Oklahoma Youth Baseball Coach Banned for Life for Allegedly Telling Pitcher to Throw at Opposing Dugout
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NEED TO KNOW
- A youth baseball coach from Oklahoma received a lifetime ban from the United States Specialty Sports Association after he instructed his son to throw a baseball into the opposing team's dugout after a loss
- Michael Ryals of Welling, Okla., claimed his son was being verbally harassed by the opposing team's players
- Ryals' 12-year-old son received a five-year ban from the association
A youth baseball coach in Oklahoma has been given a lifetime ban after video from a recent tournament went viral.
According toUSA Today, the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) banned the coach, 38-year-old Michael Ryals of Welling, Okla., after the viral clip showed him instructing his son, the team's pitcher, to throw a baseball inside the opposing team's dugout at the end of the game before exiting the field.
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The tournament, which reportedly took place over Memorial Day Weekend, hosts athletes under 12 years old.
On Thursday, May 28, 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]."
Baseball in a gloveCredit: Getty
Ryals' son, whose name will not be revealed because he is a minor, received a five-year ban from by the association.
Two people who were at the game spoke to USA Today anonymously, telling the outlet that the incident occurred after the opposing team from Nebraska began loudly celebrating in the final inning of the game. Nebraska won the game 8-6.
According to USA Today, an individual associated with Ryals' team said a player's parent apologized to Nebraska's head coach Brandon Magni in a message on Facebook.
The outlet reported that the message said, "Our athletes and our parents were 100 percent blindsided when Michael instructed his son to do what he did," and added, "We left the park immediately after the game and we are no longer associated with the coach and we never will be again."
Ryals spoke toUSA Todayand claimed that the players from Nebraska were verbally harassing his son before the incident and said he doesn't "want to be seen as the bad guy" or "hated," adding, "I don't want my kid to be hated."
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“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.’ ”
When asked about whose idea it was to throw the ball into the dugout, Ryals told the outlet, "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.”
Read the original article on People