Superior Court Judge Gives Patrick Henry OK to Play Ball

The Patrick Henry High baseball team has received a temporary restraining order from Superior Court Judge Larry Kapiloff that allows the Patriots to play a full season, overturning a decision made by the San Diego Section last summer.

Henry, by Kapiloff’s decision, will be permitted to play in tournament and playoff games. Section Commissioner Kendall Webb had ruled under the section’s Code of Ethics policy that Henry would not be permitted those privileges because of the Patriots’ involvement in a brawl with Monte Vista High after last year’s 3-A section semifinal.

Webb said CIF attorneys will ask for a demurrer in the case, and that both Henry and Monte Vista are still on probation.

“It isn’t over. This is just an opening volley,” said Henry Coach Bob Imlay, who has been and remains an outspoken critic of the Code of Ethics policy because of its “no appeals” clauses.

“(Webb and the CIF) have the right to appeal, unlike their language in the Code of Ethics,” Imlay added.

Said Webb, “If they get the same judge, after listening to his comments, nothing will be changed. He was quite clear with his points.”

Luke Lowrey, the instigator in the incident by many accounts, has been banned from participating this season.

Twenty-two Henry players, none of which were involved in the incident, had filed the suit.

With the ruling, Henry will play in Saturday’s Madison Warhawk Tournament.