The Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) announced numerous suspensions after a pitcher violently tackled a batter following a home run.
Source: Texas College Baseball Twitter
On April 20th, in a game between North Central Texas College and Weatherford College, Weatherford College pitcher Owen Woodward sprinted from the pitcher’s mound and violently tackled Josh Phillips who was rounding third base after hitting a home run.
After Woodward tackled Phillips a number of North Central players stormed the field and can be seen tackling Woodward before the umpires were able to separate the players.
In a game between NCTC & Weatherford,
Josh Phillips hits a go ahead home run and the weatherford pitcher LEVELS him while he’s rounding the bases…
Only in Texas folks pic.twitter.com/Bb5lpQ4t34
— Texas College Baseball (@TexasCollegeBSB) April 20, 2022
Both Woodward and Phillips would be suspended for their actions. Weatherford College Athletics official Twitter account shared the disciplinary action for both students.
Beginning with Woodward it revealed “the conference has enacted a four-game suspension for tackling an NCTC baserunner.”
Not only was Woodward suspended for four games, but according to the press release “WC Head Baseball Coach Jeff Lightfoot said the pitcher is no longer with the team.”
They also noted he was “handed down additional disciple” from the Weatherford College Student Services Office; however, those actions will not be released in order to comply with federal regulations regarding student privacy.
Roger Williams Ballpark on the campus of Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas (United States). Photo Credit: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Phillips was suspended for two games for taunting. On top of Phillips receiving a two game suspension, they also suspended nearly the entire North Central Texas College team noting, “In their game ejection form, umpires said NCTC cleared their bench during the incident. Because of this, the conference ruled that all NCTC team members that were in the bullpen or dugout, except for two, and any NCTC assistant coaches that stepped onto the field will serve a two-game suspension.”
They were specifically suspended for violating the conferences rules on leaving their positions or dugouts during a fight.
The NTJCAC added that four Weatherford College players will also serve a two-game suspension “for leaving their positions or leaving the dugout as well as any assistant coach that stepped onto the field during the incident.”
Source: Texas College Baseball Twitter
Finally, NTJCAC noted that the game was the first of four between the two schools and that the first game will be ruled a double forfeit. The second and third games will be forfeited by North Central Texas College because they won’t have enough players to field due to the suspensions.
The two teams would play their fourth game on April 23rd with Weatherford College winning 6 to 4.
Source: WC Coyote Athletics Twitter
North Central Texas College also released a statement that revealed The Weatherford College Police Department was investigating the incident.
The College’s Chancellor Dr. Brent Wallace also stated, North Central Texas College supports its student athletes and the various athletic programs available at the College. NCTC expects our student athletes to exhibit the highest levels of sportsmanship both on and off the field. The unfortunate events at Weatherford College will be used as a teaching moment for our student athletes to help ensure these incidents do not occur in the future”
He added, “We appreciate the integrity of the Weatherford Administration in communicating with NCTC and will be working in conjunction with them to determine the full extent of this event.”
Source: North Central Texas College
What do you make of the rulings from NTJCAC?