Softball coach tackles opposing player at high school title game, TX video shows
.png "The Mathis High School softball coach was later arrested on an assault charge, Texas officials say.")
A high school softball coach is facing assault charges after tackling a player on the opposing team during a scuffle, Texas officials say.
The incident happened at an April 15 district championship game in Taft, between the Taft High School Lady Greyhounds and Mathis High School’s Lady Pirates.
In video taken at the game, a Taft player is seen sliding into home plate but is tagged out by the Mathis catcher — then the two players get into a fight and start shoving each other.
Within seconds, the Mathis coach runs to home plate, grabs the Taft player and takes her to the ground, video shows. The coach is pulled off the girl by other coaches and players, while parents can be heard yelling in the stands.
The Mathis Lady Pirates went on to win the game 8-5 in 10 innings, becoming district champions, the school said in a Facebook post.
However, coach Briana Cruz was arrested the following day, April 16, after turning herself in to authorities, San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera told KIII.
She was charged with assault causing bodily injury, KRIS reported. She paid a $3,500 bond and was freed the same day of her arrest.
Taft Independent School District says it is investigating the incident.
“Taft ISD is following UIL protocols and working with law enforcement authorities to address the negative incident that detracted from a competitive game between two outstanding softball teams,” the district said in a statement. “We will deliver the appropriate consequences according to UIL policy and the Taft ISD Athletic Handbook.”
McClatchy News reached out to Mathis ISD for comment April 22 but didn’t immediately receive a response.
Mathis is a roughly 40-mile drive northwest from Corpus Christi, while Taft is about a 20-mile drive north.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Softball coach tackles opposing player at high school title game, TX video shows."