Softball’s good sports

Not too many years ago, unsportsmanlike behavior at youth sporting events was isolated, but now it has escalated into almost common occurrence, and have, in turn, received plenty of media print.

There are distasteful incidents throughout the country where adult mentality unravels all that should be gained in competitive athletics.

This is a sad commentary on what should be role-model behavior on the part of parents or any other adult involved in or attending a youth athletic event. And, unfortunately, we read much more about the bad, rather than the good.

I’d like to change that by relating my personal experience during the past month while I was a spectator at a series of youth tournament softball games in Brewer, Bangor and Orrington. From my perspective, and without exception, the epitome of good sportsmanship was ongoing; from the playing field, from the dugouts and from the bleachers. I choose not to believe that what I observed was the exception. It deserves print!

My compliments are all inclusive to the teams that participated in the games I observed; but, specifically, my congratulations to the players, coaches and spectators of the Brewer 12-and-under All-Star softball team. “Media-wise” you are the silent majority.

M.D. Wilson

Ocala, Fla.

Proud of Old Town

My son had the great experience of making the Class B All-Star Little League team from Old Town this summer. After traveling around to different towns and watching all the different teams playing I was pleased to see the show of good sportsmanship the team members displayed.

As the season was winding down we were invited to Bar Harbor to play in a weekend tournament against several teams of Class A and Class B. The first team we played on Friday was the Acadian team, Class A. As we have experienced, the competition against these Class A teams is tough and the team and the coaches did a fine job of playing their hearts out and displaying good sportsmanship and just having fun even though we were being defeated in great numbers.

As I listened and watched the game I could not believe the actions of the other team’s coach toward his players. This is all while we were losing by 14 runs! But the Old Town coaches kept their composure and kept the team spirit alive. My point is, what kind of mark is this going to leave on the kids getting such treatment embedded in their brain? Is it that important to put that much pressure on a kid and to yell at him for making a mistake? I think not.

Hats off to the coaches of the Old Town 11- and 12-year-old Class B All-Star. Your hard work and good sportsmanship did not go unnoticed. Thank you so much to coaches Jeff Ramp, Alvin Wasson, and Herb Buck. You made us proud to represent Old Town.

Kevin Gastia

Old Town

Letters may be mailed to: P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, or e-mailed: bdnsports@bangordailynews.net