Jones demonstrates good sportmanship
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With his team trailing by a run with two outs in the final inning of its state tournament game against Burns Sunday, Morristown Little Leaguer Wyatt Jones came up big.
Then as his team celebrated its come-from-behind victory, Jones came up even bigger.
With the game on the line, the 12-year-old Jones smacked the ball to the gap in right center, winning a game 7-6 that his team had trailed at one point 5-0.
His job done, Jones stood on first waiting for the game to officially end as the Morristown team raced to home plate to celebrate.
“It felt good off the bat,” he said. “I knew it was going to get down. I just really wanted to win that game.”
He wasn’t the only one.
While Wyatt waited for the umpire to declare “ballgame,” he noticed the Burns pitcher was understandably upset. The pitcher lingered by the mound for a moment and then knelt to the ground, slamming his glove in frustration.
As he moved to the first base dugout, he pulled his cap low over his eyes and his path crossed right in front of Jones, who had seen how upset he was.
“I noticed, it was like he slammed his glove down,” Jones said. “I was still excited but I felt bad for him.”
Jones went to his fellow Little Leaguer and hugged him, offering some words of encouragement.
“It just kind of happened. I don’t know how to explain it,” Wyatt said. “I got the game winning hit and I was pumped up. I seen him and immediately thought about me in the regular season giving up a normal hit and I did not like that. I could see he was mad.
“I just really felt bad for him because I’m a pitcher. It was the most stressful position he could be in. He tried his best.”
Wyatt said he gave a few words of encouragement and then went to his own team.
The moment might have ended there. But the Columbia Little League was streaming the tournament live and somebody noticed.
A Facebook account out of New York called Little League District 22 was watching online and decided to share the clip from the livestream, highlighting the moment of sportsmanship for all who had missed it, including Wyatt’s mom Michelle who was in full sports mom mode, taking down the tents to make room for the fans of the next game.
“I didn’t see it,” she said. “Another mother said ‘Oh my gosh. That was so sweet when Wyatt went over and hugged that pitcher.”
Thanks to the eagle-eyed Facebook account, Jones has seen it now.
She’s proud of Wyatt’s achievements on the field, but talking about seeing him console the other boy brought tears.
“Wyatt has worked so hard this year to get to where he’s at,” she explained. “He’s on a great team with great coaches. Then to see Wyatt go over and hug that other kid? That’s what you work for as a parent.
“That’s what you want to instill in your child when they play sports.”

