Youth baseball coach gets lifetime ban for viral incident
A youth baseball incident that went viral has resulted in discipline.
The coach, who allegedly instructed his 11-year-old son to hurl a ball into the opposing team's dugout, has been given a lifetime suspension by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), which sanctioned the travel ball tournament where the incident took place.
The coach's son, who was pitching at the time he threw the ball into the opposing team's dugout during a tournament Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City, has been suspended for five years.
John Latella, CEO of USSSA, informed USA TODAY Sports of the disciplinary action Thursday, May 28.
"Due to the sensitive nature of the sensitive manner of the issue, and involvement of minors, no further comments will be (provided)," Latella told USA TODAY Sports by text message.
The incident occurred during a game between a team from Oklahoma and team from Nebraska featuring players age 11 and younger. It gained national attention after a video showing part of what happened circulated on social media.
The coach suspended for life by USSSA is Michael Ryals 38, of Welling, Oklahoma. He coached the team from Oklahoma. The pitcher's name will not be published because he is a minor.
Two people associated with the team coached by Ryals said parents of the players thought Ryals told his son to throw into the opposing team's dugout. The two people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition they not be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Those two people also said the incident took place after team from Nebraska grew loud and boisterous after the pitcher took the mound in the sixth and final inning of the game.
The team from Nebraska won 8-6.
The USSSA is a non-profit organization based in Florida that, according to Latella's LinkedIn page, has sanctioned 35,000 events with 4.5 million participants in 47 states.
This story has been updated with new information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Youth baseball coach gets lifetime ban for viral incident
Reporting by Josh Peter, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 12:33 PM.