Two baseball coaches from Pinole Valley High School have been placed on administrative leave following incidents tied to Pinole Valley High School baseball racism involving offensive behavior directed at athletes from at least two competing schools.
Head coach T’won Blake and assistant coach Will Tipton were suspended after players allegedly made racist and homophobic remarks during games against Albany High School and El Cerrito High School, according to reports by local media outlets.
Video footage from an April 23 game shows Pinole Valley players mocking Asian players from Albany High School. During the match, some team members chanted “Baljeet,” referencing a South Asian character from a children’s TV show, while an Indian American student was pitching. A Chinese American pitcher also endured comments like, “P.F. Chang is that you? I thought you was baby Shohei.”
On April 16, during a separate game against El Cerrito High, homophobic slurs were reportedly directed at a student-athlete. These actions have prompted ongoing investigations and public concern.
Pinole Valley High School Baseball Racism Under Investigation
Coach Blake stated he was unaware of the remarks until informed by the school’s athletic director. He claimed he and another staff member addressed the issue after learning about it and pointed to a spectator as the possible source. However, some parents, including Eugene Lee, believe the remarks came directly from players, contradicting the coaches’ claims.
Blake, who identifies as Black, said he firmly opposes any form of discrimination and believes the situation has been exaggerated. He also expressed concern that the negative attention could harm the players’ futures. Despite this, Blake did issue an apology to the Albany team, according to their head coach.
In an official statement, the West Contra Costa Unified School District acknowledged the seriousness of the events and confirmed that the incidents related to Pinole Valley High School baseball racism are being reviewed under district protocols.
The district emphasized that discriminatory conduct, including racism and hate speech, will not be tolerated in its athletic programs and that corrective actions are underway.
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Source: www.people.com
