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Update to this story:

College no longer wants Stephens Co. catcher Gordon coach says umpire incident changed his mind on prospect

By TODD HOLCOMB The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/05/08

Matt Hill, the Stephens County High School catcher accused of intentionally letting a pitch hit an umpire last week, won't be playing baseball at Gordon College as a result.

Gordon baseball coach Travis McClanahan said today he spoke with Hill on Wednesday and withdrew an invitation for Hill to be walk on with the team next season.

"We just felt with the results of the game and what he was involved in, we just didn't support that kind of behavior for returning or incoming players," McClanahan said.

In the fourth inning of Saturday's game against Cartersville in the Class AAA championship series, Hill ducked and failed to catch a pitch from Cody Martin that struck the home plate umpire in the facemask. Stephens County was trailing 8-1 in a game it lost 13-1.

A video of the incident has been posted on many Web sites, including YouTube.

Stephens County principal David Friend, speaking for the Hill family, which has declined to be interviewed, said Hill and his parents were "disheartened" by McClanahan's decision.

Friend said he talked with McClanahan and Gordon College president Lawrence Weill in hopes of changing their minds.

"The incident is so totally out of character for this kid, but the penalty has taken away his chance to play baseball for the college of his choice," Friend said. "It bothers the family that this one pitch has taken on a life of itself and overshadowed other aspects of people's lives and that family unit. I don't think anyone ever imagined that this was going to get on MSNBC and have 82,000 hits on YouTube. I know that the family is very low-key, humble group of people, and it's been very hard on them."

Friend said Hill still might attend the Barnesville school, which will honor Hill's partial academic scholarship. Hill has a 3.5 GPA, Friend said.

According to Stephens County coach Mark Gosnell, Hill and Martin denied malicious intent and said the missed ball was the result of a mix-up in signals.

The Georgia High School Association fined Stephens County $1,000 and placed the baseball program on severe warning status Wednesday.

Hill has graduated and cannot be punished by the GHSA or Stephens County. Martin, a rising senior, was not disciplined.

School fined $1K for ump beaning

By Todd Holcomb
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/05/08
The Georgia High School Association fined Stephens County $1,000 and placed the baseball program on “severe warning status” Wednesday for an incident in the Class AAA championship series last weekend in Cartersville.

In the fourth inning of Saturday’s third and deciding game, won by Cartersville 13-1, Stephens County catcher Matt Hill ducked and did not attempt to catch a pitch that struck the home plate umpire, who was not injured.

Stephens head coach Mark Gosnell said Hill and pitcher Cody Martin denied planning to hit the umpire and said the passed ball was a result of a signaling mix-up on whether the pitch was to be a fastball or a curve.

But GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin, who watched video of the pitch, wasn’t sold.

“I made my decision primarily by watching whether the catcher tracked the pitch with his eyes,” he said. “In my opinion, he did not. I think that he would have been searching for the ball if it were a matter of being crossed up.”

Stephens County Principal David Friend said he thought the ruling was fair.

“I told [Swearngin] that I thought we deserved it,” Friend said. “We had the opportunity to be on a big stage, in a state championship series, and we had several players who didn’t represent the school the way I think they should have. Not just that pitch, but the overall behavior.”

Friend said he was concerned about his players’ excessive arguing with umpires and throwing helmets and gloves in the dugout and one report that a student made an obscene gesture to an official.

In the half inning prior to the umpire being hit, Stephens County shortstop Ethan Martin argued with the home plate umpire and threw his helmet after becoming the ninth consecutive Stephens batter to strike out.

Two batters later, Cody Martin, Ethan’s younger brother, threw the pitch that hit the umpire. Hill, the catcher, dropped to his knees and ducked as the ball approached.

“If there is one player I feel bad about, it’s our kid [Hill] being judged by one pitch because he’s really done so much good in the way he’s represented his team and school in the classroom,” Friend said. “I feel bad for his family. This has been devastating for them.”

As part of the GHSA’s penalty, Gosnell and his assistants must complete a sportsmanship education program.

“Severe warning status” means that any sportsmanship violations by a coach or player in 2009 will result in more severe penalties, including possible forfeits and being banned from the state playoffs.