League to Rule on Game That Ended in Brawl

Empire League principals will meet Monday to decide the outcome of the Los Alamitos-Loara high school baseball game that was suspended Wednesday because of a bench-clearing brawl.

Host Los Alamitos was leading, 7-4, in the top of the sixth inning when sophomore pitcher Ben Rada hit Loara’s Charlie Gipson on the chin with a fastball.

Gipson fell to the ground, according to Los Alamitos Coach Roby Megill, and then quickly got up and charged the mound. Both benches emptied when Gipson went toward the mound.

“I was the first one to him because I thought he was seriously hurt,” Megill said. “He was angry, but (Loara Coach Brian) Batesole and I got him back down on the ground and everything seemed to be OK.

“Some of their players came out of the dugout, and then all of a sudden, one of their players darted toward our pitcher and several fights broke out. The umpire (Roger Walling) had to call the game.”

Batesole said there was more to the incident than what Megill reported, but added, “I’ve been told by our administration to refrain from commenting on the matter.”

Batesole confirmed that one of his players has been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of Monday’s meeting of league principals. Both coaches said they would prefer to see the game resumed from the point of suspension.

“The game could be declared over or no contest,” Megill said. “I would like to see it picked up where we left off, but right now, I have no feeling about the matter until they (principals) make a decision.”

Gipson practiced Thursday with Loara. Batesole said he feared serious injury when the senior outfielder was hit by the pitch.

“Fortunately, he got hit underneath the lip,” Batesole said. “I thought he had a broken jaw at first.”