Amanda slides into home for the run.

The game was one of the best I had been to in a while. The team just did an excellent job. They didn’t let anyone get by with anything, and they played smart.

The game also reinforced that I really like the coach for this team. He has coached Justin in the past, and his kids have been on my kids teams more than once, but the guy is just a great coach. He is always teaching lessons to the kids, and he always encourages the kids. He reinforces positive behavior and is just a great role model (as is his wife).

At one point, there was a controversial play. My daughter, Amanda, was up to bat. There is a rule in this league that if the catcher drops the ball after the third strike, the batter can run to first and continue. Amanda struck out; the catcher dropped the ball; and Amanda ran to first.

The other team fell apart and confusion reined. The bases were loaded and soon the three runners had stolen home and Amanda was on second base.

After a brief conference with the other team’s coach, the umpire declared the batter was out and the three runs don’t count and the runners need to come back to their bases. Apparently, the dropped-ball-after-three-strikes rule doesn’t apply when there is a runner on first base.

Our coach put up his hands up and said, “Wait a minute.” The umpire was clearly prepared for an argument, but our coach didn’t even give him one. With his hands up, he said (not screamed or yelled), “You are right. The batter is out, but it was a live ball and the runs should still count.” The umpire realized the coach was right, Amanda was out, and the runs all counted.

That moment — with the other team screaming and confusion reining — could have gone very differently with a different coach. I’ve witnessed other coaches losing their cool and being thrown from the game (yes, even at Little League level), but I am very proud to say this calm guy is my kids’ coach. He plays the kids fairly and calmly. He is always focused on teaching and sportsmanship. It just makes going to the games fun.

I should also mention that the other coach also reacted in a classy manner. She immediately accepted the runs and called out encouragement to her players stating the misplay was her fault not theirs and apologized.

Although I described in detail the time Amanda was up to bat and struck out, she also got a nice hit and several walks at her times up to bat. Plus she made some great plays at second base and shortstop.

Autumn also called me to let me know that she had hit the ball to the fence during her game although she was tagged out when she tried to make it to third. Autumn was very proud of her hit to the fence.

Justin had his first game last night too. I wasn’t able to attend, but he had fun despite his team’s loss.

It could not have been a fun game for the other team. The top of the first inning took over an hour, and our team racked up 16 runs before giving up the batter’s box to the other team, which answered with only one run. The final score, after two hours of play and only three innings, was 28 to 4 in our favor. It was clear that the girls on the team had learned a lot from the all-star tournament most of them had participated in last year (and been soundly stomped).

I should note that I am very happy with all of the coaches working with my kids this year. I am not one to complain if my kid doesn’t get to play. Most of the bad behavior by coaches has happened at games I’ve attended, but it seems to be mostly the other team’s coaches (like the time the umpire ejected a coach from the game).