Video: Investigation of Texas high school softball team after catcher walloped opposing players in their heads with throws



The Texas University Interscholastic League is investigating a high school softball team after its catcher was seen on video hitting opposing players in their heads with wild throws. There is debate about whether the catcher intentionally hit the batters or not.

Cisco High School squared off against McCamey High School in the Area Championship softball series over the weekend. The catcher for McCamey High School was accused of intentionally throwing the ball at the heads of two batters from Cisco High School.

Following a pitch, the McCamey catcher turned and seemed to throw the ball toward third base. However, the catcher hurled the ball and smashed the ball into the heads of the batters. Another Cisco batter was walloped in the head when the catcher threw the ball toward the first base line.

There were two other incidents of throwing at batters in the first-round playoff game between McCamy and Coleman High School. The catcher hit batter Lauren McKeehan twice in the head in two different at-bats.

Coleman Today reported, "Then an odd event took place, that no one was quite ready for... McKeehan watched a ball go across the plate, making the count 1-2. She stepped out of the batter's box, as she often does, to look at Coach Corey Aven at 3rd base and the McCamey catcher threw the ball, (supposedly towards her 3rd baseman) hitting McKeehan in the back of the head. Lauren was called out for interference."

The outlet added, "Unfortunately, out of habit McKeehan stepped out of the batter's box to look at Coach Aven again after the first strike, receiving the ball to her head again from the McCamey catcher, since Gilbreath was on 3rd."

No one was ejected after both incidents.

Interference can be called on batters for impeding the catcher's ability to throw the ball to an infielder. If the team is called out for interference, the team is penalized with an out.

An investigation was launched to determine if the catcher purposely threw at the batters to force an interference call.

A spokesperson for Texas University Interscholastic League said, "The UIL is aware of an incident that occurred during the McCamey vs. Cisco Softball Playoff Series and is in contact with the school administrations to gather additional information."

\u201cFirst occurrence\u2935\ufe0f\u201d
— Kayler Smith - KMID (@Kayler Smith - KMID) 1683687158

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Video: Junior college baseball pitcher no longer on the team after brutally leveling baserunner who hit home run



A junior college pitcher is no longer on the team after he brutally assaulted a rival player. The moment the pitcher savagely leveled an opponent was captured on an alarming video.

North Central Texas first baseman Josh Phillips jacked a home run off Weatherford College pitcher Owen Woodward in the top of the sixth inning of Wednesday's game. The two-run, go-ahead homer gave NCTC a 3-2 advantage. Just as the batter was rounding third base, Woodward became infuriated. The pitcher slammed his glove onto the field and sprinted towards Phillips.

Woodward – a 6-foot-3, 195-pound reliever – lowered his shoulder and fiercely leveled Phillips, as seen in video from TSRN Sports. The pitcher slammed into the freshman baserunner so fiercely that Phillips' helmet flew into the air and landed approximately 5 feet away in foul territory.

North Central Texas players stormed out of the dugout and into the field to defend their teammate at the ballpark in Weatherford – about 30 miles west of Fort Worth.

Several North Central Texas players were hit with two-game suspensions for leaving the dugout. Four additional Weatherford players and assistant coaches were also suspended for two games.

Phillips managed to touch home plate following the football-like hit and subsequent brouhaha.

Initially, Woodward was slapped with a four-game suspension by the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference. However, Weatherford baseball coach and assistant athletic director Jeff Lightfoot declared on Thursday that Woodward was "no longer with the team." The coach did not specify if Woodward quit the team or if he was kicked off the squad.

Weatherford College also said Woodward, a sophomore, had received additional discipline, but would not release details. The college cited college policy and federal regulations protecting student privacy.

Weatherford College stated, "The WC student in question will face potential disciplinary action from the Office of Student Services up to and possibly including expulsion. The Weatherford College Police Department is also investigating the incident and has taken statements."

"We are shocked and disappointed at what happened in our game today," Lightfoot said in a statement on Wednesday. "We do not condone this type of behavior. We have worked hard to build a program with the highest of standards. We are completely embarrassed by this incident, and we apologize to North Central Texas College and the fans of WC baseball. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated."

Brent Wallace – chancellor of NCTC – said the nasty incident would "be used as a teaching moment for our student-athletes to help ensure these incidents do not occur in the future.”

"NCTC expects our student-athletes to exhibit the highest levels of sportsmanship both on and off the field," Wallace said. "We appreciate the integrity of the Weatherford Administration in communicating with NCTC."

(WARNING: Graphic content)

Weatherford college pitcher tackles opponent during baseball game, video shows www.youtube.com