Honestly, I look back on youth athletics, and in terms of "your kid getting stuff out of it that will serve him the rest of his days," competing at a high level, leaving it all on the field, and coming up short may be as good as it gets. Sure, you'll remember the state championship forever, but what you remember most is the moment of that final whistle, hoisting that trophy, etc. When you LOSE at that level, what you remember is the grind, the effort, the brotherhood, facing the pressure with the right amount of anxiety yet charging forward. THAT is the shit that character is made of.
The boy had a couple of years in Little League and Pony League where they made the championship. They won twice, but they lost once - his last year in Little League, which he loved. He was at the plate, bottom of the ninth, two men on, down by two, two outs. He was the best hitter on the team. He was who his team wanted at the plate in that moment. And he struck out. It was one of the most profound moments of his young life. The heartbreak, the ending of it all, his teammates supporting him in his moment of angst. He loved the game, he loved his teammates, he did everything he could. He ended up feeling everything a man can feel in those few moments. We got our money's worth for every season of ball he ever played in that one afternoon. Good for your son. He knows what it is to do it all, and leave it all on the field.