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 on Tuesday.
Ramirez was ejected for throwing balls in the direction of third base umpire Carl Coles during warm-ups prior to the start of the fifth inning of Monday’s 5-4 loss to UC Irvine at Les Murakami Stadium. Coles was involved in two calls that went against the ’Bows in the second and fourth innings.
Ramirez had faced an NCAA-mandated, four-game suspension for the unsportsmanlike act. But Trapasso decided to extend the punishment.
“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.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Ramirez hit an RBI single to right. But Adam Fogel, who was running from first, was tagged out at third to end the inning. Ramirez slammed his batting helmet to the ground near first base, then remained there while awaiting for a teammate to bring him his glove. Soon after, he was ejected for throwing balls toward Coles.
“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.”
Fogel and Logan Pouelsen will split time at first base in Ramirez’s absence.
Ramirez, a junior, is eligible for the major league draft next month. His draft status is not known because he missed several games because of knee issues this season.
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 pick-off play, is automatically suspended a game in accordance with NCAA rules.
Television replays showed Rojas should have been ruled safe on the pick-off attempt at second because shortstop Christian Koss’ foot was blocking the bag.
The umpire’s “ejection of Rojas was way too premature, way too quick,” Trapasso said.
Trapasso was ejected for arguing Rojas’ ouster. It was Trapasso’s second ejection this season.
