By Dustin Baker
9U PSP – Andrew Hill, Maddox Yoshinaga, Cooper Hay, Mason Hay, Maddox Bingham, Gideon Novotny, Scott Dickinson, Owen Armstead , Demetri Wingert, Kazuma Gonzales, Cullen DeCloux, Jayce Riden
Puget Sound Powerhouse club won an 8-7 victory over the Diamond Jaxx in the 9U baseball tournament hosted by Rock Creek Select this weekend. Eight teams faced head-to-head in tournament play at The Rumble, at Rock Creek. The 3-day tournament allowed players to fight and work hard, striving to win for their teams.
Although there was only one first-place winner, each of the participating teams had the opportunity to learn more about sportsmanship.
In Friday’s game, Rock Creek Select held an opposing team to a score of 26-0. The Umpire, Mike Whitcher, talked with the Rock Creek team, about respect and sportsmanship between innings as the opposing team took the field.
“There is no reason to talk about the score of the game. You are playing a good game and should continue to root on your team but respect the game, and respect the other team who is also playing a hard fought game,” said Witcher.
Whitcher has been umpiring games for the last decade in many communities in the area. In that time, Mike does more than just call balls and strikes. He compliments players on each team as they make a good play or block behind the plate. He also shakes the hands of each player and coach following each game. As an umpire, Mike sees no winners or losers; he only sees kids out on the fields having fun.
Rock Creek Sports is a not-for-profit entity that provides both a source of active sports participation for youth, and is a funding source for the development and improvements of active recreation facilities in our community. Rock Creek Sports is a founding organization of Ravensdale Park that continues to drive participation and awareness of the Ravensdale Park Project with future plans on further expanding the turf fields.
As an organizer of the tournament, I was able to see first hand just what the men behind the plate had to offer the community that will be easily transferred off of the field. Over the course of the weekend, the three held players and parents to a high standard of respect for the game of baseball and for each other.
Our community has a safe place with great volunteers for youth with interests in all sports to come together and get outside to play the games in which they love.
