Baseball Suspensions

RICHMOND, Va. (March 20, 2012) - Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager has issued suspensions to seven players and two coaches following a series of incidents that ultimately resulted in a bench-clearing brawl during a baseball game between VCU and Hofstra on Sunday, March 18.

"We place a high value on sportsmanship in the CAA and what occurred was completely unacceptable," Yeager said.

The disciplinary actions were a combination of the NCAA Playing Rules and the CAA Sportsmanship Rule.

VCU head coach Paul Keyes was ejected from the contest in the bottom of the seventh inning for arguing with an umpire and will be suspended for one game (March 21 vs. Richmond) under the CAA's Sportsmanship Rule.

Hofstra head coach John Russo was ejected from the contest by NCAA Rule 9-2-g in the top of the ninth inning because a Hofstra pitcher threw at a batter after a warning. NCAA playing rules require that Russo be suspended for one game (March 21 vs. Manhattan).

Four VCU student-athletes were issued suspensions. Junior Blake Hauser and senior Kyle Pelchy each received a four-game suspension (three games for fighting and one for a post-participation ejection). Junior Brent Mikionis received a three-game suspension for fighting. Junior Ryan Farrar received a one-game suspension under the CAA Sportsmanship Rule for damaging field markings during the March 17 contest between the two schools. The suspensions will be served during the Rams' game with Richmond on March 21 and during their three-game series against UNCW from March 23-25.

Three Hofstra student-athletes were issued suspensions. Sophomore Bryan Verbitsky received a four-game suspension for throwing at a batter after a warning. Sophomore Matt Reistetter and junior Matt Ford each received a three-game suspension for fighting. The suspensions will be served during the Pride's game with Manhattan on March 21 and during their three-game series against Old Dominion from March 23-25.