I don’t want to sound like a cliche, but the Hollister National
9- and 10-year-old All-Stars handled themselves like champions.
San Jose – I don’t want to sound like a cliche, but the Hollister National 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars handled themselves like champions.
Last weekend, at the Northern California Division II Tournament at the East Hills Little League in San Jose, Hollister came up on the short end of two one-run games, and finished runner-up to Davis American.
Two one-run games in a championship final? That’s enough to crush even the most experienced veterans.
But after Sunday’s game, a 1-0 loss with the only run being scored in the sixth inning, the National squad handled it better than I, and I would say most people, ever realized.
While it was clear they most definitely wanted to win the NorCal tourney, making it two years in a row that a team from Hollister had held the honor, they were also just happy to be there.
They were in the outfield, dumping water on their coaches, throwing soft, squishy balls at one another, and chasing their teammates around the field. Basically, they were acting like 9- and 10-year-old kids. They even seemed to be enjoying themselves far more than Davis American.
But I think this is what gets lost sometimes in Little League.
These are kids. This is a learning experience for everyone involved. They are not getting paid. They are simply playing because they love the game.
I’ve been covering the Hollister Little League – both American and National – for a little more than a month now. And while I haven’t seen any unruly or just flat-out dumb behavior from any Hollister parent, I did see my fair share from some opposing teams.
In the Section 5 All-Star Tournament, I nearly winded up in the police blotter after Hollister National played Santa Clara Westside. I won’t get into the details of this particular Westside superfan, but I was perplexed as to what game he was watching, as he began to complain about the performance of Westside’s third base coach, who was a player as well.
If you’re so passionate about a Little League game that you begin to question and complain the decisions of the third-base coach, who just so happens to be a 9-year-old kid, I think it’s time to hit the showers. Or switch to decaf. Or have your significant other slap you across the face. One way or the other, just calm down.
At the East Hills Little League in San Jose, though, not only did they make the players state the Little League Player Pledge, but they also had a Parent Pledge as well:
~ I will teach all children to play fair and do their best.
~ I will positively support all managers, coaches, and players.
~ I will respect the decisions of the umpires.
~ I will praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game.
While it may seem unnecessary for Hollister, who support their teams no matter what, I think the Hollister Little League should adopt this pledge. If anything, it puts the game into perspective, and may remind any superfans out there that these are just kids.
