A game within a game.....

[Ralph Damren]

While this could have been posted under the baseball topic, I felt the human interest should bring it here...

SCENE: A not very good team was hosting a very good team. I was the base ump, as the infielders throw the ball around prior to the start of an inning, we position ourselves on the edge of the outfield grass behind the second baseman as to stay out of the way.

ACT I : I noticed Lil' Smitty, the second baseman, drawing something with the heal of his shoe. I asked if he was putting in
           his initials. 

ACT II : Lil' Smitty responded, "Na, ump, I wanta' play tic-tac-toe with their second baseman. Will you let him know ?" As he placed his 'X' in the middle, I agreed . 

ACT III:  I passed on the message, the opposing player agreed and placed his 'O' .

ACT IV: In the top of the 4th inning Lil' Smitty WON 

ACT V: After the 5th inning, his team lost 16-1 (NFHS 10 run rule).

ACT VI: In the handshake line, borh 2nd basemen hugged. Lil' Smitty's teammates all patted him on his back  .

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not claiming to be a tic-tac-toe aficionado, I believe if you open with X in the middle you'll win nearly all of the time. In a game that appeared to be a blowout, some kids still found a way to have fun  .

To me, this is what high school sports is all about...kids having fun. 

[ElvisLives]

While this could have been posted under the baseball topic, I felt the human interest should bring it here...

SCENE: A not very good team was hosting a very good team. I was the base ump, as the infielders throw the ball around prior to the start of an inning, we position ourselves on the edge of the outfield grass behind the second baseman as to stay out of the way.

ACT I : I noticed Lil' Smitty, the second baseman, drawing something with the heal of his shoe. I asked if he was putting in
           his initials. 

ACT II : Lil' Smitty responded, "Na, ump, I wanta' play tic-tac-toe with their second baseman. Will you let him know ?" As he placed his 'X' in the middle, I agreed . 

ACT III:  I passed on the message, the opposing player agreed and placed his 'O' .

ACT IV: In the top of the 4th inning Lil' Smitty WON 

ACT V: After the 5th inning, his team lost 16-1 (NFHS 10 run rule).

ACT VI: In the handshake line, borh 2nd basemen hugged. Lil' Smitty's teammates all patted him on his back  .

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not claiming to be a tic-tac-toe aficionado, I believe if you open with X in the middle you'll win nearly all of the time. In a game that appeared to be a blowout, some kids still found a way to have fun  .

To me, this is what high school sports is all about...kids having fun. 

Ralph, I 100% agree that this how amateur sports should be. Sadly, and especially now that the NCAA has agreed to allow institutions to directly pay their athletes, it won’t be long until the parents of high school kids will want their kids to get paid to play high school sports or other competitions. Might not happen in my lifetime (but, then, I’m, 71). But it will happen if things keep going the way they are.
But a  and a  to those two second basemen.

[AlUpstateNY]

There are a lot of good things we learn as we mature, but there's a lot of equally good things we tend to forget, from when we were kids.