Wow, we used to have a ten run rule when I played, wonder what happened to that. Kids getting beat like that can leave a scar that can damage self esteem. Never realized how many life lessons I was learning as a kid playing baseball(and other sports)’till I was grown.
Also, I hear Jessie jagoff is mobilized and yelling racism............what a shocker huh?
they must have been the away team piling up 43 runs, including those in the top half of the final inning.
there is a rarely used and informal “flip rule” where in such situations the overmatched home team agrees to bat in the top half of the the first inning in which the “run rule” applies.
other times, the umpires actually tell the coaches to have their baserunners leave the base early to call them out and get the overmatched team out of an inning.
this all being said, in an elimination situation such as a little league playoff game, it is understandable where none of these informal “rules” would be imposed.
it really sucks to think of all of those teams whose playoff hopes and dreams were eliminated by these cheaters.
I was on the losing end of many lop-sided scores in a variety of sports including football, baseball, and basketball in my fairly nondescript athletic career. It didn't deter me one bit.
One time my grade school football team got beat 63-0 by another team that had four or five coaches. We didn't have a coach. Nevertheless, a number of kids on my team became excellent high school football players (not me). One starred in college.
My summer, teenage, fastpitch softball team got beat 42-0 one time (no-hitter) because (1) the opposing pitcher was real good and (2) our coach forgot the keys to our equipment. We went to the game without our softball bats. The opposing team would not let us use any of their bats, and we had to use an extremely heavy baseball bat that we could barely swing.
I've been on the losing end of a number of other lop-sided scores including getting beat by my older brother in everything. My self-esteem didn't suffer one bit. It just made me more determined.
Nah, kids are more resilient than folks give them credit for. All of this “looking out” for the kids is what actually prevents them from learning how to cope with disappointments (beatdowns) like this.
I’ve lost count of how many folks I encounter who have absolutely no ability to cope with even the smallest of disappointments...they go into a meltdown, tantrums all around...simply amazing.
I played LL and we took a beatdown of similar proportions except the game was called due to time...no mercy rule, nothing except a good ‘ole fashioned butt whipping...and we didn’t get out of the 2nd inning...each and every player pitched in an effort to get those guys out. We simply sucked compared to our competition.
Our son played on a team that went undefeated in the regular season and lost in the first round of the playoffs...some tears of frustration...but I have not heard him talk about the loss, but rather that they went undefeated...
Ten run rule is after four innings, I believe.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5218228
Want to feel good for a week. Read this story about sportsmanship and youth sports.
I remember playing on a traveling All-Star team as a 12 year old many many years ago. At one tournament, there was a team that, after years of lobbying, was allowed to play. They were horrible and it was sad, even for us. After we batted through the lineup twice in the first inning, there was a meeting of the coaches and umpire. League rules required the game to be finished. Several of us were benched and the positions re-organized. Our hitters were forced to bunt at every at bat by coaches. I am not sure what was worse, the crushing score or the insult of trying to get through the game. At 12, it was uncomfortable for the players, fans and coaches.