UCLA Coach Delivers Message Via Beanball

UCLA baseball Coach Gary Adams said he ordered one of his pitchers to bean an Arizona State batter during the Bruins’ game Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium to protest the NCAA’s leniency on such incidents, including earlier penalties leveled against the Sun Devils.

He then challenged the NCAA to give him a stiffer penalty than is normally handed out to coaches of players involved in beanings.

Adams ordered Bruin pitcher Pete Zamora to hit Arizona State batter Mikel Moreno with the first pitch of Sunday’s game. Zamora missed low with his first attempt, but hit Moreno in the upper leg with the next pitch.

Zamora and Adams were immediately ejected, and no other incidents occurred in the Bruins’ 16-9 victory.

“I ordered it. I told Pete to hit him in the ribs or in the back, but I told him specifically not to go head-hunting,” Adams said. “I have not in my 26 years as a coach ordered a pitcher to throw at a batter before this. But we had to send a message to Arizona State that they could not throw at our players.”

Arizona State pitcher Ryan Bradley hit Bruin infielder Troy Glaus for the second time this season in a game Saturday. On March 30, Bradley was ejected from a game at Tempe, Ariz., and suspended four games after he hit Glaus in the head with a pitch.

On Saturday, Bradley hit Glaus in the back in the ninth inning, but was not ejected because umpires ruled the act was not intentional.

“We just didn’t feel satisfied with the penalties,” Adams said. “I think the penalties should be stiffer. Troy could have been killed at ASU. If that had hit him in the face, his career would have been over.”

Adams met with his team before the game, ordering the Bruins not to retaliate on their own. He then took Zamora aside and told him to hit the first batter.

Dave Hirsch, a Pacific 10 spokesman, said the league would wait to review the umpires’ report before ruling on the matter. Under NCAA rules, Adams must serve a one-game suspension, while Zamora must sit out four games.

“The coach should at least be suspended as long as the player,” Adams said. “I’m willing to be the sacrificial lamb in this. The NCAA should suspend me for four games. I invite them. I encourage them. I dare them to do it.

“The throwing of batters will never cease until you punish the coach. That’s how you stop it. The situation is getting worse, at least it is in our league.”