Players Penalized After Baseball Altercation

April 25, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With assistance from Brigham Young University and the University of New Mexico, the Mountain West (MW) has completed a thorough review and analysis of the incident which occurred following the conclusion of the New Mexico at BYU baseball contest played Saturday, April 23 in Provo, Utah, and has established the following disciplinary actions for the involved parties.

Applicable NCAA penalties were assessed to those student-athletes ejected by the umpires for fighting, as well as those subsequently identified by the review process as participants in the altercation. Violations of Mountain West Rule 4 - Sportsmanship were also identified and addressed accordingly.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Ryan Bernal, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension due to post-participation ejection for fighting (NCAA Rule 2, Section 25 and Rule 5, Section 16).
Wes Guenther, Student-Athlete
• Public reprimand for unduly provocative actions towards a student-athlete from another institution (MW Sportsmanship Rule Sections 4.2-c and 4.4.3).
Vance Law, Head Coach
• Public reprimand for remarks critical of a fellow member institution (MW Sportsmanship Rule Sections 4.2-e and 4.4.5).
Bret Lopez, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension for fighting (NCAA Rule 5, Section 16).
Brock Luker, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension for fighting (NCAA Rule 5, Section 16).
Blake Torgerson, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension due to post-participation ejection for fighting (NCAA Rule 2, Section 25 and Rule 5, Section 16).

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Luke Campbell, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension for fighting (NCAA Rule 5, Section 16).
Mitchell Garver, Student-Athlete
• Public reprimand for an obscene gesture (MW Sportsmanship Rule Sections 4.2-c and 4.4.3).
Quay Grant, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension due to post-participation ejection for fighting (NCAA Rule 2, Section 25 and Rule 5, Section 16).
Cory Maltz, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension for fighting (NCAA Rule 5, Section 16).
Jonathan Mata, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension for fighting (NCAA Rule 5, Section 16).
John Michael Twichell, Student-Athlete
• Three-game suspension due to post-participation ejection for fighting (NCAA Rule 2, Section 25 and Rule 5, Section 16).

Each of the involved individuals is now also subject to more stringent penalties under Mountain West Rule 4 - Sportsmanship and applicable NCAA provisions if they are involved in any future unsporting behavior.

The Mountain West wishes to thank both the BYU and UNM athletics departments, led by ADs Tom Holmoe and Paul Krebs, respectively, for their cooperation in adjudicating this incident, and for their support of the MW's sportsmanship standards. Both coaching staffs and the game officials are also to be commended for their efforts at the time of the altercation to bring it under control.

The Mountain West will have no further comment regarding this case. The provisions of the MW Sportsmanship Policy can be found in Rule 4 of the Mountain West Handbook - which can be accessed at Mountain West Handbook. The NCAA Baseball Rule Book can be accessed at NCAA Baseball Rule Book.

Article Courtesy of The MWC