CIF rules against Mills

The CIF-Southern Section offices decided Tuesday that San Bernardino athletic director Patrick Mills should be suspended from coaching the Cardinals baseball team after pulling his team off of the field in the bottom of the fifth inning of San Bernardino's game with San Gorgonio on Friday afternoon. The San Bernardino Unified School District will comply with the CIF's suggestion according to CIF Director of Communications Thom Simmons.

Contacted via e-mail, Simmons submitted the below explanation on the CIF's position:

"CIF Southern Section Bluebook Rule 125.2 states very clearly that the expectation of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee is for a coach that removes his team from a court or field prior to the end of a contest should be relieved from his/her duties for the balance of the season or face potential sanctions from the section. It is our understandiing that San Bernardino High School has done just that. We commend the San Bernardino principal for taking the actions he has to this point and await a final report from him with any possible additional penalties against Mr. Mills."

The last statement suggests that more sanctions against Mills could arise from the incident, where Mills had the San Bernardino baseball team walk off the field down 8-1 in the fifth inning to the Spartans. The Cardinals (3-21 overall, 1-12 San Andreas League) will conclude their season with an interim coach with two games against Cajon, playing at Cajon today and hosting the Cowboys Friday.