Upset Parent Repeatedly Punches Baseball Coach In The Face

    Just two days after having to cut his roster down to the state-mandated 20 players for the playoffs, Moris was confronted by Robert Rodriguez on Friday morning (April 22) at the baseball field before the team’s scheduled practice.

    Rodriguez is the father of sophomore Ian Rodriguez, who was one of four players to be left off the roster. Evidently not happy with the decision, Rodriguez confronted Moris after he parked his car along Dove Avenue. The argument became heated and soon after, according to Gazette sources, Rodriguez “sucker-punched” Moris as he began to put his jacket on.

    “The confrontation became physical when Rodriguez began punching Morris repeatedly,” according to the police report.

    According to the police report, Rodriguez stands 6 feet, 300 pounds. Morris is 5-3, 140 pounds.

    According to police sources, it actually was Rodriguez who placed the call to Miami Springs police in an attempt to have Moris arrested. But when police arrived and saw Moris’ face bruised, battered and bleeding, Rodriguez unharmed and the difference in size between the two, Rodriguez himself was arrested and charged with battery.

    According to the official MSPD police report, officer Albert Sandoval was first on the scene. After realizing the incident had taken place on the property of the senior high school, Sandoval called the Miami-Dade County Public School police. Rodriguez eventually was taken into custody without incident.

    Robert Rodriguez was instrumental in helping the program during the offseason as far as fundraising and working on the field to get it in playing condition.

    According to those close to the team, Ian Rodriguez, who is a pitcher on the team, began the season getting plenty of playing time and showed much promise. But as the season progressed, coaches began to have discplinary problems with the young man and his playing time dwindled to the point where he was left off the postseason roster.

    Practice for the team went on as scheduled on Friday, but Moris was ushered inside the school to deal with the incident while assistant coaches Carlos Ibietta and Julio Mendez conducted practice.

    “It’s an unfortunate situation that happened, but I can’t really comment on it any further at this time,” said the 26-year-old Moris, who suffered lacerations and bruising to his face. “Right now, I’ve got a group of kids that need to stay focused on this week’s district playoffs and that’s what we’re going to do.”

    When reached by phone Monday afternoon, Rodriguez said, “I’ve been advised not to comment on it at this time.”

    The Hawks were slated to take on No. 3 seed Coral Gables this past Tuesday afternoon at Alex Fernandez Field in Hialeah in a district semifinal playoff game. A win would put them into the district title game this Thursday night (April 28) against either Hialeah or Coral Park at the same site while a loss would bring their season to an end.