By Kyle LoJacono
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has suspended Zephyrhills first-year baseball coach Rick Anderton for six weeks after an incident with an official March 14.
The FHSAA ruled Anderton committed an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction in the Bulldogs game against Springstead in the RBI Pasco County Varsity Tournament during spring break at Wesley Chapel High.
The FHSSA report states a Zephyrhills player was called for interference when sliding into second base in the third inning, resulting in a double play. Anderton approached the official, Steve Gonzalez, to get clarification on the ruling.
Gonzalez’s statement to the FHSAA states, “He was told to return to his coach’s box twice. He then placed his hand on my left shoulder and tired to push me toward second base to view the slide mark his runner made. I refused to entertain his antics and again told him to return to his coach’s box.”
The statement continues to say Anderton was ejected after refusing to leave the field. The incident was the second argument he had with the officials during the game.
“In the bottom of the second inning, he approached the plate umpire to argue that the Springstead batter intentionally leaned into a pitch,” the report reads.
The suspension was for the physical contact with an official, arguing a call and refusal to return to the bench. Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden said the school is not appealing the ruling because he is sending a clear message to everyone in the community.
“You don’t put your hands on an official, period,” Van Gorden said. “That’s regardless of the motivation. I don’t think it was done maliciously. I don’t think coach Anderton has a malicious bone in his body, but we need to make sure everyone knows that’s not what Zephyrhills High School is about. We need to be known for good sportsmanship and respect.”
Van Gorden said two of Anderton’s players have also been ejected from games this year, including a senior who was kicked out of the Bulldogs game against Sunlake March 15 and suspended for six weeks for using profanity.
“We can’t let this become a pattern,” Van Gorden said. “We need to move past this and I believe coach Anderton will learn from this and be a better coach because of it next year.”
Anderton, who is not an employee at the high school, was apologetic about his actions.
“I’m very sorry for the embarrassment this has caused the school,” Anderton said. “If I could do it over again, I would handle it much differently.”
The suspension prevents Anderton from coaching in any game until April 25, the first day of the Class 4A-District 8 tournament at Sunlake.
The six-week punishment includes more than half the 10-week high school baseball season.
“It’s a harsh punishment,” said Wesley Chapel coach Chuck Yingling. “Rick was on my staff last year and I’ve always known him to be a pretty low-key guy. He’s out for most of the year when he had his team playing better ball. It seems like a long suspension.”
Yingling said he and all his players were in the locker room when the argument happened and he hasn’t heard from anyone who saw the incident.
“I know Steve and he’s a good official,” Yingling said. “He’s very low key like Rick.”
Gonzalez was also the official in the tournament’s championship game, which Wesley Chapel won 9-8 against Wiregrass Ranch. In that game, a Bulls player was called for interference on a similar play as what happened March 14. Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeff Swymer argued that call as well, but was not ejected and returned to his dugout after a brief discussion.
Anderton can lead practices for the duration of the suspension. The school was also fined $300 for the incident. The coach will have to complete a six-hour course on the fundamentals of coaching before he can return to the sidelines.
