March 28, 2024

Sportsmanship on display

True sportsmanship is hard to find these days, but it was definitely found on the Hoing Rice Baseball Diamond #3 in Waterloo this past weekend. The 12U championship game was played between a team from Newton and Waterloo West. As the base umpire, I had the opportunity to see these teams up close, to hear their conversations on the field between each other and the opposing team. I heard their coaches speak to them as teachers and as young learners.

Between innings and during pitcher changes, I made conversation with these young ballplayers just to see what they were thinking and to find out how they were doing. These players were positive with every word. I found out that this was the fourth meeting between these teams this summer, so they knew each other well. Not once did I hear from either team “We hate these guys” or “They’re going down.” What I heard from players on both teams was “They are a good team.”

Not coincidentally, these young athletes mirrored the actions of their coaches. The voices of the coaches were raised only to be heard from the dugout to the field or from the coaching box to the batter or runner. In the dugout, there were teaching words of encouragement, explanations on how a play should have gone and congratulations on a play well made. These coaches, these teams based winning not on a final score but the love of playing the game.

After the game was over, medals and championship rings were handed out, handshakes and congratulations were exchanged and parents came onto the field to take pictures. It was during this time when the teams were preparing to pack up and go home that the greatest show of sportsmanship I have ever witnessed either live or on a broadcast occurred. The teams decided to take a picture ... together.

The baseball players intermingled, many of them with their arms around a player who moments earlier had been their opponent. Though I never saw one of the pictures, I can honestly tell you that in that moment, everyone was a winner, and it was beautiful to witness. It was a gift, and I am so thankful to have been there to see it.

Thank you to those players, coaches and parents of Newton and Waterloo West for making my summer. Keep up the good work and do all you can to continue to convey the class and character that you displayed on Field #3 this past weekend.

Jim Vowels, IHSAA umpire

Waverly