Coach keeps boy on bench, breaking rule

BRISTOL, Conn. — The international Little League organization is criticizing a New Hampshire manager's decision to violate rules about mandatory play during a regional-semifinal game.

Rules require every player to have at least one turn at bat, but New Hampshire Manager Jim O'Connell kept one player on the bench but during Friday's game against South Portland American in Connecticut. Those who violate the rule are subject to a twogame suspension, but the New Hampshire team's loss ended its season.

Little League International officials say they're extremely disappointed in O'Connell and hope that local officials will think twice about reappointing him next year.

Little League officials reminded O’Connell that all 13 players on his roster must bat at least once. Instead, trailing 7-5 in the sixth and final inning, he kept the boy on the bench as a rally added a run before falling a run short.

O'Connell told the Portland (Maine) Press Herald after game that the player had declined a chance to bat in the fourth inning, causing the manager to wonder if “he wasn’t feeling good.” O'Connell said that "to put him in a situation where (it was) do-or-die with the game, I didn’t feel it would be very fair.”

South Portland Manager Jim Poole said of New Hampshire: "They should be going home. It’s unfortunate for that group of kids, but the coaches, I hope, learn from that. That’s not setting a standard.”