SHS coaches lauded

In response to Michael McDuffie’s Sept. 20 letter about “running up the score” at the Salisbury High School vs. East soccer game:

Salisbury played all 27 players of their team. My grandson, a starting player, only played 12 minutes, and every time that he scored, he was taken from the game. I was at the game, and I don’t think the coaches tried to run up the score. I’ve never known any coach to tell their players, “Hey, don’t try to win!”

If you are interested in getting a coach’s viewpoint on running up the score, you should talk to your East football and baseball coaches. They have had more experience with this subject.

All of the SHS coaches are concerned about the boys’ total growth. If you did know our coach, you would realize what a fine man he is. We all respect and appreciate all of the extras he gives our boys. Teaching sportsmanship is most important to him. He’s the greatest!

Every school has building years for all sports. At the second game against East, your players were most improved. Some of your fans were awful. I’ve never been to a game where the fans called for “take him out.” In soccer, that means to foul and hurt the player so that he can’t score. With all that is going on in our country, it is hard to believe that an American would encourage this violence.

I also realize this behavior is from only a few because I have many good friends at East and they don’t act this way.

— Barbara Rufty
Salisbury