This is Bret Denio, the Tournament Director. Let's clarify some facts about last night's game. As both divisions, 12U and 14U, were running at least an hour behind schedule, the decision was made to play the final games on a time limit. The 14U division was actually an hour and a half behind and started at around 7:00. In the 12U final, both coaches were fine with the time limit as, like all of us, had spent all day out in the sun. Victory USA was on their 5th game in a row with no breaks. Both 14U coaches were notified and did not object to the time limit. It was like a boxing match as the Firecrackers scored in the 1st and 2nd innings and then BS came back and scored 3 in the top of 3 to make it 4-3 (BS actually had bases loaded in the top of 2 with no outs but did not score). The coach for the FC started using time management tactics, all within his rights as a coach, in the top of the 3rd. As soon as this started happening with the score 4-0, two or three of the BS parents started attacking me with their complaints about the time limit. There were more BS parents that came to my defense than bad apples harassing me. Would they have been complaining if BS had jumped up and got the lead first? Would they have used time management to win the game? Even in a state qualifier, you have games that are on a time limit (believe hour forty five). Obviously games where a coach uses time managemnt tactics can make for a frustrating game to watch, especially if you are on the losing side of it. I, too, at that time wished that it was a 7 inning game but the decision had been made before the game started. Lights were also on a time limit and, as it was, had to get the ok just to turn them on for this final game.
Did the coach slow the game down to his advantage? Certainly. Did BS have their chances to win this game? Certainly. I am sure these two teams will get another chance to play each other this season and I, for one, look forward to watching it again. But remember, it is just a game!
As to your claim that I said Numerouno was not there. There was only one dad who came up to me and asked IF I WAS Numerouno, of which I responded "no". I was not asked if he was at the park although Uno was at the table where we both had been sitting all weekend. His daughter was actually at the hospital getting Xrays and Cat Scans after being hit with a bat in the face. She suffered a fairly severe concussion but had no broken bones or bleeding in her brain - Thank god.
As to this tournament meaning anything, maybe I have been in Gold too long to remember the passion that parents had at the younger age divisions, but this was not a state or national qualifier and with the game already running an hour and a half behind, on a Sunday night with players and parents some two hours away from home, I still will stand with my decision. This tournament as with all tournaments, whether state or nationals qualifiers, really does not mean anything in the scheme of things. We, as parents, take our kids out to friendlies/tournaments where we spend alot of time and money and all these games are used as teaching/training experiences to better our childrens playing abilities. I would say that most players and parents on a team like BS or FC, the goal of these kids is to play in college. That is the ultimate goal. When you advance to the older ages, you will understand when we say that this tournament really doesn't mean anything. I do understand that it has meaning to you at the present time, but lets be real about it. It is just a game!!!!
So Cals Finest will continue to put on one of the best tournaments/showcases in So Cal/in the country. Each and every tournament will continue to get better as we strive to put on the finest. I hope that all of you will continue to support your team and your children in a positive way. Sorry for the long post as I have rambled on but I look forward to continuing to assist So Cals Finest tourneys in the future and I look forward to meeting each and everyone of you in better circumstances. If you know me, and many of you do, I, truly do support each and every player out there and will continue to do so as I want all of these players to fulfill their dream of being a student-athlete
Sincerely
Bret Denio
Tournament Director - So Cals Finest
ESPN/Explosion Gold/USA Travelball
"It is better to have loved and lost than to live with a Psycho the rest of your life."
