Southside Aces,
Both Chris and I wanted to personally thank you for taking part in the 8U Dizzy Dean State Tournament this past weekend at Palmer Park in Madison Alabama and congratulate you on winning this year’s Sportsmanship Award. Madison Baseball has hosted the tournament for the past 3 years and handing out the Sportsmanship Award has become my favorite part of the weekend. Over the years we have seen some very high caliber of baseball play. But what I enjoy the most each year are the coaches and parents that truly understand what youth baseball is supposed to be about – not winning and losing, but providing our kids with a healthy environment to compete and grow as people. It’s the life lessons about team work and graciousness in victory and defeat that they take back home with them that really matter.
Typically, we hand out the award in the second half of the tournament since it gives us a chance to see each team play a couple of games. We ask for feedback from as many people as possible - umpires, coaches, park employees, parents from other teams we have met over the weekend and Dizzy Dean officials, on who they feel the Sportsmanship award should go to. When Chris and I were asking around the park on Sunday what team all these folks felt best deserved the Sportsmanship award, each one of them would give us a couple of teams and their reasoning why. Without exception, everyone we spoke with mentioned Southside. We heard from umpires of coaches from Southside that were respectful to the other team, their own players and the officials. Parents from other teams mentioned how positive the Southside parents were towards both teams on the field as well as parents from opposing teams. Everyone we asked spoke of how respectful and well-mannered your players were both on and off the field.
Usually when we hand out the Sportsmanship award, myself and Chris take the time to speak to the entire team (kids, coaches and parents) on the field after their final game. We explain to them why they are receiving the award. I apologize we did not get the opportunity to do that with your team, so I would ask that you please pass on to your parents and players our gratitude for a great weekend at Palmer Park.
Best Regards,
Ivan Anderson
VP - Madison Baseball
Chris McFarland
President – Madison Baseball