bad examples on this site, and it's good for people to be able to sound off here instead of in person where it could hurt relationships.
It's also good to remember all the things that are right with high school baseball.
This morning I worked the bases for a game between two teams from up north that are in Florida for their spring break. Weather was gorgeous--upper seventies, brilliantly blue cloudless skies.
Admittedly, the quality of play was ragged as was to be expected when neither team had been outside much. But both coaches showed such outstanding sportsmanship and leadership that it was a pleasure to work even a bad game.
Despite many opportunities to express disapproval or to call out mistakes, they focused on teaching and encouraging their players.
There was one short discussion of a ruling of a base award, and the coach accepted my explanation graciously.
One time I had occasion to mention to the other coach that a couple borderline unsportsmanlike comments had arisen from his bench. He took care it in a low key manner, and the comments stopped.
All in all, the boys had a good day of baseball and saw some great examples of gentlemanly behavior.
