inthedougout

Little league can be brutal sometimes. We can all acknowledge that it's a game for kids, but if you've played, coached, or parented through even a minute of little league, you know that it's a complicated mish-mash of (1) kids that are really good; (2) kids that are there because their parents want them to be there; (3) kids that absolutely don't want to be there; and (4) way too many micromanaging parents. I can admit that I've probably pushed my oldest son a little too hard at times.  I often lose sight of the fact that he's only 8 years old and really wasn't in diapers all that long ago.  But as time has gone on, I've tried to catch my words before they even leave my mouth.  The less I've talked, the better.  That was the case until a game last week where we lost 26-1.  Yes, that's correct:  twenty-six to one.   We happened to run up against a team that consisted mostly of travel ball kids.  All good kids in their own respect, but d