Aug
19
“Through An Umpire’s Eyes”
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Donald Jensen was struck in the head by a thrown bat while umpiring a Little League game in Terre Haute, Indiana. He continued to work the game, but later that evening was placed in the hospital by a doctor. While being kept overnight for observation, Jensen wrote the following letter:
Dear Parent of a Little Leaguer:
I’m an umpire. I don’t do it for a living, but only on Saturdays and Sundays for fun. I’ve played the game, coached it and watched it. But somehow, nothing takes the place of umpiring. Maybe it’s because I feel that deep down I’m providing a fair chance for all the kids to play the game without disagreements and arguments.
With all the fun I’ve had, there is still something that bothers me about my job. Some of you folks don’t understand why I’m here. Some of you feel I’m there to exert authority over your son. For that reason, you often yell at me when I make a mistake, or encourage your son to say things that hurt my feelings. How many of you really understand that I try to be perfect? I try not to make a mistake. I don’t want your son to feel he got a bad deal from an umpire. Yet no matter how hard I try, I can’t be perfect. I counted the number of calls I made in a six-inning game today. The total number of decisions, whether on balls and strikes or safe and outs, was 146. I tried my best to get them all right, but I’m sure I missed some. When I figured out my percentage on paper, I could have missed eight calls today and still gotten about 95 percent of the calls right.
In most occupations that percentage would be considered excellent. If I were in school, that grade would receive an “A” for sure. But your demands are higher than that. Let me tell you more about my game today. There was one real close call that ended the game. A runner for the home team was trying to steal the plate on a passed ball. The catcher chased the ball down and threw to the pitcher covering the plate. The pitcher made the tag and I called the runner out. As I was getting my equipment to leave, I overheard one of the parents comment, “It’s too bad the kids have to lose games because of rotten umpires. That was one of the lousiest calls I’ve ever seen.” Later, at the concession stand, a couple of kids were telling their friends, “Boy, the umpires were lousy today. They lost the game for us.” I felt just terrible when I got home. Here was a group of kids who had made a lot of mistakes which had cost them a number of runs.
The purpose of Little League is to teach baseball skills to young men. Obviously, a team which does not play well in a given game, yet is given the opportunity to blame that loss on an umpire for one call or two, is being given the chance to take all responsibility for the loss from their shoulders. A parent or adult leader who permits the younger player to blame his failures on an umpire, regardless of the quality of that umpire, is doing the worst kind of injustice to that youngster. Rather than learning responsibility, such an attitude is fostering an improper outlook toward the ideals of the game itself. This irresponsibility is bound to carry over to future years.
As I sit here writing this letter, I am no longer as upset as I was this afternoon, I wanted to quit umpiring, but fortunately, my wife reminded me of another situation that occurred last week. I was umpiring behind the plate for a pitcher who pantomimed his displeasure at any call on a borderline pitch that was not in his team’s favour. One could sense that he wanted the crowd to realise that he was a fine, talented player who was doing his best to get along, but that I was a black-hearted villain who was working against him. The kid continued acting like this for two innings, while at the same time yelling at his own players, who dared to make a mistake. For two innings the manager watched this. When the kid returned to the dugout to bat in the top of the third, the manager called him aside. In a voice loud enough that I was able to overhear, the lecture went like this: “Listen son, it is time you made a decision. You can be an umpire, an actor, or a pitcher. But you can only be one at a time when you are playing for me. Right now it is your job to pitch. And, you are basically doing a lousy job. Leave the acting to actors, the umpiring to the umpires, or you won’t do any pitching here. Now what is it going to be?”
Needless to say, the kid chose the pitching route and went on to win the game. When the game was over the kid followed me to my car. Fighting his hardest to keep back the tears he apologized for his actions and thanked me for umpiring his game. He said he had learned a lesson that he would never forget.
I can’t help but wonder how many more fine young men are missing their chance to develop into outstanding ball players because their parents encourage them to spend time umpiring.
The following morning Donald Jensen died of a brain concussion.
This story is taken from A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit
Aug
8
Fall Little League Registration at Braden River
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located at the corner of SR 70 and Natalie Way
5201 51st St. East, Bradenton FL 34203
Jul
25
Please DO NOT try this at a stadium or arena near you.
Jul
17
Manatee East Claims Another Title
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Friday July 16, 2010
Manatee County Florida District 26 at Lakewood Ranch Park
11/12 year old
Manatee East 14 - Manatee West 4
Manatee East Wins the District 26 title.
Juniors
Manatee West 6 - North River National 8
The series is all tied up at one game each. Game 3 will be played Saturday at 10 at Lakewood Ranch to decide the championship.
Sectional Tournament at Bloomingdale
9/10 Year Old
Manatee East 9 - Bloomingdale 14
10/11 Year Old
Manatee East 0 - Plant City 14
4 inning mercy rule
Jul
14
Sarasota West Wins Championship
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Tuesday July 13, 2010
Sarasota County Florida District 16 at Twin Lakes Park
11/12 year old
Sarasota West 4 - North Port 1
Sarasota West WINS the District 16 title. They now advance to the Sectional tournament in Lehigh Acres.
Manatee County Florida District 126 at Lakewood Ranch Park
11/12 year old
Braden River 8 - Manatee West 7
Manatee East 8 - Manatee American 4
Juniors
North River National 6 - Braden River 5
A best 2 out of 3 will be played between North River National and Manatee West for the Championship
Jul
11
Saturday July 10, 2010
Manatee County Florida District 26 at Lakewood Ranch Park
9/10 Year Old
Manatee East 9 - North River National 6
Another crown for Manatee East Little League. This time in the 9/10 year old division. They join the 10/11 year old team as champions of their divisions.
11/12 Year Old
Manatee West 9 - Braden River 7
Manatee East 14 - North River American 1
Manatee American 10 - North River Nataional 5
Junior League
North River National 8 - Manatee West 5
Jul
9
Thursday July 8, 2010
Manatee County Florida District 26
10/11 Year Old
Manatee West 13 - North River National 1
9/10 Year Old
North River National 18 - Braden River 5
11/12 Year Old
Manatee East 10- Manatee American 0
Braden River 15 - North River American 3
Junior League
Manatee West 2 - Braden River 1
Sarasota County Florida District 16
11/12 Year Old
North Port 7 - Venice National 5
Venice American 5 - Sarasota Florida 4
Jul
8
Youth Baseball All-Star Tournament Scores
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Manatee County Florida District 26
Wednesday July 7, 2010
10/11 Year Old
Manatee East 6 - Manatee West 3
Manatee American 27 - North River American 3
Braden River 13 - North River National 0
9/10 Year Old
North River National 5 - Manatee American 0
Manatee East 10 - Braden River 9
Junior League
Manatee West 7 - North River National 6
Jul
6
Score a FREE Ticket to a Marauders Game Just For Reading A Book
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Have your child take part in the “Reading Scores Program” - All a child needs to do is read four books. For each book the child reads, he/she advances one base. When the reader makes it home, he/she wins a free ticket to a Marauders game. Information and Flyers can be picked up at any Manatee County Library. Great incentive and a great time as a pay-off … Start them reading today!!!
Jul
3
It’s a busy time of year for parents and little league players in world. We would like you to post you comments about your local tourments that you are attending. We are located in Bradenton Florida, District 26 Little League and we have been fighting the rain for the last week, but getting games in, with only a few going up til the cerfew.
Post your comments and tell us your stories.