His behavior after the play is an issue. Respect for the game means no throwing gloves, bats, helmets, hats in anger, period. And for fans not to see it as an issue is what is wrong with some of today's players. In my opinion a very disrespectful move that showed lack of class. I have seen other games end in the State Tournament in years past similar to this and the kids showed class and respect for the game through their disappointment and didn't lay on the ground for minutes, reject a teammate and throw their glove. This kid needs to grow up!

 

I hate to see kids throw bats, helmets and gloves after a bad play but I'll excuse almost any behavior when a kid drops a routine fly ball that would have been the final out of the state semis and his team would have advanced to the state finals. I'll give him a pass on being emotionally distraught and inconsolable. I cannot imagine his pain or how to deal with it.

I just don't know how to give another response to anyone who is on this kid. All I can state again is that he probably shouldn't have thrown his glove, but everything else should be on his terms. He doesn't owe a teammate who comes out to talk to him anything. If he doesn't feel like talking yet, that's his prerogative.

 

That will likely be my personal final word on the matter because I think I'm going to get angry if I come back again to see something said about him.

I have played at a competitive level as have my sons. I witnessed Harrison County lose a 1-0 9 inning game a few years ago to Lexington Catholic in the State Tournament on a ground ball that many thought was a routine play to the shortstop. The ball actually took a bad hop just before getting to him. He was visibly upset, but he didn't shun his teammates, he didn't throw his glove, he got in the line-up and shook hands with the Catholic players. Although upset over the play, this young man showed class and character in the situation unlike what was witnessed in this situation. I also saw a player this year who got robbed on a home run call go to the field and throw his glove down and the coach benched him immediately for it. This is how baseball should be played and how the players should react. Being around high school baseball for over 25 years I just can't see how anyone can defend this type of behavior. This is all I have to say on this issue. I do sympathize with the kid, but I do wish he had shown more class and character when the game was over.

(Guess I came back)

 

"Ball took a bad hop." Well there you are right there, totally the same. And a home run call being taken away in a regular season game is not remotely the same. Do we know if he went through the line and shook hands?

 

My problem is you seemed (and still seem) much more concerned about his reaction to a devastating and not at all normal way to lose (no matter how run of the mill you try to make it) than any sort of sympathy for the kid. You have chosen to get up on a soapbox and rail against a kid who just suffered through something he will never, ever forget. You and a select few will remember a reaction that took place about a minute after the play more than the play itself.

(Guess I came back)

 

"Ball took a bad hop." Well there you are right there, totally the same. And a home run call being taken away in a regular season game is not remotely the same. Do we know if he went through the line and shook hands?

 

My problem is you seemed (and still seem) much more concerned about his reaction to a devastating and not at all normal way to lose (no matter how run of the mill you try to make it) than any sort of sympathy for the kid. You have chosen to get up on a soapbox and rail against a kid who just suffered through something he will never, ever forget. You and a select few will remember a reaction that took place about a minute after the play more than the play itself.

 

Not a person has stated they did not sympathize with the young man or understand it was a crushing moment for him. No doubt it was. And no one prepares or trains in advance how to respond/react to adversity. The point is that this 18 year young man moving into adulthood could have and should have handled it better than he did. Hopefully he learns from this instance, as it will not be the only major disappointment he suffers in life, and work toward a goal of keeping your head up, swallowing the anger or emotion at least temporarily, show the proper amount of respect to the opponents and your own teamamtes and then have your personal meltdown in the locker room or in private at home. And yes, this kid will quickly forget this play and his life will go on. I know of a similar play in the 9th region chamionship game several years ago when a player dropped a fly ball to LF to end the game. He too was devastated for a day or two, but then I'm told he put it out of his mind and went on to something else. Kids have the gift of short memories.

Not a person has stated they did not sympathize with the young man or understand it was a crushing moment for him. No doubt it was. And no one prepares or trains in advance how to respond/react to adversity. The point is that this 18 year young man moving into adulthood could have and should have handled it better than he did. Hopefully he learns from this instance, as it will not be the only major disappointment he suffers in life, and work toward a goal of keeping your head up, swallowing the anger or emotion at least temporarily, show the proper amount of respect to the opponents and your own teamamtes and then have your personal meltdown in the locker room or in private at home. And yes, this kid will quickly forget this play and his life will go on. I know of a similar play in the 9th region chamionship game several years ago when a player dropped a fly ball to LF to end the game. He too was devastated for a day or two, but then I'm told he put it out of his mind and went on to something else. Kids have the gift of short memories.

 

Even the 9th region championship game is not as big of a stage that this kid was on Friday night. I have a hard time believing this is something he'll get over in a day or two. Had he ran into the crowd and beat up a fan or a teammate or coach I'd side with you guys. I won't fault the kid for throwing his glove and being emotionally distraught 30 seconds after the play(and the game, and his season and possibly his high school career) was over.

Congratulations to the Titans on a great win and season!

Not a person has stated they did not sympathize with the young man or understand it was a crushing moment for him. No doubt it was. And no one prepares or trains in advance how to respond/react to adversity. The point is that this 18 year young man moving into adulthood could have and should have handled it better than he did. Hopefully he learns from this instance, as it will not be the only major disappointment he suffers in life, and work toward a goal of keeping your head up, swallowing the anger or emotion at least temporarily, show the proper amount of respect to the opponents and your own teamamtes and then have your personal meltdown in the locker room or in private at home. And yes, this kid will quickly forget this play and his life will go on. I know of a similar play in the 9th region chamionship game several years ago when a player dropped a fly ball to LF to end the game. He too was devastated for a day or two, but then I'm told he put it out of his mind and went on to something else. Kids have the gift of short memories.

 

Very well said. I hope that his teammates, coaches and fans rally around him. His play was not the only play that hurt, it was just the last play. I do sympathize with any kid when something like this happens. I guess that just being raised in Harrison County and playing for Coach Snopek and Coach Whitaker you learn to respect the game above all else and throwing of bats, gloves, etc. is not tolerated.