Youth Coach Gets Lifetime Ban After Throwing Incident

A youth baseball tournament in Kansas City just led to one of the sport's harshest penalties. The United States Specialty Sports Association has permanently banned Oklahoma coach Michael Ryals, 38, after he was accused of telling his 11-year-old son to fire a pitch into the opposing team's dugout during a Memorial Day weekend game, reports USA Today. The boy, whose name is being withheld because he's a minor, was suspended for five years. USSSA CEO John Latella confirmed the sanctions but declined further comment, citing the "sensitive" involvement of children.

The game, between teams from Oklahoma and Nebraska made up of players 11 and under, drew attention across the country after video showing a portion of the incident spread on social media. Nebraska coach Brandon Magni alleged on social media that the ball hurled toward his team's dugout was a 70mph throw that hit one of his players, per Fox News. Two people tied to Ryals' team said parents believed the throw was intentional and in response to the Nebraska squad getting loud as the pitcher took the mound in the final inning, per USA Today; Nebraska ended up winning 8-6. The Florida-based nonprofit says it sanctions tens of thousands of youth sports events across most of the US.