Eight will miss time for brawl

The fallout from Wednesday’s bench-clearing brawl between the UALR and Central Arkansas baseball teams came swiftly Thursday afternoon.

At least, it did for one school.

Central Arkansas sent out a news release Thursday afternoon saying three Bears players and an assistant coach were suspended for their involvement in a fight during the 10th inning of Wednesday night’s nonconference game at Bear Stadium in Conway, a game UCA won 5-4 in 11 innings.

UCA’s suspensions included four games for junior infielder Nate Ferrell and sophomore catcher Brandon Montalvo, four games for assistant coach Trent Kline and eight games for sophomore infielder Matt Anderson.

The UCA release also said that three players from UALR would be suspended for four games and another player would face an eight game suspension, but none of the Trojans players were named in the release.

UALR, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, did not release any information regarding player suspensions, but Athletic Director Chris Peterson said Thursday night there will be four players suspended.

A report of the incident made by Wednesday’s umpiring crew of Bobby Entrekin (home plate), Mike Mazzarisi (first base) and Scott Ditto (third base) misidentified one of the Trojans players, Peterson was told. John McElwain, an associate director of communications for the conference, said the league is still reviewing the incident.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” Peterson said by telephone. “It’s not good for baseball. It’s not what our institutions condone.”

Peterson said he has spoken with UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague regarding the incident.

“We’re both not happy about the situation,” Peterson said.

Teague expressed regret through a university release, saying there is no place in college athletics for such incidents.

“Emotions sometimes run high in athletic contests, particularly in close, highly contested games such as Wednesday night’s extra-inning game,” the statement read.“And sometimes those emotions get out of hand, which was the case last [Wednesday] night at Bear Stadium.”

The incident, with a crowd of 315 looking on took place with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 4-4 game.

UALR reliever Tanner Rockwell hit UCA freshman outfielder Carson Dowdle with a pitch. It was the fourth time a UCA batter had been hit by a pitch and the second time Dowdle had been hit.

Sophomore pinch-runner Lee Raley stole second base as Montalvo struck out swinging on a 1-2 pitch. But Raley was sent back to first base after umpires ruled that Montalvo, a right-handed hitter, interfered with Trojans catcher Drew Merten.

UCA Coach Allen Gum came out to argue the interference call, but UALR Coach Scott Norwood also came on the field, and the two got into a heated discussion near home plate. The incident escalated after Norwood fell to the ground and the benches emptied, causing the game to be delayed about 20 minutes. Norwood, Gum and UALR pitcher Chad Bradford, who did not pitch Wednesday, were ejected.

Multiple videos on social networks and another posted by The Echo, UCA’s student newspaper, showed players and coaches from both teams involved in the fracas, as well as UCA staff members who tried to intervene. Players from both teams argued and pushed each other in front of home plate before the skirmish spilled over to the backstop area behind the plate.

Norwood spoke briefly about the incident Thursday afternoon at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, but he did not take any questions.

“I’d like to say that I take last night’s incident very seriously, and it is an embarrassment to the university,” Norwood said, speaking before UCA released its statement regarding the suspensions. “This type of behavior sets a bad example for student-athletes and fans, and I regret that this happened.”

A UALR spokesman declined to comment when asked if the teams will play their scheduled game April 23at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock. The teams have played at least once a season since 2011, including games at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock in 2012 and 2013.

Gum did not return phone calls Thursday from the Democrat-Gazette.

UCA won the game in the 11th inning when sophomore right fielder Tyler Langley scored from second base when UALR center fielder Bryson Thionnett dropped Ferrell’s fly ball, ending a game that lasted 3 hours, 50 minutes.

The Trojans, who committed four errors, led 4-0 in the sixth inning.

UCA reliever Connor McClain, a junior right-hander, pitched three scoreless innings to earn the victory.

UCA and UALR each begin a three-game series today with 6 p.m. starts.

The Bears (16-10, 5-4 Southland) host Southeastern Louisiana (18-11, 5-4) in Conway. The Bears will be without their suspended players and assistant coach.

The Trojans (11-15, 1-8 Sun Belt) host Georgia State (14-16, 3-6) at Hogan Field. UALR will play without four players, who are expected to be identified today.

Ferrell, of Griffin, Ga., finished 1 for 3 with 2 runs and 3 walks Wednesday. He is batting .288 with 2 doubles and 8 RBI. Montalvo, of Houston, went 0 for 3 with a RBI as a replacement for starter Charles Deckard. He has played 12 games (6 starts) and is batting .250 with 1 double and 6 RBI in his first season at UCA. Anderson, of Hinsdale, Ill., didn’t play Wednesday. He is batting .130 in 11 games this season.

Sports, Pages 19 on 04/04/2014

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