Disappointed with Little League

To the editor:
    Several weeks ago my son was invited to “try out” for Houlton Area Little League’s All-Stars teams. My son was thrilled. He practiced with neighborhood boys as they all discussed who would make what team if any. We were told there would be three teams: 9-10 year old, 10-11 year old, and 11-12 year old. My son came to both nights of tryouts. He was told that the chosen players would be posted on the league’s website.
    He waited patiently checking the site until late that night when he went to bed. He awoke the next morning and checked the site only to find the 9-10 and 11-12 year old teams listed. His name was not on one of those lists so he waited, and waited, and waited for the 10-11 year old team to be posted. It never has been posted.
    My son has never heard anything from anyone as to whether or not he made a team. Do you know what this does to a child? Do you know the pain, disappointment, tears and discouragement this causes a young boy, not to mention what it does to his self esteem? I have been told subsequently that now there may not be a 10-11 year old team because they do not have coaching staff. Did they not know this before they offered tryouts? Did they not know this before they got the hopes of young boys up and made them think they had a chance to play on a team?
    I know of one boy made the team who did not even attend both nights of tryouts as my son did. Why is this allowed? It seems as if the “all star” teams are largely made up of coaches’ kids who automatically make the team whether they are truly all stars or not. I have attended ball games all season and have watched some of these “all stars” strike out every time at bat and fumble in the outfield. It would seem as if there should be a more fair, more consistent plan in place for future “all star” try outs and team selections.
    I would challenge the Little League board to do just that. Don’t only look out for your own child. Your own child may not be an all star; chances are they are not and you are coaching and/or volunteering your time to further your own child’s career in the sport. As for our family we are very disappointed in the Houlton Area Little League. One would wonder if there is even a code of ethics and if so is it being followed?
Melissa White
Houlton