Principals Award Victory to Los Alamitos

Empire League principals ruled Monday to award Los Alamitos High School’s baseball team a victory over Loara after reviewing videotape of last week’s game that was suspended after a bench-clearing fight.

Los Alamitos held a 7-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning when sophomore pitcher Ben Rada hit Loara’s Charlie Gipson on the chin with a fastball. Both benches cleared and several fights started, prompting umpire Roger Walling to suspend the game.

“The principals determined that a Loara player instigated the fight,” said Jerry Halpin, assistant principal at Los Alamitos. “The game stands as is.”

Los Alamitos improves to 1-4 in league play and 3-10 overall. Loara drops into a three-way tie for fourth place at 1-4 with Cypress and Los Alamitos and is 6-9 overall.