Youth baseball teams prove it really doesn't matter who wins

The Sportsmanship Brigade wrapped up the youth baseball season with a trip to the 6th grade CYC Closed Division Championship on Saturday afternoon. Look closely at the picture below. It contains both the champion and the runner-up. Can you tell which is which? I'll give you a moment. Maybe try humming the music from Jeopardy while you figure it out.

Both the champion and the runner-up came from the same parish. Immaculate Conception-Dardenne (ICD) fielded two 6th grade boys teams this season and both advanced to the championship game. The smiling faces in the picture signify what youth sports are all about. Sure, each team of boys wanted to win, but in the end, it was about having fun.

Don't think the picture is staged, either. These kids played hard and had a great time. They showed great respect for each other, their coaches and they represented their families and parish very well. One parent said, "Too bad someone had to lose in this game." I quickly replied, "Nobody lost. Look at the kids." She agreed by saying, "You're right. These boys had a blast!"

Why not add to the celebration? Pizza for everybody courtesy of the Brigade. Congratulations to the entire ICD community.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130.