T-ball coach to go to trial in autism case

The saga of the T-ball coach who allegedly offered to pay a player to injure an autistic teammate continued yesterday with news that a judge found enough evidence against 27-year-old Mark Downs Jr. to send the case to trial. According to a report on ThePittsburghChannel.com, the young "hit man," Keith Reese Jr., testified that "he (Downs) told me to warm up with Harry. He said he would pay me $25 if I hit him in the face." When a first ball bounced and hit the boy in the groin, Reese Jr. testified, "he (Downs) told me to go out there and hit him harder. So I went out and hit him in the ear," the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Reese's father, Keith Reese Sr., testified that Downs had described Bower as a detriment to the team; that it was unusual for his son to practice with Bower because Keith is a strong thrower and Harry can barely catch; and that after the game Downs told Reese Sr. "he did something ignorant and offered Keithy $25 to hit Harry in the face to take him out of the game." League officials, meanwhile, still claim there is no proof of wrongdoing, and Downs' lawyer claims it was a misunderstanding and an accident. ... So everybody deserves his day in court, and more revelations may come out to in some way exonerate Coach Downs. But if he is in fact convicted, should he receive a punishment that fits the crime? Pick your favorites from today's Question of the Day poll.