March 29, 2012 - Clarkdale, AZ -- 20 seconds or so into this video of a bench clearer between Scottsdale Community College and Yavapai College in Arizona -- watch the 180 foot running start cheap shot up around 2nd base. It is believed to be Jake Bamrick (5'9", 165 lbs) getting nailed by Yavapai's #24 Austin O'Such (6'2", 220 pounds).
Protect yourself at all times.
Interestingly enough, O'Such was ACCAC Co-Player of the Week leading into this game.
*Updated, O'Such has deleted his twitter account and is been suspended according to The Daily Courier for an 'on-field incident.'
*Update #2: Larry Brown Sports spoke to Yavapai College’s athletic director, Scott Farnsworth: “Yavapai college and our Athletic dept. support and encourage good sportsmanship and fair play, we do not condone the actions of our LF displayed in the video. Austin O’Such was immediately suspended and continues to be as we work through this most uncharacteristic incident.”
**Update #2: Rick Chandler reports: "And now comes the news from Yavapai College that O’Such has been suspended from the team for the remainder of the season, and if I’m reading the statement correctly, he’s also been kicked out of school. His profile has been removed from the team web site, and even his Twitter account is gone." The full statement from YC Athletic Director Scott Farnsworth:
Yavapai College and the Athletic Department aspire to the ideals of good sportsmanship and fair play. In no way do we condone the behavior as recorded in the video, which occurred on March 29, 2012 at the Yavapai versus Scottsdale Community College baseball game. The YC player involved was immediately suspended by the college and will be suspended from play for the rest of the season. The college has implemented this action and will continue to work with the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) on current and future sanctions following conference procedures. Per conference rules team members from both teams involved in the on field incident have already served their suspensions.
Kudos.
***Update 3: The NY Daily News reports O'Such has left school:
“People were saying, ‘We’re gonna come out and get you, we’re gonna take care of this,” Farnsworth told the Daily News. “Kinda crazy talk. But in this day and age, you don’t know who’s serious and who’s just talking.”
Farnsworth said even the team’s coach began to receive threats, including a voice-mail from a Mississippi phone number of someone threatening to fly to Arizona and attack both him and O’Such.
After watching the video, people were “somehow assuming that we planned this or anticipated it or condoned it,” Farnsworth explained.
“The amount of vulgarity and threats just seemed to be totally ironic,” Farnsworth said. “Here they are, complaining about this uncalled-for instance and yet they’re perpetrating the very behavior.”
He is reportedly still taking online classes and has written a letter of apology to the SCC team. That's called a good start. Right?
Animated Gif via Chad Moriyama
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