Teen beaten to death with baseball Bat

[langsgirl]

Baseball Bat Death Stuns California Town

Losing Youth League Pitcher Bludgeons Teen After Being Teased

By BEN FOX, AP

PALMDALE, Calif. (April 13) - A 13-year-old pitcher whose baseball team had just lost for the first time this season killed another teen by hitting him in the head with a baseball bat during an argument, authorities said Wednesday.

The teen, whose name was not released, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of murder and was being held at Antelope Valley Juvenile Hall as authorities prepared to take the case to prosecutors.

Jeremy Rourke, 15, was pronounced dead at a hospital after the Tuesday night attack, said Brenda Shafer, a spokeswoman for the coroner's office.

Rourke, a spectator at Tuesday's game, and the suspect had no history of problems, said Tony Trevino, coach of the opposing team.

"What happened? What did we miss as a community? What did we miss as parents?'' Trevino said.

A friend outside the Rourke home said the family had no immediate comment about the attack in Palmdale, a desert city about 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

Deputies declined to provide details of the attack, which took place after the suspect's team, the Angels, posted its first loss in eight games against the Dodgers, a team that had been 1-6.

Ryan Gosporra, 15, did not see the attack but said that shortly before it, Rourke had cut in front of the suspect in the snack bar line. Trevino, 50, said other witnesses told him the two boys teased each other before the attack.

Earlier, the suspect had appeared upset about the game but nothing seemed out of the ordinary, Trevino said. The boy was known for being competitive but did not have a reputation for violence, he said.

After the attack, Trevino saw the suspect standing against a fence with his parents. "He looked scared. He was in shock,'' the coach said.

Palmdale Pony League officials said play would be suspended at the field for several days.

"We're really in a state of shock over this whole thing,'' league President Ken Curtis said. Rourke had been a junior umpire and his father is a past president of the league.

A memorial was held at Highland High School, where Rourke attended classes.

"He's just a funny kid. He liked to make people smile,'' Gosporra said. "You could be in the worst mood and he would make you laugh.''

[LOTCB]

Absolutely terrible, man I feel for the parents and friends of the victim

[Devils731]

Thats why the major leagues use wooden bats.