Westlake Forfeits a Victory for Failing to Enforce Rule

Westlake High has forfeited a baseball victory over Thousand Oaks because a player who had been ejected in the Warriors’ previous game was in the dugout, a violation of Southern Section rules.

First baseman Garett Michaels, ejected Wednesday against Moorpark, was in street clothes Friday during Westlake’s 3-1 Marmonte League victory over Thousand Oaks.

According to Southern Section rules, an ejected player cannot be present at his team’s next game.

Westlake Coach Chuck Berrington said Michaels told him before the game that Athletic Director Joesph Pawlick had given Michaels permission to be in attendance.

Pawlick said he would release a statement following an investigation.

With the forfeit, Westlake (16-5-1, 7-4 in league play) dropped out of a tie for first place with Thousand Oaks (17-5, 9-2) and into third place, a half-game behind Royal (16-5, 7-3), with three games remaining.

Thousand Oaks Coach Bill Sizemore said he knew before the game that the Warriors were violating the rule, but he did not discuss the matter with Westlake.

“Westlake has to follow the rules like everyone else,” Sizemore said. “Ignorance is no excuse. I was shocked when he [Michaels] was there.”

It was the second controversial incident in as many weeks to involve Westlake.

Agoura baseball Coach Bruce Beck claims Pawlick was verbally abusive to him after Westlake’s 14-2 victory over visiting Agoura on April 30.

Beck said Pawlick was angry that Agoura did not agree to move up the time of the 3 p.m. game in order to help Westlake players prepare for their prom that night. Beck, a walk-on coach, said he couldn’t change the time of the game because it would have conflicted with his job.

“[Pawlick] introduced himself to me and then said [not changing the game time] was classless and a few other four-letter words,” Beck said. “I was totally shocked. I was not so much taken aback by the language . . . but the fact that he told me he was going to instruct his coaches to run up the score against Agoura in all sports.”

Pawlick said he had no recollection of the incident.