I kinda left you hanging on that last one, didn't I?
A big build-up... nothing too dramatic. Here's the short story:
I keep score for the Little League game for our team. Part of my job is to make sure the teams are batting in order. If a batter gets on base out-of-order and it is brought to the attention of the umpire, they are out. So if it's our team, I want to catch it before it happens... if it's the other team, I tell the coach (my husband) and let him decide what he wants to do with that info.
We were playing the team coached by one of the nicest guys in the world, and they wanted to beat us bad. Our team is in first place, and is undefeated. In the second inning, they were ahead 3-0 and one of their players came up out of order, so I went over and told our assistant coach. He said, "Don't say anything." So I just went and sat back down.
The batter got on base, our assistant coach called time out, the coaches from both teams had a pow-wow with the ump, and the player was called out. The game continued, and we ended up winning by a significant amount.
I felt rotten because the coach is such a nice guy. After the game, I went over to him and told him that I felt really bad about doing that... and he was not happy at all about the outcome of the game, nor my role in their demise (sounds dramatic, doesn't it?).
I went over and over in my brain about what I could/should have done, and I feel I did the only thing I could have. If I had kept the info to myself, I wouldn't have been doing my job. And if our team had ended up losing, I would have felt guilty about that.
Really a no-win. The worst part? I was worried we lost a friend because of it.
Like I said, not the most critical thing in the world, but it got to me and kept bugging me. Sometimes Little League is not so little.
ahhh I see the dilema...I have no good advice, except "there's no crying in baseball" does that apply to little league??? don't feel to badly, it IS a game...and like monoploy, if you're not paying attention to the game, you can't blame anyone but yourself if you don't collect rent :)
Posted by: moki | May 13, 2007 at 12:52 AM
It's a horrible place to be in - but you did nothing wrong. If you lose a friend over this - did you really lose someone of quality? :/ Don't be too hard on yourself!
Posted by: Amy | May 13, 2007 at 12:54 AM
That totally sucks that you had to be put in a situation like that. But, a game is a game and if this other coach is any kind of friend he will realize that and life will go on!
You did the right thing. Really you did!
Marly
Posted by: Yarn Thing | May 13, 2007 at 12:59 AM
A true friend won't be lost over something like that. Besides, its not all about winning. It's about playing the game fairly and to the best of the teams ability. (Obviously your team ROCKS!!)
Posted by: ~Kristie | May 13, 2007 at 02:07 AM
It should all be about having fun...and I agree with Kristie, a "true friend won't be lost over something like that." So don't worry. You did the right thing! :) HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Posted by: Maria | May 13, 2007 at 06:34 AM
You did the right thing! You tried to help them, it's too bad they can't see that. ((hugs))
Happy Mother's Day!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | May 13, 2007 at 08:48 PM
I can't wait til Sean plays little league!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
ps- I agree, it's not all about winning, it's about having fun!
Posted by: Robyn | May 14, 2007 at 12:44 AM
I definitely think you did the right thing--that's your job. You want your kids to see you being honest. And come to think of it, I'm sure they knew he was batting out of order, so don't you think they put you in the awkward situation? If he was upset by the loss and that calling that player out of order, then they knew they had something to gain by rearranging it. Just my 2 cents...
Posted by: kdy12570 | May 29, 2007 at 11:57 PM