A case of a high school coach allegedly bullying one of his players may work its way to court.
Gabriel Lopez, the head baseball coach at Los Altos High School (Southern California) is being sued by a former player, Robbie Lopez (no relation) for at least $150,000.
“The boy’s father, Robert Lopez II, believed the coach’s decision to bench his son throughout the season was because he complained to the district’s athletic director after a disagreement over a fundraising game,” Hayley Munguia of The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported. “Lopez spoke to the school after the coach did not allow players to practice who had not participated in a fundraising event. It is illegal in California to require students to fundraise to participate in public school activities.”
According to Maxpreps, Lopez played in three varsity games as a junior, logging 10 plate appearances. At that point, Gabriel Lopez was not the coach. As a senior, Lopez got into nine games, but took only eight plate appearances, signaling that most of his action was likely late in games.
But according to the suit, the bullying didn’t only manifest itself in regular games.
“Among the incidents the suit singles out is the annual alumni game, in which the varsity team plays against former Los Altos players,” Munguia noted. It states that “the game is supposed to be a fun day; especially for seniors on the team” and that “every senior on the team played except for” Robbie Lopez.”
It was also noted that Michael Ponce, who is representing the player and his family, alleged that this was more of a targeted situation,” rather than a coach looking out for the best interests of his team.