Our local rec league started its fall season last weekend so after my 5-year old finished his game we walked over to a neighboring field to watch my 9-year old's friend play. Turns out his friend was on the mound and the game was almost over. The mom let us know that her son was going for a perfect game. Sure enough, a couple of batters later he completed the task and there was much celebrating on and off the field.
But something didn't sit right with me. Rather than cast aspersions or rain on someone else's parade, I figured I'd get your feedback.
I know the 8-year olds have a strict pitch count. Isn't it safe to assume 9-year olds do as well? I've got to figure they blew past that in a 6 inning game.
From what I've been told, 9-year olds in our league switch to hardball for the first time along with a few other rule changes (limited stealing, for example, and I think they go from 6 balls for a walk to 4). Do most 9-year old levels also have one boy pitch the whole game?
The boy is a good player, although not nearly as good as his parents think. They're very competitive in all things, both on and off the field and his dad was one of the coaches so if there was a bending of the rules to favor his son, I wouldn't be surprised.
One final thing - it was a little weird to witness all the celebrating when just a few feet away was another group of 9-year olds who just spend a couple of hours playing ball with not one of them reaching base.
I completely acknowledge I could be looking at this the wrong way, so I'd be curious to read what all of you think about this.
But something didn't sit right with me. Rather than cast aspersions or rain on someone else's parade, I figured I'd get your feedback.
I know the 8-year olds have a strict pitch count. Isn't it safe to assume 9-year olds do as well? I've got to figure they blew past that in a 6 inning game.
From what I've been told, 9-year olds in our league switch to hardball for the first time along with a few other rule changes (limited stealing, for example, and I think they go from 6 balls for a walk to 4). Do most 9-year old levels also have one boy pitch the whole game?
The boy is a good player, although not nearly as good as his parents think. They're very competitive in all things, both on and off the field and his dad was one of the coaches so if there was a bending of the rules to favor his son, I wouldn't be surprised.
One final thing - it was a little weird to witness all the celebrating when just a few feet away was another group of 9-year olds who just spend a couple of hours playing ball with not one of them reaching base.
I completely acknowledge I could be looking at this the wrong way, so I'd be curious to read what all of you think about this.
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