IN THE MIX:Little League a different ball game

The little league season is over and after my second year involved I’ve learned a few lessons.

I’ve learned that no matter how hard you try to keep all the baseball equipment in one location you will always have to search for something on game day.

I’ve learned no matter what the weather was like that day you will be freezing by the end of the evening practice.

I’ve learned there are two types of people. The people whose snack bags include a variety of choices for each team member, complete with their names on the bags — and the ones who run out to Stater Bros. before the game to fill a few lunch bags with juice boxes and Rice Krispy treats. Hey, sometimes I just lose track of my chores.

The strangest thing I learned was that my inner demons lie just below the surface. I found out when I was confronted with the dark side of youth sports.

We all know the rule about youth sports — control your emotions. It’s right there in the paperwork when you sign on to any soccer or little league website. We also read stories about parents gone wild on the sidelines.

So imagine my surprise when this year’s little league competition included a rather loud and aggressive dad who had parents and coaches alike gritting their teeth.

I already knew when I made the switch from soccer to baseball that I had entered a whole new world. There were way more dads than moms involved, for one. Also, you could just feel the difference in the demeanor on the field. It was significantly more serious. I got a strong feeling that they all kind of thought their 6-year-old was on the track for the major leagues, or at least a college scholarship.

For the most part, this intensity did not translate into obnoxious behavior. The people are friendly, the competition is exciting, and coaches and parents keep telling their kids to have fun out there.

But there was this one guy — I don’t think he read the parent guidelines. My first sight of him was when he was loudly critiquing his son’s catching ethic. He was big and loved to give his input on just about any issue. When he didn’t like a call he made sure everyone knew it.

Though annoying, his behavior was something we could all deal with. The strange part was when we started saying negative things in response and some unneighborly feelings came creeping up my insides.

When he’d come running out on the field to make sure everyone knew one of our kids was out we’d give each other a look. When he shouted instructions nonstop to his team, my husband — who doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body — would start mumbling.

It got to the point where he didn’t actually have to do anything wrong to annoy the heck out of us. At the end of the game I’d be irritated and would try to remember if he did anything aggressive, but nothing — it just seemed that way because he was so loud and constantly involved.

The negative thoughts ultimately nearly overshadowed the last few games of the season. I was hoping the boys were having fun and we were proud that they had learned where to stand and who to throw to, but we were also kind of eager to beat this guy. Not even necessarily the team — this guy.

After our last game even other parents came up and said they were rooting for us. I think the negative bug bit them too.

And that’s the real problem. I am more concerned about my focus on him than his behavior. I thought of what I tell my kids when they try to tattle on others. I tell them they can’t control what others do, they can only control their own behavior.

I’m glad there are little league officials who are monitoring this type of behavior and who make sure umpires dispatched when a troublesome match is set, but as long as there’s youth sports there’s going to be animosity on the sidelines. I just have to figure out a way to Zen out when necessary, but let’s keep the umpires on hand just in case.