UH suspends first baseman for rest of season

First baseman Eric Ramirez has been suspended for the final six games of the University of Hawaii baseball season, coach Mike Trapasso told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today.

Ramirez was ejected for throwing balls in the direction of third base umpire Carl Coles during warmups prior to the start of the fifth inning in Monday’s game at Les Murakami Stadium. Coles was involved in two calls that went against the ’Bows in the second and fourth innings.

“After talking with Eric today, he’s suspended for the rest of the season,” Trapasso said. “We love Eric, and I don’t know what he was thinking. After talking with him, he doesn’t know what he was thinking. He just really had an extraordinary brain cramp and is embarrassed and remorseful. … As much as we love Eric as a person, there’s no place in our program for that behavior. We will not tolerate it, so his season is over. Hopefully, it’ll be a learning experience and we’ll move forward.

Trapasso said Ramirez will contact Coles to apologize.

“The thing with Eric is it was really out of character for him in particular,” Trapasso said. “We have guys who are passionate and very intense. And we play hard. Eric does that as well. … He’s a great kid. That’s immaterial to what he did. We’re not going to allow that type of behavior. He’s going to reach out to the umpire and apologize, and then we’ll move forward.

Adam Fogel and Logan Pouelsen will split time at first base in Ramirez’s absence.

Trapasso said Zack Chan is likely to start at third in place of Josh Rojas in Friday’s road game against Long Beach State. Rojas, who was ejected after arguing about being called out on a pickoff play, is automatically suspended a game in accordance with NCAA rules.