T-ball coach gets 1-6 years in prison for hiring player to bean teammate

[Marcster]

http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20060914ds_downs1_150.jpg
Mark Downs Jr.
T-ball coach gets 1-6 years in prison for hiring player to bean teammate

Friday, October 13, 2006
By Moustafa Ayad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



A Fayette County judge yesterday sentenced a T-ball coach convicted of hiring an 8-year-old to whip a baseball at an autistic teammate to one to six years in prison.

Mark R. Downs Jr., 29, of Dunbar, sat solemnly and declined to speak on his own behalf, before Judge Ralph C. Warman sentenced him for conspiracy to commit simple assault and corruption of minors.

Mr. Downs was convicted last month for offering his star pitcher $25 to hurl two baseballs at Harry Bowers Jr., 11, an autistic and mildly retarded teammate. Witnesses testified that Mr. Downs was only concerned about winning a playoff game and that he believed that Harry was a liability to the team.


Keith Reese Jr., now 9, was offered the money and a promise to play fall league baseball, before he hit Harry with two balls -- one that smashed against the left side of his face, and a second, which hit him in the groin.
Mr. Downs' twin 9-year-old daughters, who sat in the front row throughout his trial, left the room with a family member shortly before the judge delivered the sentence. Their father showed no emotion as he was handcuffed and then led out of the courtroom past his fiancee who was cradling their 6¹/₂-week-old baby.


More: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06286/729695-85.stm
I feel sorry for his daughters, but he is lower than low...

[HooverWasRight]

Why are pitches being thrown if it's T-ball?????

[DesertFox]

Bastid sick.

[DoctorDoom]

What the hell is T-ball?

[DesertFox]

T-ball's one of these "noncompetitive" takeoffs of baseball. Ever use a batting T? The umpire sets the T up at home plate with the ball on it. The kid hits the ball and runs. The team in the field chases the ball down. IIRC everybody on one side bats no matter how many outs, and after they've all batted the two sides change, no matter how many outs.

It's an abomination of a game.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I don't know about anywhere else, but here, they don't even allow a score to be kept in T-Ball games, so no one's feelings will be hurt. :rolleyes:

[Kathy30]

While not excusing the coache's conduct, autistic or disabled children have no business being in classes with normal children.

[Gonzo67]

T-ball's one of these "noncompetitive" takeoffs of baseball. Ever use a batting T? The umpire sets the T up at home plate with the ball on it. The kid hits the ball and runs. The team in the field chases the ball down. IIRC everybody on one side bats no matter how many outs, and after they've all batted the two sides change, no matter how many outs.

It's an abomination of a game.


Actually, it's an abomination of the game THESE DAYS. T-Ball wasn't always like that. Yes, the T was always at the plate, but when I was very young, kids started their "Little League Careers" in T-Ball. And it was just as competitive as the normal Little League. Both teams kept score, one team won, the other team lost. You only got 3 outs per team, per inning, we played 9 innings, Though the rules were toned down for the safety of the sports youngest players. But only things like No base stealing, no lead off's, etc. All field positions were filled, and the kids were taught how to play the positions as if it was an actual game of "Pitch". There was a pitcher, a catcher, even though in T-Ball those two positions were not nearly as active as they are in the following seasons.

The problem with the sports today, not just T-Ball, but in many places, normal Little League Baseball, is they "pussified" the nation. No more keeping score. Everyone on both teams bats, so there's no "3-outs" rule. Both teams consider it a win, neither team looses. At the end of the season, EVERY team gets trophies, etc.

I think this is a VERY DANGEROUS thing to be teaching our children. It's telling them that no matter what they do, they can't loose. They don't have to compete. They don't need to try and "do better", and why bother "improving", your worst is good enough. You'll be awarded equally no matter how poorly you do, and no matter how much better someone else performed.

I'm sorry. The world does NOT work that way. If you have your children in a team sport environment and it's being conducted in this manner, I urge you to get your child out, and teach him or her how REALITY is.

[DesertFox]

I don't like t-ball no matter what. I grew up playing real baseball. When I was 10 and in the 8-10 year-old league, my team played the league leaders. In one hour and 14 minutes we played a full 7-inning game. Final score 4-2. No errors either side. Only three walks between both teams. 11 strikeouts all told. Real baseball. The sole difference was the size of the ball and size of the diamond, both of which were smaller than the major league sizes. Rules no different. Even the last place team was good. We played several games where the combined score was under 7 and had only two runaway games out of 10.

I suppose there's a place for t-ball, but I want to see real baseball. It can be done at a high level even at young ages. I know, cuz I did it.

[Wyatt_Junker]

My eldest son's six and he's a southey. He picked up a ball and we went at it the other day.

He has a wind up too and I didn't even show him how. He just intuited it. And bang. Right in the middle of my chest. Every throw's a solid threader just like that.

So, I reckon its time to get him a lefty hide, a hardball and a real Louieville and work that arm out also.

[Gonzo67]

I don't like t-ball no matter what. I grew up playing real baseball. When I was 10 and in the 8-10 year-old league, my team played the league leaders.


Yes, but our "T-Ball League" started with the players at the 5 and 6 year old level.

And thats 1 season, the following season, the T-Ball teams were moved into the normal Little League.

T-Ball was more of an "indoctrination" into competitive baseball for the kids. It not only provided the youngest the chance to play, but also served a very useful purpose. The kids went into little league with a decent grasp of the game, it's rules, and a start on learning sportsmanship.

[DesertFox]

If you say so. I didn't like what I saw of t-ball.

[BEST45CAL]

the abonimation of the game began when normal kids began using a freakin' tee! what a crock! lol

if the kids are normal, if they're not developmentally delayed, severely handicapped or whatever, they shouldn't need a damn tee to hit the ball from.

[DesertFox]

At 5 and 6 they might well need it.

[Gonzo67]

There's not many 5 and 6 years olds with a pitching arm strong enough to make the pitch, and with enough control over the ball to make the pitch any good.

As I said, the purpose of T-Ball, at least back in my day, was to prepare the kids for actual baseball. Sort of like Kindergarten is to actual grade school.

T-Ball was not "mandatory". Kids could wait until they were old enough for the normal little league teams. But T-Ball gave them a chance to get a years head start, and learn the basics of the game, so they went into little league with a little knowledge of what was expected of them.

[Lubbock]

In defense of T-Ball, the little bitty guys [4/5 year olds] have to start somewhere. "City Kids" don't have the advantage of a country road with real rocks, and and opportunity to pick up mama's broom and use the handle for a bat . . . like we did when I was a kid.

[DeclinetoState]

Mr. Downs' twin 9-year-old daughters, who sat in the front row throughout his trial, left the room with a family member shortly before the judge delivered the sentence. Their father showed no emotion as he was handcuffed and then led out of the courtroom past his fiancee who was cradling their 6 1/2-week-old baby.Guy's got twin 9-year-olds, a 6 1/2 week old baby, yet he's not married yet? I know I shouldn't be judgmental or anything, but does someone see something wrong here?

[DesertFox]

Yeah. He paid that one kid to bean the other.

[DeclinetoState]

I mean besides that.