Last night our kids lost their last playoff game. It wasn't a surprise. We were playing an undefeated team--the team that 10 run ruled us last time--that team. We played the whole game (no cutoff for time or weather) and managed to keep them to only a one run lead. That's a victory as far as we are concerned. Plus, we did it without teaching them any unsportsmanlike plays.

As we were walking out the umpire stopped me to tell me two things.

1) He was very glad that our team made the playoffs because, of all the teams there, our kids showed more sportsmanship than anyone else. They congratulated the other team on nice plays, picked eachother up when they were down, never questioned the umps and never said anything about the other team. He also said that our coaches made sure that every kid left feeling good about how he played and not many coaches do that. Our kids had fun and it showed. It was good to hear after our previous run-in.

2) (And this is where I am very, very proud!) He said, "That catcher, the blonde--I think he's your son--he's a tough little player. He gets hit and gets right back in there. I love watching him behind the plate. I always see him taking care of the other guys on the team too. When your littlest player made the last out, your son was right there to tell him how well he had done for the whole game and that that one out didn't matter. You don't see that kind of a player very often. He's a good kid and a good team player." *sniff*

So, yeah, we lost. But I could care less. I have never been prouder of C and our team. After the game he was awarded the game ball for MVP of the season. And since I am bragging...and 'cause I know you wanna know....here are the stats:
For the summer league he lead the team in each of the following:
.643 batting average
6 singles
3 doubles
1 triple
1.000 slugging percentage
13 RBIs
.762 on base average**

He's very proud of that game ball. Maybe I will try and get a picture of it. For now, we are curled up in the air conditioning, after a morning of baseball camp, watching Benchwarmers.