12-Year-Olds’ Game Leads to Parents’ Threats of Hardball

The dust-up that sundered the town of Temple City began with a ground ball to second base. It was a Saturday evening in late April, and the Little Leaguers had taken the field at Live Oak Park, the Royals vs. the Tigers. The Tigers were at bat.

There’s little argument about the way the whole business began. (This being in Greater L.A., just miles from the home of Rodney King, one of the parents caught it on videotape.) The Tiger hit his grounder, his teammate on first base made for second, and there ensued one of those kooky free-for-alls that are so typical of pretty much anything involving 12-year-old boys, resulting in a Tiger getting caught in a “pickle” between first and second base.

As we mentioned, it’s all there on the tape: The trapped Tiger heading for second in his red-blue-and-gray uniform and helmet, and the Royals’ shortstop, in blue and white, fuming and slapping his glove against one thigh as the Tiger was called safe.

It isn’t clear, what, if any, words flew between the boys as the game ambled along to a Tiger victory, although rumor later had it that threats were made.

Still, all that is known for certain is that, after the game, as the boys gathered at the snack bar for their traditional free Cokes, the video camera was shut off.

And that, witnesses say, is when the Royals’ shortstop clocked the Tiger who had been called safe at second base, giving him a split lip and setting off a brawl that is still clouding the community, even as the last game of the season draws near.

*

This week, the Consumer Products Safety Commission said kids baseball leagues should start using softer balls and new kinds of helmets and bases in order to reduce injuries. But as any parent can tell you, wild balls are nothing compared to that timeworn ball field nemesis: the Little League adult.

You’ve seen them. They’re the ones who jump from the bleachers to poke their fingers in the faces of umpires, the ones who can’t stop coaching from the stands. (“No! Lean into it like I showed you.” “Crouch! You gotta crouch!”) They’re the ones who corner the manager after the game, wanting to know why their kid’s talent isn’t being appreciated, why little Mikey isn’t pitching, why little Suzi was taken out after the third inning, or why, if this is all supposed to be about fun, little Sammy keeps getting stuck out there in right field.

There is probably nothing as difficult as allowing a child to learn that survival of the fittest is more than just a term in the glossary of a science book. But that lesson is what the unfortunate Tiger (who, being a kid, will go nameless here) learned as the sun set on the final inning of that Little League game.

*

As he bellied up to the snack bar, witnesses said, the Royals’ shortstop paced under a big tree, then whirled and gave the Tiger a shove. Then, as the boy turned, his attacker smacked him, hard, in the mouth.

The punch drew blood. It also--as such things will--drew the attention of bigger guys.

In ran the big brother of the wounded Tiger. In also ran the shortstop’s dad. And as the big brother dashed toward the melee, he was tackled from behind by the dad, who, depending on your viewpoint, was trying either to give sonny boy a clean shot at the opposition or prevent the fracas from getting any worse than it already was, since he was also the Royals’ manager.

No matter. Somebody called the cops. The dad was arrested on suspicion of battery and child abuse and carted off to jail, where he spent the night. And when he got out of jail, even though the district attorney declined to file charges, matters got nastier still.

League meetings were called. Old grudges were unearthed. The dad was suspended as a team manager. The shortstop was suspended for five games. When the Tiger’s mom wasn’t satisfied (“That child ought to be thrown out of the league!” she fumed), the shortstop’s family hired a lawyer and threatened a slander suit.

Meanwhile, an arbitration hearing has been scheduled by the district attorney’s office, which will allow a hearing officer to reconsider whether charges should be filed. Tiger Mom is wondering whether her witnesses will be intimidated by the slander thing.

And the kids? Well, that’s the mystery of death-trap sports like Little League. No matter how clear the peril, the kids keep coming back for more. The wounded Tiger is back in the ballgame, fat lip and all. And the hotheaded shortstop has reportedly cooled off.

Especially since his mom made him write that letter of apology.