Renegades Persevere At The Ballpark

Sportsmanship is a term long affiliated with youth sports. Some situations promote the good while others unfortunately bring out the worst.  The first weekend of June in Chillicothe, IL the 14U Niles Renegades took to heart what good sportsmanship truly meant while honoring the memory of an 11 year old who died from bone cancer.  The 8^th Annual Brad Wallin Memorial Baseball Tournament is one of the largest in IL this year.

Before they even hit the road, the team collected 850$ to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In return most of them will now have shaved heads to protect under their caps. Off the field, they wore gold wrist bands imprinted with “No One Fights Alone.” More noticeable though were the pink socks and helmets these teenage boys proudly adorned during the games to further recognize the fight against cancer many endure.

For the Renegades the weekend truly emulated a battle of perseverance. Maybe it was the attention garnered by the bright helmets or just the three hour drive but their first game landed them firmly in last place. Saturday brought new hope with an early morning “win” until the 6^th inning tested their spirits as they saw it slip away. However, never did you hear them blame another or curse at the umpire or answer back to the coach. It remained “Yes, Coach” and “You’ve got this kid!” Their spirit held true to win their next three tournament games with confident batting, smart pitching, double plays and lack of errors.

The team collectively approached the Consolation Championship with the same determined force that they used to collect their donations. They never let the 26^th seed placing influence their enthusiasm for the game. They took to the field knowing that they had each other’s back and could rely on their intricate knowledge of the game. Though it was the third Sunday game for them, it looked as if they were starting fresh. Excellent pitching, strong hits and smart plays brought home their 12-5 victory. They took to the road with a metal around their necks and the knowledge that they had upheld the Renegades’ philosophy. “Through baseball we can try to help instill a sense of self-responsibility, compassion for others, and sportsmanship in victory as well as defeat.”