In What Direction Was East Headed?

It is unfortunate that reader Sam East [Viewpoint, June 13] has attempted to place the blame on Westlake High pitching Coach Josh Eby for his son’s ejection from the Southern Section Division III championship baseball game.

What Eby allegedly said or did had nothing to do with East’s ejection. The facts are that Ethan East took a called third strike with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, then cursed home plate umpire Sidney Williamson.

There is no justification for East’s reprehensible conduct. Eby, just three years out of Westlake himself, made a major contribution in the school playing for its first Southern Section championship. Head Coach Chuck Berrington has the final say on pitching changes.

This is not about whether East was or was not going to pitch. East’s father obviously does not wish to own up to the real problem. He left it to his final paragraph (“By the way, Ethan did make an off-color remark . . . “). He fails to recognize the seriousness of his son’s actions.

DICK BANK

Los Angeles

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Sam and Ethan East ask “How would you feel if your coaches told you you were not going to pitch . . . but instead pinch-hit . . .?” Judging by the tone and balance of the letter, I infer the Easts are trying to make the point that because the young man was frustrated it was natural, even inevitable, that he would exhibit anger, make an “off-color remark,” or curse.

Something is missing here. Something like good sportsmanship.

TRUDY SIBLEY

Northridge