The parents of a little league baseball player are suing one of the opposing team's coaches after their son was hit with an errant pitch while attempting to punt the ball at bat.

Michael Connick, a 13-year-old player, was given the signal for a suicide squeeze and squared to bunt.  After the first pitch was high and inside, he pulled back.  On the second pitch, he squared up again.  This time, the pitch hit him and "severely" broke his hand.
 
According to a lawsuit filed by the boy's father, who also is an attorney, the incident constituted assault and battery because Scott Barber, an assistant coach for the opposing team, ordered the pitcher on the mound to "throw at" the batter.  The Connicks are seeking more than $25,000 in damages, lost wages and attorney’s fees.
 
“Immediately after (Michael) fell to the ground, and while writhing in pain, defendant Barber again yelled from the dugout, ‘Good!,’ thus confirming and ratifying his order to ‘throw at’ and intentionally and recklessly … hit the plaintiff,” Tom Connick stated in the suit.  Connick further claims that even after Michael left the field for the hospital, Barber encouraged other reckless and/or negligent physical play, including instructions to run over players on the opposing team.
 
In addition to monetary damages, the Connicks want Barber banned from coaching or participating in any youth sports for at least 15 years. Barber, a gym teacher, is also a varsity baseball coach and varsity boys’ golf coach at Jefferson Area Senior High School in Ashtabula County, Ohio.

“My understanding is he has not been disciplined,” Connick said of Barber. “I think anybody who considers himself to be a coach should not instruct his players to harm another player. He is a danger and should be barred from coaching. Fifteen years is a reasonable time period to learn his lesson.”
 
The Division 13U teams are governed by the Mentor-based Great Lakes Baseball League, which is also named in the suit.  The State High School Associations Baseball Rules Book considers it an illegal act when a pitcher intentionally pitches too close to a batter.
 
“Anything he gets will go toward his medical bills, then a college fund through probate court,” Connick said, stressing that his family was not suing for the money. “I’m a lawyer, but I’m also Michael’s father. I don’t want people thinking I’m some scumbag attorney.”

—Source:  The News-Herald (Northern Ohio)