Bristol — We’ll let some sociologist with too much time on his or her hands determine the exact number of universal truths that apply to sports. Here’s one that ought to make the top 10 nonetheless: You never take time to dissect the moment when you are in it.

You just play. How lucky, indeed, are the players. Even in a perceived “pressure situation,” they’re awash in concentration and instinct. Sure beats the poor coaches and fans sitting there helplessly, all of whom may resort to pacing, cursing, venting and breathing into brown paper bags.

Take, for example, the Waterford Little Leaguers. They’re just playing. Maybe they feel some jitters being on television now, or with the bleachers full in this run to Williamsport. Still, they can just play. Their parents? Oy. Praise the Lord and pass the Mylanta.

They’re not just any parents either. There are some well-known surnames on this team. Names that have played and coached at higher levels than Little League.

The dads of Jared Burrows (Tim) and Anthony Tonucci (Eric, both coaches on this team now) played on Waterford High School’s 1988 championship team and later for Niantic American Legion in the glory days of the rivalry with New London.

Connor Podeszwa’s dad, Chris, played at Waterford High, for New London Legion in the World Series and is an assistant coach at UConn and on Cape Cod.

Michael Marelli’s dad, Mike, played at East Lyme and was the defensive coordinator for Montville High School football when it took down Bloomfield in the 2000 playoffs, later making the state title game.

There’s also a D’Amico, Jerome, Zawacki (he’s Nolan Long’s cousin), O’Connell … all of whom come from some quality athletic stock.

“It’s a lot easier being between the lines,” Chris Podeszwa was saying Monday night, before Waterford edged Cranston, R.I. “At least out there you had some control. Here, I can’t do anything.”

Mike Marelli: “I was standing out there in center field last week, tie game and Michael comes up with the bases loaded. Oh, man. And there was nothing I could do about it.”

It should be noted that the younger Marelli hit a grand slam, the swing that won the state title.

The dads never knew how easy it was to just play … until now. And if you think it’s stressful to watch your kids on this grand stage, try resisting the old “back when I played” speech. You’re only trying to help, right?

“I try to limit them,” Marelli said, chuckling. “You have to. It was a different era. Coaching was different. I mean, you do bring it up when you want to break his stones a little bit. But I try to limit it because you want him to enjoy this experience.”

Burrows: “Jared asks once in a while about my playing days. I say, ‘you’re going to be better than me.’ I want him to think that way. I do think that because we played, they trust us more. When they go home, they’re getting good messages. ‘Listen to your coach.’ Hey, I’ve make mistakes like everyone else, but for the most part, we try to stay out of the way and let them play.”

Waterford was once the demilitarized zone between one of the region’s great baseball rivalries: New London and Niantic Legion. Ben Jerome, a player for the current Little Leaguers, is the grandson of late Niantic coach Bill Jerome. Some Waterford kids played for Niantic. Others, New London.

“Mr. O’Neill (former New London coach Jim) came to me and said, ‘Wanna play for New London Legion?’” Podeszwa said. “It was a no-brainer. Most of what I still teach, I learned in those three years playing for New London. It was great. Playing for either New London or Niantic got us out of that little pond of Waterford. We got to learn from other people. That made us all better by having the opportunity to get away.”

Podeszwa, who is very much a part of UConn’s recent success producing Major Leaguers, decided not to coach on the Cape this summer, ending his 17-year run with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. The pull of fatherhood.

“Tim asked me if I’d help out, but I didn’t want to be in the dugout,” Podeszwa said. “If I had an opportunity to help the kids to get better, I was going to take it. It’s why I stopped going to the Cape. I couldn’t say, ‘hey, Connor, you’re not playing 12-year-old all-stars because we’re going to the Cape this year.’”

Podeszwa never knew that Newington and Bristol could be lovelier than the Cape this time of year. Same applies to the other athletes/coaches turned dads.

“Out of all my experiences, watching Michael hit that home run is more important than anything I’ve ever done,” Marelli said. “I was happier than I’d ever been.”

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius