Royal Principal Says Maye’s Story Checks Out

Royal High has exonerated baseball Coach Dan Maye, who violated Simi Valley Unified School District policy by failing to report a payment made last year by an adult baseball league to reserve the high school’s baseball field.

“Based upon what information I have, Mr. Maye did everything he could to do things properly,” Royal Principal Mike McConahey said Friday.

The Times reported Thursday that Ted Severns, past president of the Thousand Oaks chapter of the National Adult Baseball Assn., said he paid Maye’s brother, Steve, $250 to reserve the fields for games on Sunday.

Steve Maye, a minor league pitcher who was a member of his brother’s coaching staff last year, has admitted receiving money from the NABA, but said it was less than $125.

Dan Maye acknowledged he knew about the payment, but said he told Severns, “The school district should have received the money.”

According to McConahey, Dan Maye “might have been remiss not reporting what happened,” but added, “Unless some other information comes to my attention, the case is closed.”

The NABA also provided baseball equipment to Newbury Park High last year in exchange for use of that school’s fields without the knowledge of the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Gary Fabricius, Newbury Park’s coach, said he accepted baseballs, batting helmets, bats and a home plate from the league because he “was skeptical” about taking a check.

Repeated calls to the office and home of Newbury Park Principal Charles Eklund and to the office of athletic director Teri Scarpino on Friday were not returned.

The admissions by Maye and Fabricius came after Simi Valley removed Mike Scyphers as baseball coach on Tuesday pending a police investigation into charges of financial and disciplinary improprieties.