Posted on 10/12/2006 4:16:46 PM PDT by FFIGHTER
UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- A youth league baseball coach convicted of getting one of his players to injure a teammate was sentenced to one to six years in prison today.
Fayette County Judge Ralph Warman said the actions by Mark Downs Jr., of Dunbar, in June 2005 were "outrageous" and "extremely reprehensible" because he was coaching a league of children 7 to 9 years old.
Testimony indicated Mr. Downs promised $25 to one of his best players if he hurled a ball at Harry Bowers Jr., 11, an autistic and mildly retarded teammate, presumably to keep him from playing in a game.
A jury convicted Mr. Downs last month of corruption of minors and conspiracy to commit simple assault.
Judge Warman sentenced him to six months to three years on each count
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Even though the above is not from a criminal case, the same idea applies here: every kid is entitled to a safe baseball game (in the sense that they shouldn't have to fear for their safety from a malevolent coach), even more so a disabled child.
Where do you get T-BALL from in said article?
"Any MLB player should be expelled from a game for intentionally throwing at a player. Even an accidental hit should draw a penalty."
Pussyfy everything uh?
I just think that baseball is about ptiching, hitting and fielding. Throwing balls at players heads is reckless and in many cases just plain ruthless. More so when it happens in the American League by cowardly scumbags such as Roger Clemons.
On the other hand, I am not much of a baseball fan. In large part because of players such as Clemons and because of the 1994 strike which finally got me to stop watching.
Why no charges against the hitman who actually threw the ball?
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