Russia’s Francis Phlipot celebrates a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)
Marion Local’s U13 learned the hard way that tournaments produce more losers than winners. But at the Minster Classic, a balanced approach between a passion for winning and a love for playing makes it worth competing every year, win, lose or draw.
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Minster, Oh – Two opposing ideologies are poisoning youth sports – The Minster Classic offers rare relief from both.
The first and more prevalent lie is that the score doesn’t matter, and medals are earned by playing, not by winning. It permeates rec leagues where improvement isn’t a priority, and correction is discouraged in the name of “letting the kids have fun.” It produces underdeveloped players who can’t handle criticism, and crumble under pressure when they grow to an age where winning matters.
Alan Brads is a contributing columnist and writes sports at large for Press Pros Magazine.
The second lie is that winning is all that matters, and a kid’s value and identity can be summed up by their statline and the final score. At elite travel tournaments, instant criticism replaces “good effort” postgame. Maybe the exorbitant fees make parents feel like an L is a wasted paycheck, and the only way to recoup their losses is a car ride rant, or worse, a public humiliation of a kid in front of his friends. The result? Players who lose their love for the game before they even try out for varsity.
But in Minster, Ohio, and many surrounding communities, they walk the tightrope like seasoned circus performers, balancing the passion for winning and the love for playing with uncommon grace.
At the Minster classic, winning matters, and you won’t hear a coach or parent say otherwise. Not every team advances into the knockout stage.
Marion Local’s Homan was tagged out at home plate.
Marion Local’s 13U team dropped a second game in the group stage on Saturday. They left Saturday with no plans for a return journey, no trophy, and no medals. They probably didn’t want one; they’d rather come back and earn it next year.
Jackson Schroeder played left field for Marion Local, and had a hit that was one of few bright spots in an 11-0 run-rule loss to Russia’s U14 team.
“I saw that he gave me my pitch,” Schroeder said. “I like it inside more, I just pulled it … When they’re at their level, when they give you one you can hit, you gotta go get it.”
Despite a second blowout loss, Schroeder said he was glad to have played in the tournament, and looked forward to coming back next year, bigger, stronger, and better.
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“It’s just fun,” Schroeder said.“My favorite part has just been playing with my teammates. We have a lot of memories here. You can lean on them and they’ll be there for you in the worst of the worst and the best of the best.”
In the other dugout, Russia’s starting pitcher Eli Shappie celebrated a big win that clinched the #1 seed. Shappie struck out four and gave up two hits in the four innings of play.
Russia’s offense wouldn’t be denied, amassing nine hits and for 11 runs in three innings.
“I was just able to throw strikes,” Shappie said. “When I throw strikes it helps me because then my off-speed works. Command and control is my priority. I’m not the hardest of throwers, so if my off-speed and command is working, it’s easy to pinpoint pitches.”
Shappie said his favorite part of the tournament was a late comeback win against New Bremen, a reminder that while baseball can always be fun, winning multiplies the enjoyment.
Russia’s Julius Monnin also contributed three hits, three RBI’s and two runs in the big win.
Schroeder didn’t wear the same postgame smile Shappie and Monnin did, because winning matters, but he didn’t hang his head or sulk his way out of the dugout either, because he’s learned there’s more to baseball than Russia: 11 Marion Local: 0.
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That lesson was instilled years ago at the Minster Classic and beyond into Addi Inskeep, a recent Minster graduate and First Team All-American in softball. Saturday morning at the softball fields, the games briefly paused to honor her award. They asked her to offer a piece of advice to the kids, and she told them to have fun and cherish these moments playing with their friends.
Marion Local’s Jack Winner started the game on the mound before moving to second base.
And that’s coming from the best of the best. Most players could never be an All-American, but every player can enjoy playing with their friends.
The Minster Classic’s rarely accomplished balancing act renews hope that there are communities of parents and coaches doing youth sports the right way. And it yields results. It produces high school athletes who, when in the spotlight, win with humility and lose with dignity.
The attitudes instilled from the get-go are what make Marion Local’s Football team a lovable dynasty, which are few and far between in this era. They make Diana Kramer and her volleyball teams at New Bremen well-regarded and respected across the state. They make basketball coach and Army recruiter Babe Kwasniak say, “If World War III breaks out, I’m going straight to Russia High School.”
It all starts with youth sports done well – with winning and with losing at the Minster Classic.
Russia’s Oliver Armstrong slides home for the Raiders fifth run in the first inning.
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