VIDEO: Pike Central player faces assault charge after ejection from baseball game – WKYT

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – 11 p.m. report

An Eastern Kentucky high school athlete faces an assault charge after being ejected from a baseball game Tuesday night.

Bradley Elkins, 18, a senior at Pike County Central High School, was arrested Wednesday and charged with Assault Second Degree. He bonded out of jail later Wednesday.

WYMT obtained video that appears to show Elkins – who was playing shortstop – punching a player from Lawrence County High School while the player was on second base. That player is a juvenile.

Umpires ejected Elkins and then called the game with Lawrence County ahead, 9-5. The Bulldogs were credited with the win.

“It’s not something that we condone that happened,” Pike Central principal David Rowe said. “The young man just made a mistake. He’s a great student athlete. We’ve never had any issues out of him or any of our baseball players.”

Lawrence County school officials said the victim went to the hospital but did not suffer any broken bones.

The two district rivals also played the previous night and coaches said emotions were running high.

While smack talk and even the occasional tussle are nothing new in high school sports, officials with the Pike County Attorney’s Office believe Elkins crossed the line.

“Do we want to file charges every time young men have a fracas on a ball field? I think anyone will tell you that’s probably not appropriate,” Chief Assistant Pike County Attorney Tommy Chamberlin said. “But you get to the point where the behavior clearly crosses the line from young men getting a little hotheaded to criminal action.”

Elkins is a three-sport star at Pike Central with a scholarship to play football at Union College this fall.

“It’s unfortunate that this is what people are going to see from Brad,” Pike Central baseball coach Chris Lawson said. “Because it’s truly not the kind of kid that he is.”

School administrators sent video of the incident to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and are waiting to hear about a possible suspension for Elkins.

Lawrence County Schools superintendent Robbie Fletcher told WYMT the two schools are working together to help move past this incident and that LCHS will cooperate fully with the KHSAA.

The two teams could face each other again later this month during the 60th District Tournament at Pike Central.
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6 p.m. report

A scuffle on the diamond. Now, 18-year-old Bradley Elkins faces an assault charge following an altercation during a baseball game.

Some call it a case of smack talk gone too far.

We have received exclusive video of the punch at Pike Central High School. Prosecutors say that punch turned the incident into a felony.

Pike Central school officials call it very uncharacteristic behavior on the part of Brad Elkins. He’s the shortstop for the Hawks baseball team and was ejected Tuesday night for throwing a punch in a game against Lawrence County and unfortunately for Elkins, that punch was caught on video by a fan.

Video appears to show Pike Central’s Brad Elkins punching a Lawrence County baserunner, knocking him to the ground. Lawrence County school officials say the player went to the hospital to be treated for his injuries and Wednesday the player’s father decided to file a charge against Elkins.

Chief Assistant Pike County Attorney Tommy Chamberlin said, “This is different than just your typical average ballgame spat that we see sometimes. This crosses the line into criminal behavior”.

Pike Central baseball coach Chris Lawson says Elkins has always played with passion, but never lost his temper like he did Tuesday night.

Lawson said, “He apologized to me. Apologized to his teammates. He’s apologized to the administration here at Pike Central. He’s remorseful for his actions. Of course he wishes it hadn’t happened. It was a mistake and unfortunately he’s having to deal with it right now”.

Elkins is a three-sport star for the Hawks and someone school officials point to as a model student athlete prior to this incident.

Pike Central High School Principal David Rowe mentioned, “He’s an outstanding student athlete here at our school. He plays all three sports. Just been a role model for our students. It was a big district rival and not that we condone what happened, but I think in the battle sometimes, he lost his composure and he made a bad mistake”.

A mistake that may cost him more than losing the ballgame.

Lawrence County won the game, 9-5, after it was called off early because of the incident.

The Pike County Attorney tells us Elkins will face a second degree assault charge.

Lawrence County will return to Pike Central later this month for the 60th District tournament and school officials said they’ll have a presence from the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at the game.
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Officials with the Pike County Attorney’s Office tell us a warrant has been issued for a Pike Central baseball player following a scuffle during a baseball game.

Brad Elkins, age 18, faces a 2nd degree assault charge after a criminal complaint was filed by the victim’s father following the Lawrence County-Pike Central game on Tuesday night.

WYMT called the Pike County Detention Center today and confirmed that Brad Elkins was arrested and booked on Wednesday, but bonded out shortly after.

Elkins was ejected following the incident and officials ended the game early.

Pike Central Principal David Rowe says Elkins has been an outstanding student-athlete for four years and has never been in any trouble before.

Elkins has signed to play football at Union College. The following statement was released pertaining to the incident on behalf of the college:

We are currently aware of the situation involving Brad Elkins and will continue to monitor the situation closely as all the facts and details emerge. Once this process is complete, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.

Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Robbie Fletcher issued the following statement to WYMT:

During the May 5th baseball game between Pike Central and Lawrence County High School, an altercation occurred that resulted in the ejection of a player. School officials from both school districts have been in contact with each other, and I have contacted KHSAA officials concerning an investigation into the event.

Without releasing specific information that may damage the investigation, the Lawrence County School District will do everything to support the investigation and our students.

Lawrence County’s baseball team will return to Pike Central later this season for the 60th District tournament. Pike County Central officials say deputies will be there as a precaution.

WYMT’s Tanner Hesterberg will have the latest on this story on WYMT Mountain News at 6.