Sports

Last Updated on Saturday, 29 June 2019 17:25

Team Coaches and Parents Rally to Hold Their Own Tournament For Talented U8 Baseball Teams Excluded From Play Elsewhere

By Elizabeth Polovina

The morning of June 10, 2019, coaches and parents from the ‘Smithton Red Sox’ and ‘Charleroi B’, the top two ranked U8 Pinto teams in the Mon Valley Baseball Association (MVBA) awoke to the news that their teams were eliminated from that weekend’s tournament because of their decision to invoke the “Competitive Balance Rule.”

Players from the U8 Pinto ‘Smithton Red Sox’ and ‘Charleroi B’, baseball teams shake hands after a well played game. (Photo credit: Eli Polovina)

Further explanation of the "rule" by the MVBA Board was clear; "where two teams are in the same territory (town) and the records of those two teams differ by more than 40%, by default, the team with the better record is eliminated from the tournament". Both Charleroi and Smithton were fortunate to have enough players to field two teams, and as it would turnout one team from each community happened to be ranked 1 and 2 by their season record. Thus, both U8 teams with the best records were scratched from the 2019 MVBA tournament.

Soon thereafter, a swift outpouring of support from parents, teams, and communities began making the social media rounds. Charleroi B appealed the decision and pled their case to the MVBA Board and coaches in an emergency meeting. Passionate speeches and pleas for reconsideration were made, not only for the impending tournament, but also for the future of the association. The Competitive Balance Rule, they argued, may make sense, and even seem logical to adults, but not as much when it comes to 7 and 8-year-old boys who made the sacrifices to play and win. Reiterations of “Let Them Play” became a mantra for community supporters in Smithton and Charleroi.

The Smithton Red Sox Head Coach, Nathan Maroney, opted to not appeal to the MVBA Board, instead, he reached out to Charleroi B’s Head Coach, PJ Jones to set up a best of a three game tournament against each other. Who would not want to see the two teams with the best records play one another?

‘Smithton Red Sox’ and ‘Charleroi B’ teams pictured with their trophies

So, the Smithton Red Sox vs. Charleroi B "tournament outside the tournament” was set. Coaches and parents from both teams swiftly coordinated field reservations, concession schedules, orders for trophies, MVP medals, personalized water bottles and t-shirts, and baseball themed cupcake cakes--this was the opportunity that these boys had worked for, the opportunity that they deserved. Thunder was not going to be stolen from these boys.

The teams played their first playoff game on Friday evening, June 14 in Smithton. Charleroi B won by two that night (15-13), but it was a hard-fought win -- Smithton has a strong team.

The teams met again the next day for round two. Game three was reserved for later that night if needed. The game had fast throws across the field, great stretches from basemen reaching the catch. Dives into the dirt, on the grass, and across the plate dirtied uniforms with the mark of a hard fight. Halfway through the game, Smithton held a five-run lead and most in attendance figured that a deciding game three would be played that day. But then, only as kids determination can do, the five-run lead was shortened to a difference of two.

In the bottom of the last inning with two outs and two strikes, Charleroi B hit a walk off three run homerun to win the game. Their dugout emptied onto the field, and the moment every baseball playing boy dreams about had happened. The inevitable defeat was saved by an 8 year old who believes in himself, his coach, his team and most of all—that baseball is still fun.

When one team wins, another must lose. While no one wants to be the team who loses, there can be no winning if there is no playing. It is in our losses that we learn strength, determination, resolve, self-respect, and hard work. Both Smithton Red Sox and Charleroi B are two very talented and skilled teams who played with passion for the game, for their team, for their families, and for themselves. The coaches, kids, and parents of these two teams hit it out of the park.

Babe Ruth once said the famous line: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” For those on the Smithton Red Sox, Charleroi B, and every boy who drags his baseball bag onto the dusty field to play ball, you are carrying the legacy of every man who once played and loved the game. Sometimes, however, adults don’t get it right. This time, many adults didn’t get it right, and for that, we are sorry. Adult leaders should always support the right thing, the coaches of the Smithton Red Sox and The Charleroi B team did. Kids should always be able to get out there and play-win or lose. And play they did.

(In the Teams Photo above:) Players and coaches of the ‘Smithton Red Sox’ and ‘Charleroi B’ teams pictured with their trophies. At left, (from L to R) the Smithton Red Sox: front row - Hayden Janos, Thomas Yohe, Luca Payne, Tommy Seigh, Dylan Brown, Logan Caughman, Billy Kuester, Nate Maroney, Jackson Nightman, Hunter Auen, Chase Brown (not pictured) Elijah Shiery. Back row - Smithton Coaches, Chad Brown, Derek Auen, and Nathan Maroney. From center (L to R) the Charleroi B team: front row - Noah Lehr, Brody DeUnger, Logan Richardson, Ethan Polovina, Dylan Carpenter, Lucas Jones, Brayden Stinogle, Mason Sawicky, Tristyn Woods. Back row - Charleroi B Coaches: PJ Jones, Scott DeUnger, Tim Sawicky, Russ Carpenter (Photo credit: Eli Polovina)