It's springtime and that means baseball diamonds around the valley are filled with boys, girls and the dads who coach them--learning as much about the game of life as the game of baseball. That dynamic is the underpinning of Rounding Third, the new performance by San José Repertory Theatre.

The Richard Dresser comedy hits in familiar territory for anyone who's ever experienced big-time Little League, bringing to light the good, the bad and the ugly of youth sports. The play pits Don, the veteran win-at-all-costs coach and father of the star pitcher, against Michael, the mellow new coach who is more interested in seeing that the young athletes have fun than in fretting over competition.

Director John McCluggage describes the story as "what happens to adults when they get involved coaching kids' sports."

Forced to work together over the course of a season, the two very different coaches must inspire their team of youngsters to try to reach the playoffs, while battling over personal issues of character, including the importance of honesty and the philosophy of winning.

"Rounding Third" slides into San José Repertory Theatre March 26 and runs through April 18. Tickets are $18­$52. For more information, call 408.367.7255 or go to www.sjrep.com.