Two of the top players on the South Hills softball team, senior third baseman Isabella Venegas and junior catcher Madilyn Hernandez, were suspended for Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 first-round playoff game at Murrieta Mesa, the Southern California News Group has learned.
The decision to suspend the players was made by South Hills High administrators or the Covina Valley Unified School District.
The players were informed of the decision roughly six to seven hours before South Hills’ game. Murrieta Mesa beat South Hills, 9-2, ending their season.
CIF Southern Section assistant commissioner Thom Simmons said it was not a suspension imposed by the section office, noting, “had to have been school imposed because I have no ejection reports for any softball player at South Hills.”
During South Hills’ 6-3 victory over Corona Centennial in a wild-card round game Tuesday, there was an incident near third base after a South Hills player hit a triple while the Huskie led 5-1.
On a video of the incident posted online, there appears to be players jawing at each other and that led to shoving, but it was quickly dissolved. It did not appear that any punches were thrown.
This is the video that led to two South Hills softball players being suspended for Friday’s CIF-SS first round playoff game at Murrieta Mesa. You be the judge. Video/@coachmark_48 pic.twitter.com/TgvC2y5LaJ
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) May 5, 2023
The umpires discussed the incident and allowed play to continue without any players being ejected.
South Hills softball coach Ralph Navarro would not comment.
South Hills co-athletic director Darren Murphy said he could not comment on why the players were suspended, referring questions to principal Dr. Allan Tyner.
Tyner did not respond to an email seeking an explanation for the decision.
