Multiple Columbus and Braddock baseball players suspended for regional quarterfinals
If the Columbus and Braddock High baseball teams are to make it past the first round of the playoffs, they will each have to do so while severely shorthanded.
The Miami Herald learned Monday night that a combined total of 34 players (18 from Columbus and 16 from Braddock) have been suspended by the Florida High School Athletic Association ahead of each school’s respective regional quarterfinal playoff games scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The Explorers (19-6) are scheduled to host Davie Western (19-9) at 5 p.m. on Tuesday while Braddock (17-9) is set to host Boca Raton (19-8) at 4 p.m. in the Region 4-7A quarterfinals.
The suspensions stem from an incident that occurred this past Thursday when the two teams played for the District 15-7A championship at Columbus.
A video clip from the National Federation of State High School Association’s broadcast of the game showed a home plate collision during the bottom of the sixth inning of the game with the game tied at 2 during which a Columbus player hits a ball into the outfield for a hit. On the play, one Explorers baserunner scores, but as the ball is thrown to Braddock’s catcher to give Columbus a 3-2 lead, the ensuing baserunner barrels into the Bulldogs catcher, which is against the rules. The incident prompted several players to leave both dugouts.
But per FHSAA rules, if any player not actively playing in the game leaves the dugout, it results in an automatic one-game suspension.
Although the Miami Herald confirmed the suspensions were handed down to each school, the FHSAA did not immediately return emails requesting further details as to whether any of the sanctions would extend beyond Tuesday’s games should either school advance.
“Unfortunately, we have to play the cards we’ve been dealt,” said Columbus coach Joe Weber, who confirmed his team’s suspensions to the Herald. “You play the players you have available and some JV kids and do the best you can.”
Weber declined to comment on who specifically was suspended, but confirmed the amount of players suspended to the Herald. Weber said ace Matthew Rios was not one of the suspended players and that he would start against Western.
This story was originally published May 6, 2024 at 10:08 PM.
