cooperstown- day 4

Well, 2 more Royals losses, but honestly that’s so not the important thing. And I was reminded of this fact today. I am SO proud of all the Royals boys and the coaches for the way they are playing every single game with heart and class. They may not be the best team out there (not by a lot- they’re currently ranked 101 out of 104 teams) but they are the best behaved, most respectful, nicest bunch of kids you could meet on a ball field or anywhere else. Let me explain…

The first game the boys lost 7-2. They played a perfectly respectable game, they just lost.

The second game vs. the New Hampshire Cats they lost 25-4. And let me tell you that this team- the New Hampshire Cats- were the most disgustingly behaved, ill mannered, pieces of crap I have EVER seen play baseball. (sorry- not sorry). They were beyond bad sports, heckling the crap out of our team when they were already winning 20-4, yelling from the dugout, yelling during our pitchers windups, talking trash in the field. I even yelled from the parents stands for some kid in the field to shut up (yeah, he definitely heard me) and another one to drop the fly ball (again sorry, not sorry). When they were up 25-4 and our boys were up at bat in the last inning before they got mercy ruled, they switched pitchers!! Switched effing pitchers to make sure no one else got a run so we didn’t mess up their standings by getting another run. And the umps were terrible, letting this heckling go on during the game. All of them should be ashamed of themselves and I sincerly hope the parents of the Cats are very proud of their disgusting kids. Although the way the parents were behaving, it’s no guess where the kids learned their “sportsmanship” skills from. (in all fairness I have to add that the boys mentioned the catcher was nice, being a really good sport and that there were one or two other kids who were good sports as well). But overall, ew.

I’m happy to report that our Royals got more runs on the Cats than any other team they’ve played this week. Including Anthony stealing home!!! So we did mess up their standings a bit, and I heard they were pissed. Good for them. Suck on that.

I’d like to add that in every game so far this week (so that’s 6 games out of 6 played) the boys and coaches have received nothing but compliments from the other teams and the umps. How nice the boys are, how hard they are playing, how respectful, how supportive of eachother they are. And that my friends is truly what baseball is about. And you know I know nothing about baseball.

If you are reading this and don’t agree with my views, you’re more than welcome to your opinion. But this is my blog, and I’ll write what I want. And I’m not being a mom who is feeling sorry for our team who didn’t win. They haven’t won one single game here in Cooperstown, but everyone else they’ve played have been excellent teams both in skill and sportsmanship. Isn’t that the way its supposed to be???

On to happier news- I finally got a whole team picture!!

Top row: Coach Jamie, Coach John H, Anthony, Jamie, James, Bobby, Johnny H, Kevin, Glenn, Mike

Bottom row: Jack C, Zach, Johnny C, Jack, Michael, Patrick, Coach John B

So go Royals!! I don’t care if you don’t win any games (playoffs start today- so keep your fingers, toes, whatever crossed for our boys to win just ONE game) but you keep on being of such amazing character and class and you will always win. At least where it counts.

(and even after all of this BS, they are still smiling, laughing and having an amazing time TOGETHER.) A little side note about this picture. Apparently, there was some ummmm….gas flying in the bunkhouse the other night. Like farts that someone said if you opened your eyes you would see the mushroom cloud from the nuclear blast. With hang time like no one’s business. So they did a recreation for a photo to comemmorate one of their fondest Cooperstown memories to date. Can you guess who the culprit was?