The Bigger Man

17


That's how many times  Devin was hit by a pitch during the 2010 baseball season. That's right. Seventeen. It was enough to make him forego the 2011 season, waiting for the pitchers to get one year older and hopefully gain some control of their pitches. Not a bad idea.


Devin has been working extremely hard this year and has really been enjoying baseball. He's learning so much about the game and about himself. Saturday, he learned a  valuable lesson. And, I learned something about him. 


We were about halfway through a tough game with a pretty good team. Down 3-2, the tying run crosses the plate on a close play. The umpire calls "Safe!". Immediately, the fans (or a fan) from the opposing team start insisting that the runner never touched home plate. In response, the umpire places his foot firmly in the center of the plate, as the runner had done, to show that he had, in fact, touched the plate. This wasn't the first complaint from the visitors' side. Far from it. Despite the challenges and arguments, the runner was called safe. And, number 22 was up to bat. 


Devin steps into the batter's box, taps the bat on the plate like he does every time, and gets ready for the pitch. Only, it's not really a pitch. The kid on the mound rares back, lets the ball go, and throws it right at the batter. Devin tried to move, but he could not get out of the way fast enough. Number eighteen caught him right on the wrist, hard. He's shaken up, but he takes his base. The next thing we know, two men from the visiting side are going at it. After exchanging words, one of the men and his wife move to Woodland's side to watch the rest of the game. 


I was worried how being hit by the pitch would effect Devin. He'd fought through his fear of being hit all season. He's handled it well, not running out of the box every time a pitch comes inside. I was afraid that this would bring back those memories of the 17 other times he's been hit. I wouldn't have to wait long to find out, though. In the 5th inning, Devin is up again. He stepped right up to that plate and hit the first pitch right back at the pitcher. The pitcher couldn't get to it fast enough, and by the time the shortstop fielded the ball, Devin was standing on first. He could have been scared. He could have been nervous. But, he stepped up to the plate like a man. Good for you, Devin.


After the game, a woman from the other team caught Devin as he was heading out with his team to hear what the coach had to say. She wanted to apologize. Choking back tears, she struggled to get these words out, "I'm sorry you got hit, and I'm proud of you for staying in there. And, I want you to know that we're not all like that. Most of us would never want to see a player get hit on purpose like that. I'm so sorry."

On purpose? What? I talked with the couple and found out that the reason they had moved to our side, the reason the two dads were arguing, was because the pitcher's dad told him to hit the next batter in retaliation for the bad call at home plate. These parents were very frustrated and upset. They hoped baseball would help teach character. What that pitcher did, what his father wanted...that isn't what 11/12 baseball is about. You don't purposely hit a batter for no reason in any league. I can't even wrap my mind around what would make someone think that was okay.


Devin asked his dad why the pitcher would do that. And Coach explained that he never should have, that it was wrong. And he told him that what that pitcher did didn't mean anything compared to what Devin did when he got back in that box on his next at bat. Even if he'd struck out swinging, he would have been proud. But, Coach told him, the fact that he went to that plate and swung that bat without fear or hesitation showed what he was made of. He's going to be alright. And so is the kid whose parents stood up for what's right. Sadly, I can't say that about the pitcher. 


Again, I've been reminded how important sports can be for teaching our children things like integrity and how to deal with adversity and so many other things. They learn what to do and, sometimes, what not to do. They learn what they're made of. And we see it too.