May 13, 2009
(The Aggie Auction on May 2 featured many unique items up for bid. "Have Your Child Be A Star With Aggie Media Relations" was one of them. Longtime Aggie fan Steve Inouye was the winner of the package and UC Davis Athletics took care of the rest. Congratulations to the Red Sox and Padres of Davis Little League T-Ball for a game well-played!)
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DAVIS, Calif. -- It was a matchup that had been heralded for days, if not weeks, between the households; a showdown of epic proportions on the t-ball diamond between cousins Jason and Scott Inouye.
Forget the Dodgers-Giants or Cubs-Cardinals. There isn't a budding rivalry as strong or rich in t-ball tradition as the Red Sox-Padres.
As Jason and his Red Sox teammates went through rigorous pregame warmups with their coach Steve Inouye, hushed tones percolated throughout the assembled crowd that this was just not going to be another game in Davis Little League T-Ball.
No, this was going to be a head-to-head matchup between the best five-year-old baseball-playing boys in the respective Inouye homes. It was Jason and his Red Sox against Scott and his Padres. The anticipation was so strong that many were left to wonder just how the intensity would greet the cousins if and when they came face to-face on the all-grass infield tucked in a corner of Davis Community Park on Wednesday afternoon.
And when the hulking Scott rounded second base and locked eyes with his muscle-laden cousin during the second inning, how did the two finally engage each other?
With a sorta-high-five. That's right. A unique greeting the two obviously planned out in advance.
The venerable slap of hands calmed the crowd, letting them know that family rivalries were being put aside. These two were playing for the love of the game. With that in mind, the teams were able to finish off an entertaining matchup.
Everyone in attendance will forget the score, mainly because the league doesn't officially keep a score. But since each of the 10 players on both teams were allowed to cross the plate each inning it will appropriately go in the annals as a 20-20, two-inning tie.
That's the way these games are supposed to end. No winners and no losers. Just a lot of lucky boys who attacked their postgame snacks of jelly beans and juice boxes with the same focus they had when swinging the bat.
"It was really fun, I like it and it's the game that makes it fun," said Jason. "First base was the most fun."
His teammate Logan echoed those thoughts during the postgame press conference attended by nearly every one of the Red Sox, noting just playing baseball was the best part of being out there.
Cooper didn't need to think long when asked his favorite aspect of the game. "Hitting the ball and snacks," was his answer, a common theme among the Red Sox.
The Padres were unavailable for full comment - Scott and his father Allan had another game to race off to - but Alan did graciously credit outstanding defense for his team's strong play. Oh, and there were snacks on that side of the field to be devoured as well, keeping the Padres intently focused on that task. The media could wait.
"We make snacks the focus of our game," said Red Sox coach Steve Inouye. "I even have a coordinator for the snacks.
"Snack is the best thing and the thing the team also likes the most is what tree or object will Coach Steve have them run around (during warmups). I would say that is the highlight of every player."
Both Jason and Scott didn't disappoint their legions of fans, both displaying outstanding range on the field and hitting prowess from the tee. Jason had a big hit to left-center field in his first at-bat and then followed with a line drive to shortstop during his second. Scott smoked a groundball back to the pitcher his first time up - yes, there's a pitcher position in t-ball - before hitting a screaming ball past the pitcher during his second trip to the tee-on-a-plate.
In the field, Scott patrolled left field during the first inning before moving to guard the line at the hot corner of third base in the second. Jason opened up at first base - always sure to touch the bag after each and every play - before sliding over to shortstop for the second inning where he was flawless.
In the end, the two players - as well as all the other players - showed the ability, passion and sportsmanship that will undoubtedly put them on the radar of the UC Davis baseball team when they approach their college careers, just 12 years away.
It was a game the way it was supposed to be played.
(Story by Mike Robles, Assistant Athletics Director, Media Relations. All photos by Mark Honbo, Assistant Media Relations Director)
