Playoff time for Little League summer ball. During the regular season, the emphasis is on allowing everyone to play. There are 12 players on OB's team and everyone gets to bat even though only nine can play in the field at any one time. Free substitutions are allowed. Once the playoffs begin, that changes. At that point, only the nine players playing are allowed to bat with a tenth "extra" batter. Three kids are usually switched out in the fourth inning to allow them to play the last three innings.
Given OB's performance, I naturally expected that he would be one of the six kids who got to play the whole game. He is certainly one of the best fielders on the team and his bat has been one of the most consistent on the team. The team ended up 9-1 in the regular season, so the first game would be against one of the worst qualifying playoff teams (only 16 made it out of about 40).
Just before the game, OB walked up to me as I was sitting in the stands next to the dugout. He was obviously upset. He said he felt like he shouldn't even have come. Not only was he one of the three kids sitting in the dugout to start the game (shades of spring ball), but he also was not the tenth batter. I was puzzled by the decision, but what could I say? Coach had been fair all season long. It seemed odd that he would have suddenly benched OB. In my mind, I felt like this was a replay of the time in the Sandwich tournament when he flipped the order to allow the lesser kids a chance to play.
The game turned into a runaway. By the time OB got into the game, it was already 6-0. He only got one chance to bat. He was mad and he ripped a double to left down the left field line and ended up scoring. The game ended by mercy rule in the fifth inning 10-0.
After the game, I congratulated OB for keeping his head in the game and not sulking despite spending most of the game on the bench. I reasoned that things would change as soon as the next game.
Just prior to the game, we had an agonizing decision to make. Last year, OB had gone to Camp Yawgoog. This Boy Scout camp was a lot of fun for him, but he ended up missing the semi-final game. Sadly, the team lost there so there was nothing to come back to. This year, he would have to miss the last three playoff games (assuming they won) if he left on time like he was supposed to. The key sticking point is that OB only enjoyed the camp so much because he went with his friends. Assuming it would be possible to switch weeks, he would be going in as a complete stranger. He was not liking that strategy. It took him a few hours to process before he finally decided that he would do it. We switched his camp to the following week without an issue, but further games would require wins.
Today, that game came. To my surprise, he was again sitting. Again, he was not in the order. This time, I could barely contain my disappointment. One time could be explained. Two in a row? What had he done? After all of our maneuvering, how crushing would it be to lose here in the quarterfinals and sit home (instead of at camp with his friends).
I know that his bat had slumped towards the end of the year. He spent the last week of the season at day camp. Spending all day in the sun probably sapped his energy and he seemed a bit lethargic. Still, one would think that you shouldn't move from second or third in the order to the bench overnight!
Again, OB took it well. While he was upset, he's been doing a much better job of containing his emotions.
The game was a tense affair. As the higher seed, we got to bat last as the home team. In the bottom of the first, one of our kids hit a home run over the centerfield fence to give us a 2-0 lead. We gave back one in the second as the Nationals countered with their own home run to left. In the third, we had runners on first and second when the batter laced a hit to right field. While a run would score, an excellent throw cut down a runner at third and helped staunch the rally. We would end after four innings up 3-1.
OB got to bat in the bottom of the fourth. While he was anxious to do something, he ended up hitting a shot off the end of the bat which was easily caught by the third baseman.
In the top of the fifth, we ran into a bit of trouble. A walk and a double scored a run for the Nationals. With two out, coach popped out of the dugout and replaced the pitcher with our ace. He proceeded to allow a flare to right that fell just over the top of two boys and scored the tying run. He got out of the inning and now the score was tied at 3.
The Americans would go down in order in the bottom of the fifth. Our ace had pitched the first three innings on Saturday and he was noticeably tired. Normally, he has impeccable control. Today, he labored to find the strike zone. The first batter dumped a single into right. In the next at bat, he had two passed balls which moved the runner to second and third. He threw another changeup in the dirt which skipped past the catcher. The runner dashed home to try to score the go-ahead run but was cut down at the plate. Our ace then walked the boy at the plate. The next batter hit a shot to left center that fell for a double. The Nationals played aggressively and sent the runner from first home in an attempt to score that elusive go-ahead run. OB was playing center and rushed over to the ball. He threw a strike to the shortstop who relayed home in time to get the runner at the plate. Our ace then struck out the batter at the plate to end the top of the sixth.
I caught OB in the dugout area and congratulated him on his fine play. I reminded him that he was a good hitter and that he would do his best. I gave him a fist bump through the chain link fence and then walked out to right field to watch everything unfold.
The Americans had a crafty leadoff batter. He worked a walk. The next batter sacrificed him to second. After that, a groundout to short allowed the runner to get to third. OB was next in the order.
Here is my view from right field.
I meant to try to get video and I hit the wrong button. Before I could switch, the first pitch was thrown and OB launched it out to deep left center. Just about the time he reached the first base bag, it hit the ground and he watched as the winning run crossed the plate!
Maybe it's for the best. OB told me later that he will play this moment on repeat for a long time. I am so, so proud of him. He kept his head in the game and allowed himself to let his natural ability shine through in a critical moment for his team. There is a much larger lesson in this. So much of our life relies on our memories. I'm really glad this one went his way.
After the game, we stuck around to watch some of the older kids play. OB said that he had one regret. He got the winning hit off one of his good friends who was the pitcher on the mound at the time. I told him that baseball was like that. Some days, you can do your best and end up on the losing side. He said he still felt a little bad.
I am glad that OB has that kind of empathy. I'm also glad that he didn't throw away his shot!
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