A U.S. youth baseball coach has been banned "for life" following his alleged actions during a game.
Michael Ryals, 38, was coaching his son's game in Oklahoma, when he allegedly instructed him to throw a baseball inside of the opposing team's dugout before exiting the game. His son, who will not be named because he is a minor, was pitching. The team was playing in a tournament on Memorial Day Weekend, which hosted athletes under 12 years old.
According to USA Today, the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) banned the coach for life, after a clip of the incident went viral online.
John Latella, CEO of USSSA, told USA Today, "Due to the sensitive nature of the sensitive manner of the issue, and involvement of minors, no further comments will be [provided]."
According to people in attendance at the game, the incident happened when the opposing team - reportedly from Nebraska - began celebrating loudly. The team from Nebraska ended up winning the game, 8-6.
Ryals claims that players from Nebraska were taunting and harassing his son, who has been suspended for five years from the league. The father does not want his son to suffer more repercussions. Ryals told USA Today that he doesn't "want to be seen as the bad guy" or "hated," adding, "I don't want my kid to be hated."
“Just kids being ruthless kids,” Ryals said of the interaction between opposing teams. “I don't think any kid should be in trouble for what they said, but [Ryals’s son] reached his breaking point. He told me he was going to throw the ball in between innings and I said, ‘There's consequences for it. You should really think that through, but there is consequences for it.’ ”
Ryals owned up to the incident.
"If they want to put the blame on me, I’ve let it ride on my shoulders. I’m his dad. I’m a grown man. I’m not going to answer that question because I don't want people thinking he's any worse than he is.”
The USSSA stated that it had completed “a thorough investigation” of the incident that transpired during a USSSA tournament.
No further comments will be made.
