News story

Louisville Team Ejected, Faces Year Suspension

Nov. 20, 2003 – Senior Softball-USA

MOBILE, Alabama ˆ Only one serious unsportsmanlike incident arose in the last days of the 2003 Senior Softball Championships here.

The incident began after a disputed call at second base during a 50 Major Division double-elimination game on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the West Mobile County Park between Riverside Paving of Louisville, Kentucky, and Damon's Grill from Maryland.

Both managers disputed the call and the umpire's decision was protested to the Tournament Officials before the next play of the game. Tournament Officials, after conferring with the umpire, decided the call, which went against Riverside Paving.

As soon as the call was decided, one of the Riverside Paving players approached the backstop and began berating the officials and the umpire for the call. Officials told the player to stop swearing and return to his position. He refused and was told he was ejected from the game.

The player, shortstop Butch Hayes of Riverside Paving, returned to his position. Tournament officials instructed the umpire to eject Hayes from the game.

At that point, Hayes ran toward the officials and threw his glove against the backstop, shouting several more obscenities. Several of his teammates joined in, running toward officials and hitting the backstop with their gloves.

The Riverside Paving manager, Joe Gramig, was instructed to control his players and get them back on the field. Gramig told officials his players had every right to be upset with a bad call.

Officials told Gramig that while they had a right to be upset, they did not have a right to act in a verbally abusive manner.

"Gramig refused to pull his players back onto the field and their language and behavior deteriorated further," said Hennessy. "At that point Tournament Officials announced the game was forfeit and Riverside Paving was ejected from the tournament.

"The team and Butch Hayes have been notified that they are suspended from play for the 2004 season and we have recommended that all other national associations suspend them, as well," said Hennessy. "There is no room in senior softball for such unsportsmanlike behavior."

Hayes and the Riverside Paving team have until Dec. 1, 2003, to appeal the suspension.