Erbe’s ejection: ‘I fully accept it’

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Jefferson J-Hawks will be forced to go deep into their softball coaching staff tonight.

Trisha Hagensick and Charlie Goetzinger will be in charge when Class 5A fifth-rated Cedar Rapids Jefferson hosts Cedar Falls in a Mississippi Valley Conference double-header at Larry Niemeyer Field.

Head coach Brian Erbe was ejected early in Wednesday's game at home against Cedar Rapids Prairie (a 6-5 win), then lead assistant Mike Kuba was tossed in the seventh inning.

'Mine was warranted; I fully accept it,” Erbe said Thursday morning. 'I used improper and inappropriate language. I had it coming.”

Erbe's attempt to appeal Kuba's ejection this morning was denied.

Because Kuba's daughter Erin is a member of the team, he will be allowed to watch the game from the stands. Erbe will be forced to leave the facility before the first pitch.

According to IGHSAU executive director Mike Dick, the sanction for an ejection is a suspension of a minimum of one playing date.

The violator must fill out an online form and watch a sportsmanship video before being reinstated.

It is the first ejection of Erbe's career; he was a head coach at Cedar Rapids Xavier for 10 years before taking the job at Jefferson in 2013.

'I have certainly pushed the envelope before with umpires, but I feel it's my duty to protect my kids,” he said.

Jefferson pitcher Alyssa Olson was called for three illegal pitches in Tuesday's first game against Prairie, and Erbe disputed those calls.

He said Wednesday's incident was not umpire-related, but wasn't specific who the target was.

Kuba was removed in the seventh, after Olson was summoned to pitch and called for four illegal pitches in a five-pitch span.

That allowed Prairie to rally from a 5-2 deficit to tie it before Jefferson (8-0) won it in the bottom of the inning.

Erbe expects to be back with the team Saturday when it plays three games in Des Moines.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@sourcemedia.net