The Sedona Parks and Recreation Department has suspended one player each from the league-leading Balloonatics and defending champion A Day in the West after a bench-clearing brawl Thursday, July 14.

Larry Perry, the Balloonatics head coach, and A Day in the West starting pitcher Jason Stewart are suspended from league play Thursday, July 21 and Thursday, July 28, for throwing punches.

“Additionally, because fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct is embarrassing and will not be tolerated in this league, if any player on either of the two offending teams exhibit this behavior again, the entire team will be expelled from the league immediately,” said Elizabeth Ginsberg, of Parks and Recreation.

Both teams’ benches had already cleared the inning before, following a first-base collision between Pedro Ortega Sr., A Day in the West head coach, and Balloonatics first baseman Jeff Lynch, who was knocked to the ground by Ortega and responded by pushing him before they were separated by other players.

“We talked, and then moved on,” Ortega said. “There was no intent to do anything.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened, but it won’t happen again, and you just move forward from that.”

Lynch had no comment.

During the altercation, Balloonatics shortstop Mike Alvarez threw his glove about 15 feet, hitting Ortega in the face.
Umpires issued warnings to both teams about language, but no players were ejected until Perry continued to jaw at Stewart during his warmups on the mound heading into the bottom of the fifth.

“Me and Jason just had words, were just talking for no particular reason,” Perry said. “He said something, I said something, and, you know, sometimes things escalate.

“Things got out of hand. I did the wrong thing. I apologize to the league and my team for what happened. I just think we’re going to settle it on the field.”

Once the benches cleared again to break up the altercation between Perry and Stewart, the game was declared a forfeit for both teams.

Patricia Stewart, owner of Red Rock Balloons, which donated uniforms to the Balloonatics, said, “You’ve got to be kidding …. These are grown men? I find it ridiculous, throwing punches at a softball game in this day and age, when we’ve got enough problems in this world. I’m sad they should stoop that low.”

Stewart was not aware of the incident before being contacted by the Sedona Red Rock News.

“I’m sorry they didn’t show a higher standard of character,” Stewart said. “What an example. Please. This is really stupid.”

John Bradshaw, owner of A Day in the West and an infielder for Red Rocks Rotary, heard but did not see the incidents playing on the Lower Field.

“My comment after the fact, in passing, was, ‘That is not how we conduct ourselves,’” Bradshaw said. “Whenever you play sports, emotions run high, but you learn to control them.

“A Day in the West knows better. They feel bad. I don’t feel there will be a further incident. I think they’ll take it on their shoulders to be professionals.”

For more photos, please see the Wednesday, July 20, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.