I realize this is a long post. Although I have seen some questionable conduct in travel ball before I have NEVER seen anything like what occured below happen that so degraded(in my opinion) the game of baseball. The letter below was sent to Nations baseball today by the Riverbats 13 U coach. Hopefully there will be some sanctions against the teams involved as well as some "guidance" to the tournament directors. At the very least, this life lesson provided some invaluable insight for our team. Always play every game like it counts (because it does) and throughout the rest of your baseball playng and possibly coaching career always respect the game and never conduct yourself in a manner such as these two teams did this weekend. Thanks for letting me share.

Gentlemen,
I wanted to bring to your attention (for those not already aware) a situation that I encountered over the Memorial Day weekend while playing in the Dublin, OH Wayne Williams Memorial Tournament. While we have all heard the horror stories associated with select travel baseball, from pitching abuse to over zealous parents and everything in between. This one was one I had never heard of, much less experienced.
Two rival coaches from the Indiana Blazers and Union Post Black conspired to fix a 13 year old baseball game. They did this to allow both of their teams to advance from pool play to bracket play. Even more reprehensible was the that they had 20+ 13 year old young men involved. It was obvious that baseball was the only thing on their minds with no regard to the life lessons they were teaching these young men.
The situation was this. My team had played and lost a 6-5 game to the Indiana Blazers. We had also played and beaten the Union Post team 6-4. Unfortunately our third opponent who had lost to both of the above teams failed to show up for our scheduled game. We were awarded an 8-0 shutout, giving us a 2-1 record awaiting the results of the game between the Blazers and Union Post to see which two teams would advance to bracket play.
The two coaches from the above teams concocted a plan together to allow both of their teams to advance while awaiting their game. I thought it was strange that the two of them were walking around the park together for some time prior to the game. I assumed they were friends and did not think much about it. However, they approached the tournament officials a half hour prior to the game and asked if the Blazers could forfeit their game to Union Post. This would have given all three teams 2-1 records. Union Post would have won the pool by virtue of the least runs allowed. Indiana would be awarded the second place by virtue of their 6-5 win over us. The tournament had at least the foresight to tell them that they would not be allowed to advance to bracket play if they took a forfeit.
The two coaches proceeded to play a game that was a mockery to the game of baseball and was obvious to anyone who watched that the Blazers were allowing Union Post to win. Had tournament officials been parked at that game they could have witnessed it as well.. Just a few examples on display, 5 balks, obvious intentional dropped balls, intentional strikeouts, base running sub standard to rec ball were just a few things going on to "fix" the game. They were not even trying to hide the fact that they were fixing the game. Players from both teams walked by our team during a rain delay and said "The Riverbats are mad because we are letting you guys win" The head coach of the Indiana Blazers when confronted said. I didn't want to play this game and by rule should not have had too. I wanted to save my #1." What most coaches would have done would have thrown their #6 or #7 and still tried to win the game. As far as the Union Post coach, I would not have wanted my players exposed to that and would not want to qualify to move on based on a team throwing a game to me.
The tournament threw up their hands and said that while we understood and agreed with us there was nothing they could do other than making them at least "play" their game. I am asking that you do more than throw up your hands. Since there is no rule to address this and why would anyone think to have a rule necessary to cover these actions. Had I been running the tournament I would have told them to pack up their stuff and leave the grounds. The lack of moral integrity, ethical behavior, and respect for the game of baseball demonstrated by these two men should not be allowed by any baseball sanctioning organization. The Primary Goal of Nations Baseball: To organize and promote youth baseball at it's best: to provide equal competition on an equal playing field" was obviously violated. That alone should have been enough to ask the teams to leave. It is obvious to me and everyone else that these two coaches have no regard for the rules of your Organization or those of any other National affiliate whose purpose to is to promote youth baseball.
I await your response on how this situation will be dealt with now and in the future.
Sincerely
Chip McPherson
13U Cincinnati Riverbats

Chip - I would be frosted too!

Now that you have written this letter, I would let it go. I used to let things like this tear me up. Looking back, life is too short. Focus on your team and most importantly having fun. They might be laughing now but in the long run I'll bet your son and his team will have the last laugh (i.e., with their respective high school careers and beyond).

Great advice ClevelandDad and in just one more day I will be ready to follow it. Seriously, as I told my son and the Coach if we had won the first game we would not have afforded the other teams the opportunity to do what they did. I will say that the tournament director has now sent what I believe to be a sincere apology to our coach on the way the issue was handled and commented that they had never seen anything like that before either and were unsure how to handle the situation. Either way, the nice thing about baseball is there is always another game right around the corner to focus on.