Clemson-Florida Game 2 umpire crew chief releases statement on Bakich, Leggett ejections |
Brandon Rink
· · Monday, June 10 2024
The umpires in Game 2 of the Clemson-Florida Super Regional issued two ejections of Clemson baseball staff in the late-going of Sunday's 11-10 loss to Florida.
In the wake of Alden Mathes' go-ahead home run in the 13th inning, the umpires huddled together to see if Mathes would get an ejection for his post-home run celebration. Mathes stayed in the game, but upon review and arguments, head coach Erik Bakich and staff member and former Tigers legendary coach Jack Leggett were each ejected. Crew chief Billy Van Raaphorst did not release an explanation of the matter until well after the game: “In the top of the 13th inning the Clemson batter hit home run and spiked his bat into the ground.
The crew got together due to the nature of the bat being spiked and to discuss a possible unsportsmanlike conduct violation as unsportsmanlike conduct warnings were issued in the 3rd inning.
Coach Bakich came running out of the dugout when the crew got together. We told him to go back to the dugout while we huddled. We had to tell him three times to return to the dugout. Meanwhile Coach Leggett was in the dugout pointing and screaming at us about the crew huddling. Leggett was warned to stop, he continued waving his hands while yelling at the crew. At this point Leggett was ejected for failing to obey the warning. He then proceeded onto the field in foul territory and was warned to leave or be suspended. Leggett continued to yell at the crew while walking toward the foul line while failing to obey the 'Prolonged warning.' Leggett was then issued a two-game suspension. Once Leggett was ejected Coach Bakich who had not returned to the dugout stayed outside the dugout in foul territory and started raising his arms over his head while facing the crowd to clearly incite the crowd. Due to the previous unsportsmanlike conduct warning issued earlier we deemed this inappropriate, and he would be ejected for his actions.
"We ultimately decided that the batter's actions were not an ejectable offense. The crew chief met Coach Bakich at the foul line to give him an explanation. He was told Leggett had been ejected… and suspended for coming out of the dugout, onto the field and failing to obey the prolonged warning. He was then told Backich himself was going to be ejected for not returning to the dugout and for inciting the crowd. After the ejection Bakich followed the Crew Chief several times around the infield and after being warned for prolonged activity was suspended for failing to obey the warning.
The game continued and ended without further incident.” From the broadcast: Erik Bakich and Jack Leggett were BOTH ejected. They will be suspended for two games. Mathes was not ejected pic.twitter.com/OQO6jngi64 Moments after getting tossed out of the game, check out head coach Erik Bakich firing up the capacity crowd at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Clemson first baseman Jack Crighton was the lone ejection in the third inning of the game after a benches-clearing scuffle between the Florida pitcher and Clemson batter Nolan Nawrocki. This was the explanation for that matter: "Clemson student-athlete (#3) who was on second base at the time of the play which resulted in a possible altercation near first base was ejected from the game for leaving his position on the field because he went to the site of the potential altercation. Members of both teams were warned against any further unsportsmanlike conduct and if there are any issues the remainder of the game this would also result in an ejection for any given student-athlete, coach, or team personnel. Clemson's student-athlete who was ejected will also be suspended per NCAA baseball playing rules (Rule 2-26) for a game tomorrow (if a game three is necessary)." With no game three, Crighton is suspended for the first game of next season, while Bakich and Leggett are set to have two-game suspensions to serve.
Wow!
What a scene as the Tigers try to keep their season alive.
@WSPA7 pic.twitter.com/hCf6QLEwsC
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