Clemson's coaches were ejected during a super regional loss. The ump explains why. (2024)

CLEMSON— Clemson coachErik Bakich was last seen at Doug Kingsmore Stadium pumping his fist toward the crowd, yelling "Let's go" after he was ejected in the 13th inning of a super regional loss to Florida.

But the crew chief responsible for tossing Bakich on June 9, along with Clemson's director of program development, Jack Leggett, claims the Tigers' coach "incited the crowd" before hison-field argument with the ump.

What touched off the entire incident was Clemson outfielder Alden Mathes' bat spike after a solo home run to put the Tigers up 10-9 in a game they eventually lost to Florida by 11-10 in 13 innings. The officiating crew huddled to discuss an unsportsmanlike conduct violation.

Bakich and Leggett both took offense.

"Once Leggett was ejected, Coach Bakich, who had not returned to the dugout, stayed outside the dugout in foul territory and started raising his arms over his head while facing the crowd to clearly incite the crowd," crew chief Billy Van Raaphorst said in a statement.

A lengthy account of the coaches' ejections was released by Van Raaphorst overnight, explaining the umpires' view of the entire incident.

According toVan Raaphorst, his crew gathered after Mathes' home run and bat spike in the 13th inning because warnings had already been issued to both teams following a scuffle earlier in the game.

In the third inning, Florida pitcher Jac Caglianone collided with Clemson's Nolan Nawrocki along the first-base line after fielding a ground ball and going for a tag. There was shoving between the two, and several Clemson players left the dugout to come to Nawrocki's defense.

The only player ejected was Clemson's Jack Crighton, who had hit a double earlier in the inning and was docked for "leaving his position" and continuing to walk toward umpires as they attempted to break up the skirmish.

Mathes, who was 0-of-6 at the plate prior to his homer, was deemed to have potentially violated the previously established warnings with his bat spike.

"Coach Bakich came running out of the dugout when the crew got together,"Van Raaphorst said in his statement. "We told him to go back to the dugout while we huddled. We had to tell him three times to return to the dugout."

That is when Leggett— the ex-Clemson head coach who hired Bakich as a volunteer assistant in 2002 and sits next to his protege during games—started engaging with the umpire, as well.

Van Raaphorst said Leggett was "in the dugout pointing and screaming at us about the crew huddling."

"Leggett was warned to stop,"Van Raaphorst added."He continued waving his hands while yelling at the crew. At this point, Leggett was ejected for failing to obey the warning."

That, according toVan Raaphorst, is when Leggett came onto the field and into foul territory. He was then warned to leave or he would be suspended.

Leggett did not obey the command,Van Raaphorst said, continuing to yell and walk toward the foul line in violation of a "prolonged warning." That resulted in Leggett receiving a two-game suspension.

Bakich then continued to argue with the crew and, according to Van Raaphorst, engaged with the crowd by "raising his arms over his head." This led to Bakich's ejection, while it was determined Mathes' actions were not an offense worthy of ejection.

The crew chief then met with Bakich to explain.

"(Bakich) was then told (he) was going to be ejected for not returning to the dugout and for inciting the crowd,"Van Raaphorst said."After the ejection, Bakich followed the crew chief several times around the infield and, after being warned for prolonged activity, was suspended for failing to obey the warning."

It is unclear exactly how Bakich and Leggett's suspensions will be served, because the Tigers' season ended after Florida came through with a two-RBI, walk-off hit in the bottom of the 13th inning to win 11-10. The suspensions might carry over to the start of next season.

Bakich was not permitted to attend Clemson's postgame press conference because of his ejection, but his players stood behind him.

"EB's always got our back no matter what. It was cool seeing him go out there," grad transfer Jimmy Obertop said. "But we're all in this together. Can't do it without him. He's a great guy and wouldn't want to play for anyone else."