Carthage head baseball coach Augie Schmidt IV Carthage photo by Mike Gryniewicz

Carthage College head baseball coach Augie Schmidt IV has been suspended for five games for violation of two NCAA baseball game rules.  The suspension stems from Schmidt's actions at the second game of a March 29 doubleheader against North Central College in Naperville, Ill. 

The suspension covers the March 30 North Central game and the April 2 North Park University doubleheader, as well as the Saturday, April 6 twinbill at Augustana College (Ill.).  Schmidt will resume his on-field game coaching on Sunday, April 7 at Augustana College (Ill.).

Schmidt was suspended for two games due to his argument over a call in the second inning of the March 29 nightcap, which is a suspension rule new to collegiate baseball this year.  He was also victim to another new rule that mandates a three-game suspension for not being out of “sight and sound” of the field following an ejection.

Carthage director of athletics Bob Bonn was in constant communication with coach Schmidt, the CCIW commissioner and the CCIW baseball umpire assigner throughout the weekend.  "I am very supportive that collegiate baseball has put the two-game suspension in place for coach ejections,” said Bonn in a statement.  “Augie needs to do a better job of handling these situations, and he will.  The additional three-game suspension seems to be a throw-in by collegiate baseball to prevent further game disruption by a coach.  It was not applied appropriately in this situation.  The collegiate baseball umpires have been given an unmatched and unchallenged level of power above and beyond what I have ever seen in any sport.  I suspect the rule will be re-evaluated and changed after this season."