Costa Mesa American Little League: Game is still about fun

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The youth sports message is old, almost cliche, but it

remains the focus for Costa Mesa American Little League. These days, the

message -- Little League is mainly about fun and teamwork -- is being

challenged.

The stunning news of a parent beating a hockey coach to death in July

has spread from Massachusetts to Southern California. And CMALL president

Eric Kough wants to make sure that type of violence doesn’t happen in his

league. That was one of the themes at CMALL Opening Day Saturday morning

at Costa Mesa High.

“With all the garbage of the violent incidents in the news, you

sometimes have parents that get too involved,” Kough said. “The parents

need to support the kids and respect the coaches. The parents need to

reward the kids, and the kids from the other team, with praise for their

hard work. When the game is over, the game is over.”

Kough delivered his message to the parents and coaches during a

ceremony that included a parade of squads carrying team banners. Costa

Mesa High baseball coach Kirk Bauermeister, a former CMALL president,

opened the ceremony with prayer. Mayor Linda Dixon capped the day’s

events when she hit the first pitch thrown by councilman Chris Steel.

“I’m very nostalgic and very sentimental because 50 years ago I

started playing Little League,” Steel said. “I can relate to them. But I

haven’t thrown the ball in years. Linda Dixon hit it right on the mark.

She acted like she was Roberto Clemente.”

Little Leaguers Cody Spoulos, John Salyer and Mike Wilson led the

players in reciting the Little League pledge. Later, Kough awarded teams

which won for the best banner, among them: Mariners in the T-ball

division, the Coach Pitch division’s Orioles, the Farm division’s

Yankees, the Minor B White Sox, the Minor A Athletics and the Majors’

Yankees.

Kough then stressed the importance of the game.

“The focus is on the development of the kids, but mainly that they

have fun,” Kough said. “Win or lose. Take away the whole do-or-die idea.

The winning and losing should be set aside. You should come on the field,

try your best, enjoy your teammates and enjoy the competition. And

whatever the results are at the end of the day, the results are that,

just as long as you tried your hardest.”