Children

Ryan receives his championship trophy after his first season of Little League C-Ball.  His team, the Pro Care Pirates, was co-champions with the VFW Marlins.  Find out more at shinnstonlittleleague.com.

What a crazy day this has been.  Where to start?

The Shinnston Little League C-Ball season ended today, but at this point I’m not sure what team is “champions” and I’m not really sure that it matters…

Pro Care Pirates   9

VFW Marlins     10

Final (7 innings)

But that was only part of the story today.

We were planning on going to Texas Roadhouse for lunch after  the game.  Well, it had been discussed earlier in the day that both teams would head to the city park and pool after today’s game to eat pizza and swim.

Also, in the confusion that is a double-elimination tournament, since we had no losses, and the Marlins had one (to us, on Friday), if the Pirates lost today’s game, we were to play the Marlins once again in order to give one of us two losses.  Whew!

Prior to the game, it had been discussed that the teams would only play this game, and if the Pirates won, they would be the outright champions, but if the Marlins won, we would be co-champs.  That’s fine with me, considering how these past few weeks have gone, with the crazy weather, and seeing that the temperatures will be in the upper-80’s to mid-90’s for the foreseeable future.  It was mid-90’s for today’s game, and that was plenty hot enough.

During the first half of today’s game, one of the parents got smacked in the mouth by a fast-moving foul ball.  I think she may need a few stitches in and around her mouth, but I think she will be fine.  That was a very scary situation…

And, of course, you saw the score at the top of the posting.  10 to 9.  7 innings.  The kids (both teams) were beat.  It was terribly hot.

Then, after the game, the city park and city pool became a sea of green, as coaches and players from both teams got together and enjoyed pizza and swimming.  The kids forgot the score and played together while getting some well-deserved relief from the hot sun.

As one coach said, “I think we should have skipped the game and came straight to the pool!”

I think the Roadhouse can wait for another evening.

I’m not getting into specifics here tonight; that wouldn’t be the right thing to do.  I just want to say that, kids often look up to the adults that lead them, that teach them, and that coach them.  And sometimes kids see some things that they shouldn’t see, some things they shouldn’t be subjected to, simply because the adults don’t play well together.

If we ever wonder to ourselves why our children don’t get along, why our children don’t behave, then we have to take a closer look at ourselves.  We are their role models.  We are to be held accountable for teaching them right from wrong and providing them with appropriate, positive role models to look up to.  If we bicker, and argue, and throw punches, then we should expect the same from our children.

Sometimes, we all need to examine ourselves and try to see us as our children do.  Do they see us trying hard, but still have the ability to smile in success or in failure? Or do they see us stomp off in a huff when something doesn’t go our way? What do they take away from a loss? Do they place blame on others? At the end of the day, can they refer to the “other team” as their friends, their classmates, their buddies?

Or do they just remain the “other team?”

Well, the Pirates played a heck of a game today, winning 3-0 under threatening skies.  Ryan did an excellent job, as he went 1 for 2, with a single, and he scored a run.  Way to go Ry!  The entire team did a great job, with some excellent fielding, throwing, and catching.  Congrats to all!

The Shinnston Little League season kicked off this morning with the official Opening Ceremony, held at the Little League field in town.

Players and teams were introduced, followed by an invocation, presentation of colors, and the national anthem.

Ryan’s team, the Pro Care Pirates, has a game tonight at 7:45pm.

I’ll be back with more pictures tonight after the game.

(Updated: 7:36pm) Well, tonight’s game has been postponed due to rain.  We’ll try again on Tuesday.