It was recommended that Scott Wolf, head baseball coach of Baldwin High School, be suspended for three games for his team’s participation in an unsanctioned preseason workout. If Baldwin did not suspend Wolf, the baseball program would be ineligible for the WPIAL playoffs.

Additionally, the entire Baldwin athletic program has been placed on probation until June 2026, due to this being the third violation of PIAA bylaws in the past year — two of which stemmed from the baseball program and the other involving the football program.

A recent article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailed the WPIAL’s decision. Below is an excerpt from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

The WPIAL sent a letter to Baldwin’s administration, laying out the penalties and saying, “any further instances of a lack of institutional oversight within the Baldwin athletic department, or any further violations of any other PIAA rules, may lead to more serious penalties.”

“The probation is for everything combined,” WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said.

In addition, Wolf and Baldwin athletic director Tony Cherico were publicly censured.

The WPIAL board of directors decided on the penalties after a recent hearing with Wolf and Baldwin administrators. Wolf and his team violated the PIAA’s “open gym” policy that states “within 10 days prior to the start of each sports season, no student enrolled at a PIAA member high school may participate in any team competition on a team on which all other players and at least one coach are also affiliated at that student’s school.”

The workout between Central Valley and Baldwin included players from both schools facing pitchers from the other team during the 10 days before the start of spring sports practice. The WPIAL placed Central Valley’s baseball program on probation for a year because of their part in the workout and also took away a preseason scrimmage from Central Valley for next season.

To read the full article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, click here. 

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Darrell Henze, head softball coach of Quincy High School in Illinois, was suspended last week without pay and may be terminated — a decision that falls to the Quincy School Board during its February meeting.

The suspension stems from a post he shared on X, formerly Twitter, detailing his frustration with the school for not installing new lights on the softball and baseball fields.

A recent story from Muddy River Sports detailed the suspension and Henze’s reaction to the news. Below is an excerpt from the Muddy River Sports story.

The move came one day after Henze posted on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, a reaction to learning the lights on both the QHS baseball and softball fields were being taken down immediately and would be replaced in the coming months.

According to Henze, a plan was made last September to replace the lights if they were deemed unsafe by playing standards and health life safety bonds were being used to purchase and install new lights. Neither the baseball field nor the softball field is expected to have lights for the spring season.

QHS athletic director Kristina Klingele said the athletic department is working on a solution so all baseball and softball varsity and junior varsity teams will not have any games impacted by the lighting situation.

Henze wrote on X: “Due to lack of foresight, deception, and improper planning, QHS Softball and Baseball will be without lights this season with no real plan as to when lights will be reinstalled.”

» ALSO SEE: Massachusetts cheer coach suspended during investigation

Henze was asked by school administrators to delete the post and he did not.

To read the full story from Muddy River Sports, click here. 

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Everyone who attends the program grows as players and learns about recruiting and strength and conditioning, as well as other baseball-related topics, all the while getting the ability to do so in front of and with college coaches in attendance.

Prospects Baseball is driven to provide the best instruction, teaming up with former professional baseball players, former college baseball players, college coaches, recruiting coordinators, scouts, etc. Instructors have one thing in mind which is maximizing each player’s potential. Players will excel both on and off the field.

The instructors are:

• Brian Tomasini
  • Massachusetts Maritime Academy assistant baseball coach (2022-Present)
  • Falmouth Commodores (Cape Cod Baseball League) assistant coach (2022-2023)
  • Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Cape Cod Baseball League) assistant coach (2014)
  • American Legion Post 188 Baseball head coach (2016-Present)
  • OnBaseU Certified Hitting Instructor
• Keith Bilodeau
  • University of Maine baseball alum
  • Drafted by the San Francisco Giants
  • Wareham Gatemen/Chatham Anglers (Cape Cod Baseball League) pitcher (2009-11)
  • Bourne Braves (Cape Cod Baseball League) pitching coach (2018)
  • Owner of Pitch Like a Pro in Massachusetts
• Steve Cishek
  • Carson-Newman University baseball alum
  • 13-year MLB career (Marlins, Cubs, Mariners, Rays, Cardinals, White Sox, Angels, & Nationals)
  • 2.98 career ERA | 133 career saves
• Michael Young
  • Stonehill College baseball alum
  • Cotuit Kettleers (Cape Cod Baseball League) pitcher (2018)
  • Stonehill College pitching coach & recruiting coordinator
  • Athletic Director/head baseball coach at St. John Paul II High School in Barnstable, MA.

The Prospects Baseball Player Development Program and College Showcase are designed to take your game to the next level while maximizing college exposure. This three-day clinic is designed for varsity-level athletes.

The College Showcase Multi-Position Player takes place at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, MA, from July 23-25. The College Showcase Pitcher Only is also held at Mass. Maritime Academy through the same dates.

Registration for both events closes on March 17.

The Rising Stars Player Development Program is designed for sub-varsity level players ages 13-16 to help take your game to the next level. Players will get expert instruction, and hear from speakers on topics such as strength and conditioning, and the recruiting process, among other baseball-related topics. Players will also go through a pro-style workout to gain a better understanding of what to expect as players begin to take the next step into college showcases.

Registration for the sub-varsity event closes on March 17 and takes place July 8-10 at Mass. Maritime Academy.

Please be advised after registering you will receive a phone call from one of the coaches to go over a brief college recruiting questionnaire and player profile.

To learn more about Prospects Baseball and to register for one of the events, click here. 

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Jacob Witter, who taught at Rockwood (TN) High School and coached baseball at Roane County (TN) High School, was accused of sexual harassment in 2023.

And though the Roane County Sheriff’s Office found evidence supporting the inappropriate conduct toward female students, they did not find evidence committed a crime.

A recent report from WBIR.com detailed the investigation and the allegations made against Witter. Below is an excerpt from the WBIR.com story.

Investigators wrote Witter told a student that “after she turned 18 that she needs to be aware that some male teachers may want to have sex with her.” The report said Witter winked at that student, then walked away.

Another complaint said Witter wrote a word describing a sex act on a piece of paper and gave it to a student. Investigators said the act involved someone providing oral sex to a man who was defecating, the incident report shows.

Students reported Witter would body shame other teachers and students, investigators wrote. Witter accused a student of being pregnant and “anytime she would tell him she had an appointment he would say to her ‘is it about your pregnancy?'” the report said. The student was not pregnant and never had been, the report said.

A student told investigators Witter liked to pull her ponytail, the incident report said.

Roane County Sheriff’s deputies wrote no student accused Witter of any sexual touching, stalking, or sexual propositions.

The evidence did not support any crime by Coach Witter, the incident report said, but it did show inappropriate conduct with female students.

A letter in Witter’s personnel file shows the school district placed him on administrative leave without pay on Nov. 13, 2023, to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct. The Sheriff’s Office investigation began that day, the incident report said.

To read the full story from WBIR.com about the Tennessee teacher and coach, click here. 

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Jeter worked with Kalamazoo Public Schools, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Elite Companies, and his own foundation, Turn 2, to renovate the school’s existing baseball and softball fields.

A recent story from WWMT.com detailed the renovations to Kalamazoo Central High School. Below is an excerpt from the WWMT.com story.

Worth $5 million, the project completely transformed the fields, outfitting both with the following:

• New seating
• New dugouts
• Synthetic turf
• New sub-bases and drainage systems
• Clay infield (softball field only)
• Elevated aluminum grandstand bleachers
• Precast concrete dugouts
• Galvanized fencing
• Backstop and foul poles
• New press boxes
• Natural grass practice field
• Accessible bathrooms and accessible parking

Both fields were also reoriented, allowing batters to face the pitching mound to the northeast in order to lower the impact of low afternoon and evening sun angles on the players’ vision, officials said.

Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education approved a donation agreement between the foundation and the district at its meeting June 8.

“Many professional athletes have given back and this is really a generous thing for the Turn 2 Foundation which was founded by Derek Jeter and his family,” Trustee Patti Sholler-Barber said. “These types of things are stellar for our students and our community.

Over the last 27 years, the foundation has given back more than $34 million to fund programs and organizations supporting the foundation’s mission, according to officials.

To read the full story about Derek Jeter Field from WWMT.com, click here. For more information about the Turn 2 Foundation, click here. 

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