Luna Community College received notice today from the National Junior College Athletic Association indicating that baseball coach Harry Estep will be suspended for 10 games. Earlier in the season, Coach Estep was ejected from 3 games for non-violent, unsportsmanlike behavior during communication with umpires. In one instance, the ejection took place after the game was over.
Following advice from the umpires, Luna AD, Carl Vigil, assigned Estep the penalties designated by the NCAA since all NJCAA teams and all NCAA teams follow the same game regulations. However, NJCAA requires significantly more stringent penalties for ejections.
As soon as he discovered his error, the AD reported both the initial errors and the non-compliance, following NJCAA regulations for self-reporting. But by this time, non-compliance penalties had also accrued.
The Rough Riders have three games left in the regular season, all with Otero College. Two games are scheduled for Saturday, April 29, and one game is scheduled for Sunday, April 30. All three games are scheduled to be played at Cleveland High School in Albuquerque.
Coach Estep will not be able to coach any of these games, nor will he be able to coach during the following seven games, regardless of the season in which they occur. In addition, the games played during the time of failure to report and/or comply with the NCJAA Policies Manual must be forfeited.
Prior to the forfeitures, Luna’s baseball team was 15-16 in the Region 9 South standings and 20-33 overall. For a brief period earlier this month, the Rough Riders were in first place in the Region 9 South standings. With the forfeitures, Luna is 5-48 overall and 3-28 in conference.
The following is a statement from the college.
“Luna Community College respects the decision by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The college did not follow NJCAA protocol in this matter. Luna is working on more compliance training for the entire administrative team to make sure this does not take place again. Luna apologizes to players, students, coaches, employees, alumni and fans. We want to emphasize that our student-athletes had nothing to do with these issues. We are very proud of their accomplishments this year and look forward to their future success both on and off the playing field.”
In an appeal letter, Luna is asking the NJCAA to reconsider additional penalties that would preclude Luna playing in this year’s postseason tournament.
The college will not give further comment at this time.
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