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It was the bottom of the eighth with two out, Jason Milner stepped into the batters box, praying he would get a chance to redeem himself. He had been thrown out at home plate, trying to stretch a sure triple into a run in the fifth. He glanced over his shoulder when the pitcher stepped off the mound. His dad, the coach, still had a scowl on his face.
“Play ball,” the umpire yelled. The first pitch was low and outside. “Ball one.”
The second hummed down the middle of the plate. Crack! The ball sailed over the left fielder’s head. Jason ran full bore. The outfielder had the ball so he stopped at third, hoping his dad would be satisfied.
Eric Sanstrom, their leading home run hitter was up next. He popped it up to shallow right. “Miss it,” Jason whispered. The first baseman hauled it in, ending the inning.
“Should have come home,” Coach Milner mumbled as his son retrieved his glove.
“I quit,” Jason snapped. “No matter what I do it’s never good enough.” He took off running.
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Too many times I have seen parents embarrass their children with unrealistic demands. They are quick to criticize and never seem satisfied. One sporting event I attended even had parent spectator behavior rules on the back of the program. How sad.
To be the best we can be is all that God asks. In the end, it is enough.
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