[justcallmeblue]

Handling a Tournament this past weekend. Its 100 degrees out on the field, easily. I am in the top of the 6th with the Home team up by 1. Ironically, this game is being played by two teams that are 1 town apart and the coaches know each other personally.

The Home pitcher (having pitched 5 innings and a good pitcher for age), starts off the last inning with a walk, and an error (on her). All of the sudden I see her start to loose it emotionally. She is begging to be taken out, I can see her starting to choke back tears. . .The coaches see this and tell her to pitch out of it. Her emotional state starts to deteriorate after every pitch - a walk here, a walk there. The pitcher then lets in the tying run. She is breaking down, choking back tears and those crying "convulsions" kids have. She is telling her coaches that she cant throw anymore, and is still begging them to take her out. THROUGHOUT THIS INNING I AM HEARING FROM HER BENCH "IF YOU WALK OFF THE FIELD, YOU WILL NEVER PLAY ON THIS TEAM AGAIN." and "IF YOU WALK OFF THE FIELD, YOU WILL NEVER PITCH AGAIN." These types of comments go on for more than 10 minutes and the kids is near a full blown breakdown when she gets the last out. As she is walking in to the dugout, I hear "We are only down 2, but that inning was pathetic." (the comment made directly to the pitcher)

We all know how this story ends: Home team looses and it turns out that the coaches "coaching" this kid are her parents!!!! I can now officially give this award out TODAY because nothing will top it.