This Is Texas Baseball: College Pitcher Tackles Opponent After Home Run
We all know football is King in Texas and most kids that play football also play baseball during the spring. So it's no big surprise that a lot of these players can not only throw or catch a football but can also get busy on the diamond. Here's a wild video of a pitcher probably utilizing his football skills in a show of poor sportsmanship at a game in Weatherford, Texas that could land him in hot water with law enforcement. But I will say this, Nolan Ryan would be proud.
Weatherford College was facing Gainesville’s North Texas Central College Wednesday afternoon.
According to Fox 4 Dallas, the game was at the top of the sixth in a seven-inning game. Weatherford's Owen Woodward was the pitcher while NCTC’s Josh Phillips was the hitter. Phillips took Woodward's pitch on a long ride out of the park, a two run homer that gave NCTC the lead.
Video shows Woodward slamming his glove on the ground and then sprinting toward and flattening Phillips.
Phillips didn’t appear to be slow trotting or showboating as he rounded second base which is considered "disrespectful" by the "unwritten rules of baseball". For context, when a hitter rocks a home run off a pitcher, the hitter must "quickly run around the bases" as to not "show up" the pitcher. A "bat flip", staring at your moon shot, or taking your time rounding the bases could start a fight, normally with the pitcher throwing a pitch at you next time you're up.
But This Guy Decided To Throw His Whole BODY At The Hitter
In the video, while it appears that as Phillips was heading towards third, Woodward takes offense to something and the ump between them is seen pointing at Phillips. Woodward tosses his glove and charges Phillips delivering a forearm so hard that it sends his batting helmet flying several yards.
The NCTC Bench Clears, The Weatherford Bench, Not So Much
After leveling Phillips, the NCTC bench empties onto the field to defend their teammate and normally the other team would be joining in the rowdiness but due to the pure inexplicable nature and reasoning as to why their teammate flipped out, the Weatherford bend stayed put as order is restored quickly. Phillips would quickly jump up and run towards home to insure that he scored.
Weatherford Says Police Are Investigating And The Player Could Be Expelled From School.
Weatherford's head baseball coach said in a Twitter statement that the team is shocked and disappointed and completely embarrassed. Umpires suspended the game unfortunately and this young man's baseball career could be in jeopardy for his poor decision but hopefully he learns from this and gets another opportunity down the line to do better.