Brevard Baseball

Okay boys. It's time to whip it out and see who really has the biggest one. I'm talking about travel ball trophies (of course) but it seems like the way some teams behave we might as well be talking about some ding-a-ling's ding dong. (Hey, I am trying to keep it clean!)

At the USSSA State Championships in Kissimmee two weeks ago the Palm Beach Tigers were kicked out of the tournament because the forged at least 4 birth certificates. They were caught when the tournament director asked one of the players how old he was. The player told him he was 15 years old. Too bad he was playing in the 12 year old bracket. I am not sure what this says about the kid, but I know what it says about the adults who took the time to recruit the kid and forge their birth certificates. LOSER!

I wish I could report this was a one-off situation but this past weekend in the Nations Orlando tournament, another 12-year old team forged 4 birth certificates. A bad job of white out and poor font selection did them in. When they were caught, rather than walk away in shame the continued to insist on playing saying they would get the tournament director the original birth certificates. One good lie deserves anotther.

While those cases are pretty extreme, you see the overzealous coach demean their own player with motivational comments like, "GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!" or "THAT'S JUST LAZY!" or they demean the opposing nine-year old on the mound with comments like "We have seen this before, he can't throw strikes" and "It's happening again, just like yesterday."

If the mental toll doesn't get to the player, then the big trophy hunting manager can always turn to physical abuse. Let's throw the pitcher with a sore shoulder in a bullpen session on Friday night before the tournament (as opposed to the Tuesday before the tournament) then throw him 35 pitches on Saturday and then come back with him on Sunday for 88 pitches to get to the championship game. Who gives a damn if the team has an 8 run lead, let's throw him out there for the last inning rather than use any of the other pitchers on the team.

It does seem as though some (many?) managers are more concerned about the size of the trophy they take home than any damage they leave in their wake. (Makes you wonder what they are compensating for, doesn't it?) What would make a seemingly rationale person on behave this way when it comes to youth baseball? Is it really worth cheating or risking injury to win a youth baseball tournament?

Parents, this is YOUR wake up call. You are the only advocate for and defender of your child's best interests. Get informed and speak up so your child does not get burned.