A college pitcher was suspended four games for violently knocking down a player from the opposing team at a baseball game played in Texas, United States. Weatherford College player Owen Woodward pounced wildly on North Central batsman Josh Phillips, and both ended up turning the pitch into a battle zone, as a brawl broke out between the two teams.
This attack was recorded in a video that ran like wildfire on social media and sparked criticism, including from Jeff Lightfoot, coach of Weatherford College Coyotes, who stated that the player “is no longer on the team”.
“We are shocked and very disappointed. We are very embarrassed by this incident and offer an apology to the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference,” the Weatherford ensemble said in a press release.
In the images you can see how Phillips is about to reach third base after hitting a home run during the sixth inning and on his way he is violently intercepted by Woodward, who throws himself on him with a tackle typical of American football or rugby. Immediately, the players of both teams intervened.
According to local sports media, the footage of Woodward's assault will be used in the investigation conducted by the school itself, as well as the Weather College Police Department. For its part, the Associated Press (AP) agency reported that Woodward was suspended, while Phillips was also suspended but only two games, since he had apparently mocked him.
The North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference reported that it suspended more players and collaborators due to the fight that originated after the pitcher's assault on the batter. They gave two punishment matches to “all the members of the NCTC team who were on the bench or in the bullpen” and to the assistant coaches who entered the field. They also suspended additional Weatherford assistant coaches for two matches.
That leaves North Central Texas without enough players for their next two games against Weatherford. In fact, both teams have to play against each other again this weekend and received the order from the league that the match that was suspended will count them as defeat.
KEEP READING: