LOST SPIRIT FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL
I hope You will give me a little of your time.
My name is Mike. I believe Union City Little league Naugatuck CT. where my son has played baseball 8 years is taking the spirit of baseball from him. My son has been playing little league for his mom who died of Breast Cancer 4 years ago when he was 9.
My son is a very talented pitcher who has beaten every team he has faced not only in our town league regular season, but also in the lower valley Shelton, Ansonia, Derby during fall ball. My son would pitched 3 great innings per game showing the valley Naugatuck had some great competition in the coming years . But my son has never been treated fairly when all-star time came .
Partly I believe was because of a dumb father (me) maybe getting over excited or maybe not knowing I may have said
something that was taken wrong which offended a few coaches who are the all-star coaches.
My son was asked to play on the 9/10 all-stars a few years ago But because the assistant coach called my son a derelict for a misplayed ball to right field during a game. I pulled my son from the team and filed a complaint and nothing was ever done ,except followed my son in a negative way to this day. I knew something was wrong from the start because during practice on the 9/10 all-star team this same coach would make sure he hit bullets to my son in practice then stand there and say? couldn?t catch that one could you? and ?I don?t know what they see in you?. Don?t figure the position my son was trying ended up this coaches son?s position .
When I asked the 11/12 year old all-star coach this year why he didn?t pick my son I was given reasons that reflect personal feeling which judge character Quote " I never felt a bond between me and your son when we played fall ball this past summer 09 He felt that was a disrespect. When I asked my son if this was true he told me ?the coach would yell a lot mostly at his own son but it left a negative impression on my son so my son tried not to make too much eye contact with him. He also said when my son is asked to play another position he?s negative.
But Without team practice during regular my son couldn?t learn a new position without game pressure. I don't blame him for being leery when asked to play some other position during a game. One or two weeks of practice before the season starts don?t cut it and because I?m disabled I can?t help the little guy too much and if fall ball was to be laidback my son was being evaluated.
My son?s regular season coach of the UCLL Yankees believed he was ready as his 12 year old choice for the 2010 11/12 all-stars but because a coach who is letting his personal feelings from last year and past all-star participation judge my son has kept him from being on the 11/12 year old all-star team this year and is keeping a good ball player from growing by playing better teams.
The Union City 11/12 year old all-stars has players on their roster who were benched for poor sportsmanship during regular season play because their team lost every game it played they would blame each other for the errors made also flinging helmets and bats returning to the dugout after being struck out . One of the boys told his coach he was hurt and couldn't play but was seen by the other all-star coach playing basketball instead. but for what ever reason they over looked the poor sportsmanship attitudes and let them play on the 11/12 all-star .
The reasons given to me why my son wasn't picked seem unjust when you look at how these other boys acted Btw one of those boys said nasty things about my son wearing his mom's head scarf thru the years.
My son was good enough to lead a very young 3rd place team to a championship game and lead his team in RBI?s and hitting should deserves a chance to play with a group of very talented 11/12 year olds.
My son has taken all his trophies and game balls put them neatly in a cardboard box and put them in storage .with tears in his eye looking up I heard him say sorry to his mom because he couldn't fulfill his promise he made. I see my son loosing his spirit for baseball. I?m unsure he even wants to play Babe- Ruth next year because the same group will be moving up and he feels he will never get a fair shake.
I would Love to see a little boy who has had a very tragic start in life get the respect he deserves for his commitment to Breast Cancer, baseball and most of all his mom get to play.
Leagues are full of good coaches but one has to admit their son would come before mine with a selfish pick for an all-star team. Coaches shouldn't have the privilege to pick all-stars nor the board which is usually the coaches/volunteers.
Or shouldn?t be able to judge a boy's character which gives the coaches a wide rang of excuse when needed to justify a decision.
I can?t tell you how decisions should be made but gross abuse happens every year with all-star picks and I?m sure in just about every little league some very talented little leaguer looses a chance to play because a coach?s selfishness or maybe he just don?t like the child or parent.
I want to thank Union City Little League in Naugatuck C.T. for breaking a young man?s spirit for the game of baseball and most of all a promise he made to his mom.
Can someone point me in the right direction
