LL Parents

Some need to be horse whipped in all honesty if the parents did not make such a big deal out of it most of the kids would forget about the heartbreaking loss with an ice-cream on the way home and the thought of hitting the pool the day after. But I am sure that the way the parents acted will drive home the fact that "They were cheated and no one wants them to be happy" for the rest of the summer (Might be just enough to turn kids off the sport)

I was at the 9-10 year old Tournament in Bigstone a couple of weeks ago and while there was nothing this big going on there were several uncalled for yells at Umps(to be expected), Coaches(That were uncalled for and strange), and Players (Which was sickening to me my god what do you as an adult(at least adult aged) get out of yelling at a 9 year old girl over a GAME that should be fun)

sorry for the long opening here is a link to the article that just set me off LOL

http://www.thecoalfieldprogress.com/...viewStory=1277

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Little League thriller turns ugly thanks to adults
ELIZA EVANS > Sports Writer



Pound's Austin Dotson slides into third as the ball gets past Appalachia third baseman Chance Barker during the District 13 Major League (11-12) tournament held Tuesday at ABC Field in Coeburn. (Jim Gibson photo)

COEBURN "? The battle to advance to the loser's bracket semifinal of the District 13 Little League Major Division (11-12) baseball tournament began as a classic pitchers duel for the first three innings, but turned ugly later in the game at ABC Field.

Pound starter Dylan Meade allowed only a walk and Appalachia starter Jordan Stanton had surrendered one hit in the first three frames.

"They've got a fine pitcher, a very fine pitcher,"? Pound coach John Stallard said of his opponent. "Some of the best pitching in the district was in that dugout."?

Appalachia got the scoring started with a run in the top of the fourth off Meade, for a 1-0 lead.

That lead would not last long. Pound put up two runs in the bottom of the inning.

"We've got a good baseball team,"? Stallard said. "They work hard, they listen to us and they'll do anything I ask them to."?

The first run came on a sacrifice bunt by Meade that scored Austin Dotson and the second in a rather terrifying manner when Matt Boggs was hit in the head by a pitch with the bases loaded.

ADULTS MESS UP KIDS' GAME

The game took a turn for the worse in the top of the fifth.

For Appalachia, one misstep sent the game from what would have been a jubilant 3-2 Appalachia lead to a contemptuous 2-1 Pound lead.

With two on and two out in the top of the fifth, Appalachia's Jordan Stanton hit a high pop-up near first base. Pound's Austin Dotson tried to squeeze the ball, but it dropped out of his glove. Chance Barker, who reached on an error, and Rhett Lunsford, who walked, crossed home plate.

Appalachia was celebrating, but behind the play, the third base umpire had signaled the inning was over and neither run counted because the coach touched a runner at third during play. Touching a base runner is not permitted under Little League rules and results in an automatic out.

Pound went in order in the bottom of the fifth and, with some help from his defense, Pound reliever Tre Mullins was able to shut down Appalachia in the sixth.

But the fireworks were just beginning.

As soon as the final out was recorded, Appalachia head coach Richie Lane had to be restrained when he tried to charge the umpire who made the call at third, even as the two teams were lining up for the final handshake.

The scene soon became so ugly with parents and other spectators coming on the field, both teams had to retreat to their respective dugouts and the umpires were sent to the press box for their own safety.

As the Pound coaches kneeled with the Appalachia assistants in the middle of a huddle of Appalachia players, the Appalachia fans started coming onto the field, shouting at the umpires, the Pound coaches and taunted the Pound players sitting in their dugout.

The angry group blocked the only exit from the field to the parking lot and lined the sidewalk behind the press box, refusing to leave, even after the lights at the facility were turned off.

Police had to be called to disperse the crowd and make it safe for officials to leave the press box.

Coeburn 6, Norton 3
"It's Little League, 11-and 12-year olds. This is fun,"? said Norton coach Tim Cassell after the night's first game. "It's tough to see them lose, but they played hard and it's just a game. And that's what we've always told them, it's just a game."?

According to Coeburn coach Randy Porter, both teams were evenly matched, but somehow Coeburn was able to find a little more offense.

"We played an excellent team,"? Porter said. "We just happened to hit the ball a little better than they did today."?

Norton got the scoring started in the top of the first on an RBI single by Josh Williams that drove in Tyler Smith. Riley Maggard followed with an RBI groundout that scored Will Cassell.

Coeburn came back with two runs in the bottom of the second when Dale Gross was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and the next batter, Nick Pridemore, drew a bases-loaded walk.

Norton retook the lead with a run in the fourth, but Coeburn quickly responded.

Down 3-2, Coeburn scored two runs, the first on an RBI single by Vincent Ramos that drove home Jordan Cole and the second came on an errant pick-off throw to third that let Ramos score.

Darren Greear added an RBI single and Jacob Horner had an RBI groundout for Coeburn in the sixth for the 6-3 win.




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parents will never change...competition can sometimes get the best of people. i just hope i never act that way at a little league game.

Me too LOL this was my Daughters first year of LL and while it is easy to get carried away during a tight game the important think to remember is that we want the kids to have fun and enjoy themselves while learning the game I tried to encured her to make friends with some of the other girls from the other towns that they played and she had a good time visiting with all the friends she made through the season during the all-star week.

In all honesty when the game stops being FUN for the kids that is when the kids will stop playing.

Several years ago I was asked to officiate a basketball tournament a school was having to raise money for a trip to Washington. I had coached for years, knew basketball, and since the kids were 9 and 10 year olds, figured that it couldn't be too bad. The other gentleman calling (another unpaid volunteer) and I were subjected to an incredible amount of verbal abuse including profanity by the parents and the coaches of some of the teams. I toughed it out, but I told the organizers to get somebody else in the future. I have never officiated since nor will I ever again. It simply isn't worth it. Bear in mind that this was not organized school athletics, but a little tournament for pick-up or traveling teams. I cannot believe how seriously some people take these insignificant events. What really puts the icing on the cake is that 90% of these "coaches" and parents know absolutely nothing about the game. Tim Priest of the Vol Network once said, "Every man thinks he can do two things - grill a steak and coach football!" He might want to change his quote to "coach anything".

What do you expect from LL. Anymore these days LL is a rec ball league. If you want an eye opening experience. Go watch a travel ball team play baseball or softball. LL is a joke compared to travel ball. Every LL parent thinks there kid is an allstar. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beer1.gif[/img]

Just so yas know, I have nothing but respect for referees for the crap they put up with. But some bring it on themselves with the sorry calls they make. I saw one of the LL tournament games in Coeburn and was just disgusted by the umps. The pitcher from Lee West threw the ball and it bounced, physically bounced, in the dirt off the front of the plate and the guy calls strike 3. The kid may have brought the bat forward slightly, but he checked his swing long before it could've been called a strike. And it's not just Appy getting bad calls. I saw the same ump call strikes on Lee batters when the ball was at eye level or below the knees with no swing. Refs and umps get a bad rep because of the outlandish mistakes of a few. I just wish all the good ones would get together and weed out the bad ones.

One problem is that there are not enough Umps in LL none are paid so there is not a great rush of new Ups joining. I did not see any games in Coburn so I can't comment on the Umps strike zone. but it is just that the "Umps strike zone" even in the Majors where the Ups are very well payed the strike zone is different for every upm and part of playing the game is knowing what is and is not a strike....I would much rather have an Ump with a large strike zone than one in which the zone changes every inning. However if the ball was in the dirt and there was no swing I don't see how it could have been a strike either the balls at eye level I can see more since some players have a tendency to squat in there stance on high ball where the rule states that it is from that players natural stance so a squating batter could have a pitch at eye level that would be a called strike (Don't know if that was the case or not but have seen the same thing argued/talked about in the past)

Here is another one for some of you guys if a runner touches base at the same time the ball/fielder is the runner safe or out?(The answer may suprise some)

That being said I think everyone including the Umps would like for the Umps to never miss a call.

Believe it or not, I've looked this up and there is some inconsistency (or at least some difficulty on interpretation). There are 2 rules, that seem to say slightly different thing but I've seen it argued that they don't.

Basically to first base, tie goes to runner. On other bases, tie goes to fielder.

I used to call little league and I must say that the parents are the ones who are ruining a great program around here. It's not just the Appy fans, there are also parents like that in every town.

I feel folks are entitled to complain a little about calls(no, not death threats, but "Come on, that was a mile low) and if people would stop to think how what they are saying sounds to the players , they would control theirselves more. Cheer and encourage, don't bash the players and coaches. Or the ump, he/she has the worst job of all. We had a score keeper at Jonesville Middle School take an extra point off the board, because "The clock went off while the ball was in the air." [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I agree I was not trying to single out Appy for this it just so happened that it was them that the article was about. Next time any of you guys are at a ball game wait for a 3-2 count on the next pitch you will hear "Great Pitch" from one dugout or bleacher section and "Good Eye" from the other side after the Ump makes the call half the people are now convinced that they have to beat the other team and the Umps LOL

Honestly listen for this next time you catch a ball game I have never seen it not happen.

That being said Volunteer for Umping LL games no one is going to throw you behind the plate if you don't want to go and I am sure that none of the Local Little Leagues would turn you away.

Being an umpire, I must say there is no such thing as a tie. It was definitely safe, or out, no two ways about it! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

BINGO!!!! The rule book says nothing about a tie and if it is not in the rule booxk it can not happen [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

It does say that the runner has to arive at the base first in order to be safe just something for all the folks I hear talking about ties going to the runners to think about LOL

There are a ton of rules that people "know" that are just the way they have heard it being or interpreted.

Yes technically there is no tie. Now logic tells you that there could in fact be a tie. I mean when timing of events to the thousandeth of a second can tie, pretty sure that something can be a tie to someone looking but its up to an interpretation, do they see runner first or fielder first. I guarantee you that a good portion of officials will call a play as a tie going to the runner.

I do not doubt that at all but you will most likly never hear them call it a tie just the runner beat out the throw and is safe.

Oh I know, If I ever heard an ump yell "Tie!" I think I'd kill them

[img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

You would have to adopt a system like the old Battleball Nintendo game where the players fight for the base to see if they were out or safe if a tie was called.

I umpired little league baseball from the time I was 13 years old till I was 20. I called in several state tournaments, two divisional tournaments and got to go to the regional tournament in Ft. Lauderdale several years ago. It can be really rewarding but scary. I called a balk in the bottom of the 11th inning with the winning run on 3rd on the divisional level. Talk about hairy. Never saw so many South Carolina State Troopers in my life. Fans going crazy but that is part of it. It is a kids game and the parents want their kids to succeed and they get caught up in the moment. I have had kids tell me on the field that they wish their mom or dad or both would just shut up and let me play.