Baseball is supposed to be a non-contact sport, but after an ill-advised taunt after a series sweep, things got physical and ugly for two California high school baseball teams.
After Norwalk High School completed a two-game sweep over Mayfair, taking the season series from the rival school, a Norwalk player brought a broom to the postgame handshakes and swept home plate at the front of the line. Funny in theory, not-so-much in reality.
While numerous spectators advised the player to stop taunting the losing squad, he declined, and words were exchanged, as well as fists, after the handshake line dissipated. The ensuing melee involved players, spectators, parents, and even coaches. Fox News reported:
Fred Robledo, sports editor of the Southern California Newspaper Group, told KCAL News a Mayfair coach was “swinging at some players.”
Coaches and other staff tried to break up the fight while other spectators came onto the field.
Adults off the field can be heard blaming the Norwalk coach for the brawl. A man in a button-down shirt was also seen holding a bat in his hands arguing with somebody, which Robledo says was a parent.
It was an ugly scene and one that should never be tolerated or allowed to happen in youth sports at any level. Unsportsmanlike conduct is usually investigated and punished harshly, with offenders sometimes being disqualified individually and occasionally teams forfeiting the rest of their season. The Norwalk- La Miranda School District issued this statement: “The NHS and Mayfair administrations, in conjunction with the California Interscholastic Federation, are currently conducting an investigation and will decide on the direction of any unsportsmanlike acts. An update will be released once the investigation is complete,”
On-field brawls like this can be dangerous situations for players, coaches, and umpires. What prompted the player to bring the broom on the field, besides a lack of class and sportsmanship, is unknown, and the coaching staff’s involvement is also unknown. What is known is this sort of thing should never happen.
Mayfair vs. Norwalk gets fiesty. pic.twitter.com/AtaZe0HWWJ
— Mateo de $eal Beach (@MattmoneyM) April 27, 2023
Norwalk’s Principal issues a statement: Norwalk Principal Dr. David Olea said his school is “currently conducting an investigation and working with our parents to address yesterday’s actions and the consequences that will follow.”
Any parents and coaches that were involved could potentially face criminal charges and most certainly will be banned from future events moving forward. While it would definitely be a difficult situation to witness without attempting to intervene, especially if you have kids involved, spectators simply cannot be permitted to engage in this sort of activity.
The victory gave Norwalk an impressive 21-5 record on the season and a 14-0 record in the Mid Cities League, which now is tainted because of the brawl. Norwalk won the schools’ first meeting April 28, 9-5. The two split the season series last year, and both teams are in the playoffs, but repercussions are expected.
The sensible thing would be to disqualify both teams and sanction both schools. A strong message should be sent to discourage bad behavior and encourage sportsmanship. After all, youth sports are supposed to teach kids how to win and lose with grace and class, not how to fight.
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