You know it’s summer when the youth baseball coaches come out and start having opposing players arrested for nonsensical reasons. Actually Bill Marshall is a sheriff’s deputy, part-time Ballston Spa Village police officer, and coach of Galway of the Ballston Spa Junior Baseball League in New York. Marshall had Gary Hall Jr., an opposing player, arrested on Saturday for “intentionally” hitting one his his players with a pitch, and for kicking a batting helmet after the game.

After Galway had beaten Ballston Spa, 2-1, last week, a Galway player punched Hall, 16, in the stomach in the post-game handshake line. According to witnesses, Hall pushed the other player away, then fell to the ground in pain. Hall then kicked a batting helmet near the dugout. If you thought that ended things, you don’t know American youth baseball. Marshall filed charges and had Hall arrested.

From the SARATOGIAN:

Two days later, on Saturday, a sheriff’s deputy arrived at Hall’s home, arrested the teen and charged him with fourth-degree criminal mischief, which could carry a sentence of up to a year in prison, for kicking the helmet, and second-degree harassment for pushing the Galway player.

“It’s insane,” Hall said of his son’s arrest. He added, however, that after the incident at the game: “I knew it wasn’t going to be over.”

District Attorney James A. Murphy III confirmed Tuesday that he plans to ask the judges who are scheduled to hear the case against Hall Wednesday in Malta to drop the charges. He called the case an “inappropriate use of law enforcement” and court staff.

The Galway player who punched Hall was subsequently banned from the league, and it’s believed that Marshall filed the criminal complaint as retaliation. Hmm, a wise use of taxpayer’s money? Many say no.

As expected this story is getting all kinds of local coverage — several news trucks were parked near the field during Ballston Spa’s next game, an 8-6 win. One TV station led its story by comparing Hall’s looks to those of Tim Lincecum. Poor kid.

*UPDATE*: The charges against Hall have been officially dropped. Sweet justice! Now let’s solve this heath care thing.