OT: Interesting local high school story

[HornedFrog Purple]

I could not find a link to it anywhere so I will spend the next 7 hours typing it out:

Carroll star dismissed from team

Carroll all-state lefthander Charles Benoit has been dismissed from the team, coach Larry Hughes said Wednesday. Benoit, the Class 4A Player of the Year last season, left with his father before the end of Tuesday's game at Marcus, then did not attend practice Wednesday.

"He walked out on his team twice." Hughes said. "It was one too many times."

Benoit, ranked # 67 on Baseball America's Top 100 prospects, threw more than 120 pitches Tuesday in his second start of the season. He was relieved in the 7th inning and his father Bob Benoit tok him from the dugout and left the ballpark. His father said he was concerned for his son's arm.

"When I see someone extended to this level, it's starting to jeopardize his health." Bob Benoit said. "That's abusive."

Hughes said Benoit, an Oklahoma signee, felt he could continue pitching after throwing 108 pitches through 6 innings.

"He said he felt fine," Hughes said. "He has always told us when he's gassed and tells us when he's done."

After Benoit left, Carroll won in extra innings.

Benoit, whose fastball is in the low-90s, anchored Carroll's pitching staff last season, helping the Dragons to the 4A state title. Benoit went 13-1 with a 1.23 ERA last season and was 6-0 in the playoffs.

"It's his call," Bob Benoit said of Hughes' decision. "[Charles] was surprised. He took it in stride."

[vex]

I've been hearing about him, this sucks.

[rkmsuf]

I don't get it...why did he have to completely leave the ballpark? It probably was too many pitches but couldn't the Dad, coach and kid have a little discussing and cut down the pitches a bit if I bothered them so much?

[HornedFrog Purple]

I don't know, maybe they had a meeting before and it was not working out. You can't blame the kid because he is doing what his father tells him to do. This appears to be a conflict between the father and the coach. There is nothing in the article about the history (if any) between these two.

Cam should do an exclusive interview and get the skinny.

[vex]

The family are millionaires, maybe the dad is used to getting what he wants.

[CamEdwards]

Horned Frog,

If you can get me a phone number for Mr. Benoit, I'll give him a call.

Otherwise, my work is done for the day and I'll wait until tomorrow to check it out. :)

[HornedFrog Purple]

Cam,

I called the writer of the piece, Rick Herrin ( [email protected] ) and he would not give me his phone number. I will see if I can dig up a Southlake directory somewhere.

This is what I found out after talking to Mr. Herrin

He said that there was no history of conflict between the coach and the dad. He did say at the game (it was around 45 degrees) there were several scouts at the game speaking to his dad. The dad did not sit with the other parents in their section usually. He believes the scouts convinced him that his kid was out there too long. (That is just an opinion though).

Anyways, I will PM you Rick Herrin's phone # at the Star-Telegram, if the story still interests you.

[sabotai]

Sounds like the dad is trying to control his kid's life. If the kid said he was fine, then he's fine. Well, he may not be fine, but what does he expect the coach to do? Psychicaly tell his his son's arm is hurting or not? A player says he's fine, you keep playing him. Especially if there are scouts there. Let the kid show his stuff.

It's not like he's a 9 year old that doesn't know any better. How old is he? 17, 18? He's not some automonous child who doesn't know anything. I'm sure he's a smart kid that knows when he's pitched too long.

It just bothers me when parents try to take over their children's lives. News alert dad, he's the star, not you. Get over it.

[Malificent]

Well, there is some evidence that young pitchers who throw lots of pitches in a single game consistently or who throw lots more innings than they are used to, have a high risk of arm injury.

Lots of pitchers, even ones in the early to mid 20s, will let themselves stay in way too long because their arm feels good then - failing to make the connection when in a few weeks they are suffering with an arm problem.

Walking off the field and not attending practice were probably excessive, but I certainly understand being concerned about his son's future health.

[Anrhydeddu]

Spoiled rich kid (Benoit), spoiled wanna-be-rich kid (LeBron) - it's all the same thing - emphasis on spoiled.

[GoldenEagle]

I would have been pissed if my dad would have made me leave.