How to handle an intentional walk?

Question
My son Jack was rewarded at last night's All Star tournament
with a night's worth of intentional walks after he demonstrated
his hitting ability with a double followed by a homerun. Any
ideas as to how he can best cope with the specter of intentional
walks? What's the boy supposed to do? I never saw this before in
Little League (we've played since t-ball and we're in the 9-10
division now) and am appalled that the organization, which
trumpets itself as a group that promotes youth development and
a love of the game, allows this, frankly, craven response to
excellence. To teach young pitchers the cut-and-run technique
of intentional walks flies in the face of the Little League motto, "I
will always strive to do my best." Intentional walks hardly have a
place in the big leagues, where it's arguable that economics
drive the game now. But even there, there's really no legitimate
place for intentional walks, for who wants to spend sixty bucks  
a ticket just to watch David Ortiz get intentionally walked? It's a
gip all the way around, and to see it in Little League now is just
sickening. What is a young batter who has been taught to strive
hard to hit the ball supposed to do when his opportunity to hit is
taken away? It teaches the kids that it's a waste of time to do
your best- you'll only get to first base. No wonder the youth of
America is in
such deep trouble.-
Rainey Lewis

Answer
Rainey,

Interesting take you have there.

Intentional walks are one of the tools that a manager uses to try and prevent the other team from scoring runs.  It is one of the "nuances" of the game of baseball that make it such a great game.  I think you may wish to reconsider your position that the intentional walk has no place in the game.

As for your son coping with the issue.  I would simply impress upon him the fact that the other team is so concerned with his offensive prowess that they would rather not let him be the one who beats them.  It is a sign of respect.  Your son was 2-2 with a double and a home run plus a walk or two.  Sounds like he had a great game.  

Batters learn and get better during practice---they perform during games.  Unless your coach is intentionally walking Jack in practice, you need not worry about his development.  He is in a 9-10 division, after all.  He will get plenty of at bats should he stay in the game.  Later on, good pitchers will want to challenge him.