More Sports Parents Behaving Badly...

[Geoff_M]

(Sigh)... Local this time...

Insults and allegations thrown at Little League championship game

By Mark Albert News 3 Reporter
July 22, 2004 - 9:38AM

KALAMAZOO (NEWS 3) - It was not an ideal championship game. Organizers dreamed of a summer Little League game between friendly rivals under a hot sun. Instead, on Wednesday evening, under ominous gray clouds, two bitter teams hurled more than pitches at each other - they threw insults, allegations, and names.

"They shouldn't have cheated in the first place," argued South Portage parent Michele Crill near the first base stands about the opposing team. "They're false," shot back West Portage parent Sheri Harrington on the third base side. "We did not know (our pitcher) was not eligible."
The entire game at Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo was a rematch of Saturday's District 2 Championship Game.

On Tuesday, the eight-member International Little League Tournament Committee in Williamsport, Pennsylvania ordered the game result - West Portage won by 7-5 - tossed because West Portage had an ineligible player, according to spokesman Chris Downs.

Officials determined Emily Bosch did not play in the required number of regular season games and therefore should not have competed in the playoffs. They ordered the championship game re-played, even as opening ceremonies at the state Little League championships were beginning nine hours to the north, in Marquette.

As parents and fans arrived at the Kalamazoo field Wednesday, they continued an already intense and ugly rivalry. Paint on one parent's car read, "Kleenex for crybabies... Go West Portage, the REAL District 2 Champs."

"Yeah, I'm ashamed to be involved in this," admitted South Portage parent Kevin Faux. "I try to tell (my daughter) that adults should be role models and then this happens."

Other parents were emotional. West Portage parent Sheri Harrington tried to choke back tears as she talked about the rematch. "We should have been up at state," Harrington said. "Right now, we're missing opening ceremonies and again the (other team's) parents are protesting the game!"

Karrie Bowe, also a West Portage parent, wished the parents would "stay out of it more and let the kids play."

District manager Bud Vanderberg, who runs the local Little League games, told News 3 in a brief interview, "It's a game - that's what it's supposed to be, a game. Things were done wrong and we're trying to correct them."

Rain finally stopped the game in the fourth inning as South Portage led, 6-2. Umpires decided to resume the game at 9 o'clock Thursday morning, after state officials allowed the winner's 2 p.m. match in Marquette to be pushed back until 7 p.m.

The scheduling means both teams will come to Thursday's game with luggage packed for a state game they may not play. For the winners, clinching the district title will be followed by a rushed, nine-hour drive to the Upper Peninsula.

Michele Crill, the South Portage parent, hoped the controversy would teach both teams a lesson. "Let your kids have fun, play fairly, and may the best team win."

When play resumed Thursday morning, South Portage won the district championship by a final score of 6-3.

http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=10096&template=breakout_local.html

 

[doxdogy]

I myself have never understood this type of behavior. It is just a game for goodness sakes. I would be more concerned about my children learning the sport and the true spirit of good sportsmanship.

 

[BrerMom]

That poor kid. Shouldn't they have printed the names of the other players, or at least the names of coaches, if they were going to print the her name?

It's a sad situation all the way around. Packing your clothes before the game so you can leave from the game if you win? Bet there were tears after that game.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

The parents need to be upset with the coaches. When you get into competitive leagues that advance to tournaments, it's the responsibility of the coach to make sure all of their ducks are in a row. Birth certificates, documentation of player participation, SS#'s, etc.

I am very surprised they replayed the game at all.... I would have thought the offending team would just forfeit and that would be the end of it.

Yes, it's sad that it comes to this, but the rules are there to be followed and if you choose to participate at this level - it's all part of the game.