A heated moment at a recent Texas youth Softball tournament has provoked a backlash after a Next Level Bandits 2K12 coach was overheard calling a young player a “nobody.”
The comment that was made to the 12-year-old girl, giving her maximum efforts on the field, quickly drew attention from the parents and spectators, calling out the coach’s behavior.
The young player’s mother took the incident to social media, writing,
“Imagine being a grown adult and talking down about a child who’s out there giving their all. That’s not coaching — that’s bullying. My daughter might not have your name on her back, but she’s got heart, discipline, and courage. to step up and compete — something no words can take away.
The Post resonated widely, with numerous comments coming from parents. Many parents criticized the coach’s lack of professionalism and praised the young player’s determination despite the setback.
One commentator wrote, “Well, you know your kiddo is going somewhere, and a grown ass man bullying kids never got anywhere, that’s why he acts like a bully. We chose to take the high road because we are all somebody better.”
Another one added, “I know that she is someone & grown men like that that speak down on kids weren’t ever anyone. I’m so proud of her! In 2 seasons playing travel ball, she has made tremendous strides and stepped up at a secondary position!”
The Young Player Showed Her Composure
Among those defending the player was Meranda Rodriguez-Caad, who highlighted the girl’s impressive weekend stats despite the negative encounter.
According to the shared screenshots from the statistics board, the young athlete, identified as M. Schmidt (#7), posted a .714 batting average and an OPS of 1.714. She had a great all-round performance contributing in both her primary and secondary positions.
While there were high emotions surrounding the family, the post made it clear they wanted to focus on growth and positivity, rather than retaliation.
“You called her a ‘nobody’? Watch her become somebody you’ll never forget,” the mother concluded. However, she also wishes the Next Level Bandits to do better.
The Next Level Bandits organization has yet to comment publicly on the incident. Meranda, who highlighted the Girls’ stats, also added a message of support at the end.
She wrote, “Hell of a weekend, kid! He isn’t anyone to be worried about, just have him join the club to motivate you.”
The fellow parent feels moments like these should fuel young athletes rather than discourage them.
