It was the deciding game of two 10/11 year old teams. One would be on their way to the state championship games; the other was done for the season. The local guys were definitely scrappers during the tournament, fighting their way back to win. This final game had started when bad weather kicked in and forced a postponement with the game tied up.
When they came back again, playing on the home field, spirits were high. They stayed dead even and forced an extra inning. The visiting team knocked in two quick runs. There were a few disputed calls and some heated words. And then it was over and, unfortunately, the local kids just couldn't pull this one out.
They stood along the first base line to receive congratulations from the head of the league, who talked about how "both teams played extremely well and they're all good players." Still, the exhaustion and sadness was plain on the boys' faces - and grew worse when he turned to the other team and said, "But enough about that. Right now it's all about YOU!" handed them their banner and urged them to run around the field with it. Not what the local kids wanted to either see or hear.