Huddle up: They’re not sweating from the exam, it’s a case of Little League fever

Marques Hunter

Huddle up

It’s a different kind of stress if you’re a kid this time of the year. There isn’t a greater moment knowing you get to wake up the next morning and not have to catch the bus or have your mom drop you off before she starts a workday.

The summer is packed with tons of excitement. From water parks to camping, children live for summer vacations.

And while summer and school don’t go together, summer and Little League baseball are a perfect match. Instead of stuffing their backpacks with pencils, paper and other materials, kids pack their sports duffel bags with their cleats, gloves and sunflower seeds.

Young athletes get extremely focused while they play in the District 2 Little League tournament.

No more math tests, thank goodness. Instead, it’s about finding a way to win.

Players are stepping in the batter’s box against pitchers who can throw hard — and some of them even have some decent movement on a curveball.

Tracking a ball as it releases a pitcher’s hand is sometimes a more difficult task than adding fractions or linear equations. But I’m sure all the kids who play ball think it’s more fun than going to school.

The kids play baseball because they love the sport. Do they smile the same way when they get an “A” on a science test and hit a game-winning home run?

I don’t think so.

One of the reasons Little League baseball is great for the community is because it gives families a chance to support their children. Kids need a break from school work. What better way than on the Little League fields?

If you ask me, it’s the perfect way to kick off the summer.

It’s a little unfortunate that there can only be one winner for each age group. But each young athlete who played this year should feel proud that they are representing their Little League program.

While some kids shy away from the intensity, I love watching others embrace it. They get so into the game that they block all the noise and remain patient for their pitch — or a heads-up play in the field.

As a relatively new member of the Little League community, I’ve enjoyed the first week of tournament play. I watched local youths smash the ball over the fence or throw a breaking ball for a third strike.

I’m impressed each time I head to the Gig Harbor Little League Complex or Art Mikelson Field in Port Orchard and see the young ones duke it out in a loser-out baseball game in order to play again the next day.

The players’ sportsmanship has been great, and the parents have displayed positive support.

Little League baseball is not just a game for the ones who play it. It’s their version of playing in the big leagues. And the loud cheers the players get when a home run is hit or a strike out is recorded is the kind of attention they deserve.

The players are dedicated, too: They spend time scooping up ground balls or hitting during batting practice when school is out.

I’m sure when the tournament concludes, they’ll go back to being a kid. But for now, they are too busy being professional Little Leaguers.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. It takes a special person to execute in the moment when you’re under the spotlight with high expectations.

That moment also exists outside of sports.

The Little League tournament continues this week. And while some teams have been eliminated, others are still alive.

Whether they win or lose, they shouldn’t forget that, in Little League, everybody is a winner.

Reach Sports Editor Marques Hunter at 253-853-9246 or by e-mail at marques.hunter@gateline.com.