USD’s Cunningham Suspended for 3 Games as Result of Fight

Based on the premise that a college baseball coach is responsible for his players’ actions, John Cunningham of the University of San Diego and Gary Powers of Nevada Reno were suspended for three games by the West Coast Conference Wednesday as the result of a bench-clearing brawl last Friday during a game at Reno.

The suspensions, announced by Commissioner Michael Gilleran, mean Cunningham is through for the season; the Toreros (23-30) have just three games left at home this weekend against Pepperdine.

Powers’ penalty is in addition to a one-game suspension mandatory under WCC rules for being ejected from the game for fighting with Jake Molina, a USD assistant who was given a two-game suspension.

Players Chad Boyd of USD and John DeRicco of Reno also were suspended for two games, one more than the rules mandate, for initiating the fight.

Both Molina and Boyd served one game of the suspensions Tuesday night when USD played San Diego State.

“I’m sure it’s very difficult for (Cunningham), and I feel badly for him,” USD Athletic Director Tom Iannacone said. “He doesn’t stand or condone this type of behavior.”

When the WCC re-examined its policy on fighting before this season, Cunningham suggested, and still believes, that anybody ejected from a game as the result of a fight should receive a mandatory 10-game suspension.

Boyd and DeRicco got into a shoving match at first base after an attempted pickoff Friday. Reno, whose dugout is near first base, was on the field at the time.

“It is possible that the USD players perceived that their teammate was in jeopardy,” Gilleran said. “Unfortunately, when any team that perceives that comes out onto the field, they escalate the problem.”

Said Iannacone: “We accept the commissioner’s decision, based on the understanding that it will be investigated further. There’s still some investigating regarding the root of the problem.”