Clutch walk-off hits and circus catches account for most web gems but we know it's the little things that win ball games. Winning teams are made up of unselfish players who do what's best for the team; they move a runner along with a grounder to the right side, take a fat pitch to give the runner a chance to steal, hit the cut-off man or back-up a throw. It's doing the right thing outside of the spotlight that builds character and helps everyone be part of a winning organization.

Congrats and thanks for a GREAT tournament.

12U

1st - Spokane Crew

2nd - Bozeman Blackhawks

3rd - Hayden Norsemen

4th - Spokane Cubs

11U

1st - M+O CJB Brewers

2nd - Hayden Norsemen

3rd - Spokane Valley Toros

4th - Helena Merchants

10U

1st - Spokane Valley Toros

2nd - Tri-City Venom

3rd - Okanagon Valley Farmers

4th - Spokane South Hitmen

9U

1st - Spokane Crew

2nd - Spokane Cubs

3rd - Post Falls Sluggers

4th - Spokane Valley Toros

JOSH played Pony for 5 years on the westside.

As Josh Dickerson walked across the O'Dea gym, a baseball sailed past his head and landed in a teammate's glove. "Pop'" The shortstop settled onto a seat in the bleachers, while another teammate took swings in the batting cage. "Ping."

The sounds of baseball surrounded the 17-year-old, who was wearing a flat-brimmed Florida Marlins hat, a black T-shirt, black shorts and batting gloves - the unfastened wrist straps flapping each time he moved his hands. In this gym, surrounded by his teammates, Dickerson immerses himself in baseball. He ignores the constant pain in his jaw caused by a cancerous tumor. He dismisses the dire diagnosis. "I'm just glad I'm still playing ball, still dreaming the dream, being the best person I can be," Dickerson said last week. "That's all I can do."

Dickerson was first diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma - a cancerous soft-tissue tumor - after an abscess was discovered while getting his wisdom teeth removed in 2009. He lost his sophomore season while undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer went into remission for the better part of a year before coming back aggressively. Doctors told him in April he has months to live. "I think I'm going to live longer than that," he said. Despite the diagnosis, he played most of the season. "I just can't worry about that a lot," said Dickerson, who turns 18 in July and played his final game last week. "I've just got to go out there and be me and not try and change anything."

Courage + Belief = Life - Another new tattoo on Dickerson's left arm. Dickerson knew something was wrong. When he probed the right side of his mouth with his tongue, he could feel a lump. He didn't want to tell his parents. "I didn't want them to freak out," he said.

He had been going to the hospital every three months to make sure the cancer remained in remission. When he went in September, he felt great. His tests were clear. Months later, though, Dickerson felt that bump building. In December, tests revealed the cancer had returned. The family set up a meeting to talk about treatment options and the future. After the discussion with doctors, Dickerson's parents, Kiyo and Diana, let their son decide the next step. "What do you want to do?" they asked. Dickerson didn't hesitate. "I don't want to miss baseball season," he said, postponing treatments as long as he could. Kiyo and Diana knew their son was taking a risk. They stood by his decision.

"At that point, it became very clear to us it was about the quality of life versus the quantity of life," Kiyo said. "It's one thing he didn't want to give up. He's just another kid who wants to play ball. "Ugly days are coming. We know that. But we're not going to waste time now worrying about it. We'll cross that bridge when we come to that."

Since the diagnosis, Dickerson tried to stay on the baseball field, while managing the pain. Sitting in the O'Dea gym at practice last week, he pointed to the lump in his jaw. The tumor is visible just above a long, pink surgical scar - a visual reminder of everything he has endured. The tumor makes it difficult for him to open his mouth. He takes OxyContin and oxycodone. The drugs help numb the pain when he eats, but he doesn't have much of an appetite. "It's the worst pain I've ever had and it's never going to go away," said Dickerson, who uses the left side of his mouth to talk. The tumors spread into his lungs. He felt them with each swing. But he kept playing.

"He is doing the best possible," O'Dea coach Mike Doyle said. "He's making the most of the limited time he has. I just feel a responsibility to try to help him get that." Like Kiyo and Diana, Doyle let Dickerson decide when he played. He started at shortstop for the Irish and, on the days when he couldn't play in the field, he remained in the lineup as the team's designated hitter. "So many things are out of his control right now, I want to try to give him some control over something," Doyle said. "He's a teenage boy. He wants to be in control. He wants to get a grasp of his own life and there's really no grasp on life that he can have right now."

Dickerson played his final high-school game Wednesday, going 3 for 5 against Eastside Catholic. After making it through most of the season, he has decided it's time to undergo radiation treatments. Dickerson had his first treatment Monday, then traveled to Hiawatha Park to watch his teammates beat West Seattle.

Stand Up 2 Cancer - Dickerson has a third tattoo running down his triceps on his left arm, Major League Baseball's Stand Up 2 Cancer logo. There is a photo from Dickerson's freshman year. He is sliding headfirst into home plate at Safeco Field during the Class 3A state semifinals. Dirt is flying into his face. He has thick streaks of eye black high on each cheek. What Doyle remembers about that moment is Dickerson ignoring the stop sign he put up at third base. When Doyle thinks about that photo - Dickerson was safe - and everything that has happened since, "it hurts." "It really hurts to see what he's had to go through," Doyle said. "It's a challenge you don't wish even on your biggest enemy."

When asked about the wave of emotion Dickerson has experienced since doctors told him in April he has months to live, he admitted he is often sad. Being around teammates, and baseball, though, "takes it off my mind." "I just stay upbeat with him, because I know that's kind of what he needs the most," junior Dylan Wade said. "He wants life to be as normal as it possibly can. That's what I try to bring to it, a positive, upbeat friend to help him out. At a recent practice, Dickerson stepped into the batting cage. He settled into his stance. He prepared for the pitch. It would be thrown by his father.

Since Dickerson has been old enough to pick up a bat, father and son bonded through baseball. This season, more than ever, those practices were precious. "Baseball is our family thing," Kiyo said. "Until the very last day when his body won't allow him to do it anymore, we'll be right there with him - all the way through."

We will be offering Sunday Fall Ball this year for the first time ever. The three divisions will be 10U, 12u and 14U with a two year play up rule (so an 8-year old can play 10U). The season will begin September 9th with four weekends of double headers followed by an end of season tournament. We will only be accepting full teams, no individual registrations. Check back for more details and costs. If your team is interested, please e-mail info@spokanepony.org. We will be limiting the amount of teams in each division.

U*District PT offers Spokane Pony Baseball players free injury screening. If you would like an opinion on an injury prior to seeing a Doctor, call the U-District to make an appointment first and they will offer advice on appropriate next steps. Their main location is at 730 N. Hamilton and their phone number is 458-7686.

Crazy Youth Sport Parents Series

Here are 10 types of Youth Sports Parents that you will likely find on the sidelines of every youth sports event. Which one are you? Of course you can be more than one.

1) The EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Parent - This is the mom or dad who calls timeout and runs out on to the field when little Johnny falls and scrapes his knee. Hey EMT parent, the kid is probably crying because he's embarrassed not hurt. You'll just embarrass him more by running onto the field. Let the coaches or trainers attend to your "injured" kid. (I have two counts of impersonating an EMT against me. Read Youth Basketball Busted Lip)

Papa-razzi

2) The Papa-razzi - This is the dad who takes 500 digital pictures at each game and then uploads every single image regardless of quality or redundancy onto Flickr. Truth be known, the Papa-razzi wants to punish all parents who don't care enough to take their own pictures. He secretly wants non-picture taking parents to painstakingly click through all 500 images (mostly of the Papa-razzi's kid) to see one shot of their own kid. (Papa-razzi please edit down to the top 2 or 3 images of each kid before you upload.)

3) The Conspirator Parent - This is the perpetually unhappy parent who schemes behind the scenes to overthrow the coach. This parent does not have the time to coach, nope, they are much too busy to coach. They do, however, have plenty of time to talk behind the coach's back and form alliances. (Honestly, I cannot say I am completely innocent. Some coaches are jackasses.)

4) The Overly Optimistic Cheerleader - This is the parent who is perpetually happy and cheering regardless of the situation. This parent yells GOOD TRY! for every mental and physical mistake a kid makes. Listen Overly Optimistic Cheerleader Parent please note that some kids, actually most kids would prefer it if their mistakes were not acknowledged at all, let alone with an empty compliment. (I have never been this parent)

The Stats Dad

5) The Stats Dad - This is the guy who keeps every stat on every player. The Stat Dad knows how good or bad every player is at every aspect of the game. Parents often seek his knowledge before they approach the coach about playing time. (Guilty as charged)

6) The Snack-Nazi - This is the mom who volunteers to prepare and police the snack list. She makes sure that the assigned parent brings healthy snacks for the players and their siblings. Don't cross the Snack Nazi, she's union and she's proud.

7) The Team Mom - She's the money manager, travel agent, volunteer coordinator, chief fundraiser and website master. Quite frankly, your team sucks if you do not have a good Team Mom, even if your team is undefeated. (Read about the role of Team Moms here)

8) The Clueless Coach from the Stands Dad - This is the dad who repeatedly instructs his kid on how to do something even though he has no experience in the sport. He's the one who will wrongly yell "Son, keep your elbow up" while his son is batting. You know him.

9) The Stop, Drop and Roll Parent - This is the parent who drops off his or her kid in the parking lot for practices and games and squeals the tires to leave before their kid has a chance to get their water bottle out of the cup-holder. This is also the parent who shows up late to pick up his or her kid and makes the coach wait / babysit for 15 - 30 extra minutes after each practice. Basically kids are a major inconvenience to this type of Youth Sports Parent.

10) The Hot Mom - Even the Stop, Drop and Roll Dad will sit through a doubleheader when the Hot Mom is in attendance
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Coaches, Parents and Players,

Spokane Athletic Supply at 307 E. Sprague, 747-1071 is offering 30% off (basically cost) all 2 5/8 bats for Pony Baseball players. There are about 15-20 remaining in a number of sizes. Just tell them you are with Pony.

THE SPORTSMANSHIP CODE OF PONY BASEBALL

• Develop a strong, clean, healthy body, mind and soul.
• Develop a strong urge for sportsman-like conduct.
• Develop courage in defeat, tolerance and modesty in victory.
• Develop control over emotions and speech.
• Develop spirit of cooperation and team play.
• Develop into real, true CITIZENS.