Everything that is wrong with youth sports......

**Biggin** · July 1st, 2009, 02:33 AM

Score deputy's move an error for justice -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY:3109:

A 16-year-old kicked a baseball helmet and pushed a kid -- an opposing player who, according to witnesses, had just punched Hall in the stomach last Tuesday in a postgame handshake line.

Bizarre? Here's where it gets absolutely scary.

The criminal complaint against Hall was initiated by opposing manager Bill Marshall -- a Saratoga County sheriff's deputy and part-time Ballston Spa police officer.

It gets worse.

The law enforcement officer sought charges against Hall on Saturday -- and only after his 15-year-old star player got expelled from the Ballston Spa Junior Baseball League for throwing the punch.

This deputy/coach also ignored the league and played the expelled kid in a tournament. For this reason alone, Marshall should be barred from coaching kids.

Hall faces criminal mischief and harassment charges -- at least as of Monday. When informed of the incident and arrest, Saratoga County Sheriff James D. Bowen's immediate response was "It doesn't sound good to me.'' Then he read the report, and his remarks grew stronger.

"Throw these charges right in the trash,'' Bowen said. "In the interest of justice it should be dismissed.''

These charges should and likely will disappear.

According to accounts compiled by the league, including one from an off-duty umpire watching the game, the 15-year-old punched Hall in the stomach during post-game handshakes. (Because of his age, the 15-year-old's name is being withheld by the Times Union.) Hall pushed the other player away, and fell to the ground.

Marshall, according to Hall Sr. (a coach) and Ballston Spa manager Bill Freitag, was told of the punch and shown the knuckle marks on Hall Jr.'s stomach. At one point Hall Jr. kicked a helmet that, as it turned out, belonged to the Galway team, not striking anyone and causing no immediate discernible damage, according to the Ballston Spa coaches.

But in the police report, Marshall said the helmet was damaged (criminal mischief) and that Hall is the one who punched rather than shoved the 15-year-old in the back (harassment).

This contradicts an earlier report Marshall made to the league, in which he said Hall pushed the player from behind.
After learning of the league action Thursday against the 15-year-old, Marshall e-mailed league officials on Friday, stating he was ignoring the suspension of his player because due process was not followed.

Bowen nailed the salient question: "I don't understand why it happened on Tuesday and he doesn't sign the complaint until Saturday.''

Marshall's reply: "We were waiting for advice from our attorney.''

True. But it's clear from his e-mail that Marshall waited until after the league took action, and then countered.

On Saturday, Corey Hall Jr. got summoned to the sheriff's department station in Ballston Spa, where he was fingerprinted, photographed, booked and given an appearance ticket.

It's worth noting the sheriff's deputy who took the complaint, Mike Bortell, met with Marshall at the Ballston Spa Police Department. He is listed on the sheriff's incident report as "Patrolman Marshall.'' Marshall would not answer whether he was working for Ballston Spa police when he filed the complaint, but did say it was not related to his official duties.

this makes me sick to my stomach;
its two horrible truths rolled up into one, out of line cops and crazed youth sports coaches.

the coach should NEVER be allowed to coach anything ever again.

**CoeburnCane** · July 1st, 2009, 09:25 AM

Not only that but this guy should lose his job and not be allowed in law enforcement ever again--not even security guard work.

Sounds like to me this cat has a touch of the Napoleon complex, has some self-esteem issues and wants to boss other people around just to make himself feel good/get what he wants.