It’s not unusual for a team that’s getting blown out to get frustrated and start getting a little chippy.

That was certainly the case on Saturday afternoon in Old Orchard Beach as the Seagulls dominated the visiting Traip Rangers, who would become increasingly frustrated as the game went on.

Traip was called for three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, including having one player ejected from the contest.

At one point, the emotions were running so high that the head official talked to both teams in the middle of the field – specifically telling them to keep their mouths shut.

Now, the referee may have talked to both teams, but it was definitely aimed at the team from Kittery.

The OOB players did a great job all day long of not taking the bait – even though Traip gave them plenty of chances, and reasons, to react.

One of the big reasons the Seagulls were able to keep their cool is the presence of leadership – both on the sideline and on the field.

OOB head coach Dean Plante and his staff do a great job of keeping their players in the right mindset and focused on the right things.

On the field, players like Erik Hogan, Thomas Fregeau and Mason Beaudoin lead by example – and that showed on Saturday.

“Our kids are a class act, they always have been,” said Plante after Saturday’s game.

The OOB coach was proud of the way his kids handled themselves on Saturday.

“They play hard, they play with their pads and they didn’t get caught up in it,” said Plante. “We preach that. We try to say win, lose or draw, you do it with class. You have $300 worth of equipment on, use that, keep your mouth pieces in and bite down.”

Speaking of class acts, one of the best moments on Saturday came in the final few minutes of the game – and it happened on the sidelines.

Hogan, who had been given a rest after putting together an incredible performance on the field, walked over to one of OOB’s young water boys and said, “hey, you did a great job today.”

The water boy couldn’t have been happier to have one of the Seagulls’ best players not only talking to him, but telling him what a good job he had done.

Since I came to Maine last November, one of the athletes I have been most impressed with has been Hogan, who seems to have a motor that never stops – whether it’s on the basketball court, track or football field.

I have even more respect for Hogan after what I witnessed on the sidelines on Saturday afternoon – and I’m sure that young water boy will remember that moment for a long time.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322.