Day 1: Dayton Base-Brawl Trial

((HT: WDTN-TV/Libby Kirsch))

A trial started Tuesday morning, for the pitcher whose wild outburst made Dayton a Youtube hit.

Julio Castillo ((pictured, thanks Peoria Chiefs file)) waived his right to have a trial by jury, and is now facing a judge on two counts of felonious assault.

Castillo is from the Dominican Repbulic, and speaks very little English. A translator was at his side throughout the day, translating the proceedings.

Castillo was arrested after a brawl broke out back on July 24, 2008, during a game between his Peoria Chiefs and the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field.

At the bottom of the first inning, Peoria's manager clashed with the Dragon's manager Donnie Scott.

The benches started to clear on both sides, when Castillo, the Chief's pitcher, jumped into the fray.

Video of the game shows Castillo throw the baseball towards the Dragons' dugout.

Neither side disputes what happened next. The baseball hit Dragon fan Chris McCarthy of Middletown in the head.

Castillo was arrested, and charged with felonious assault.

Tuesday, his trial began. In opening arguements, assistant county prosecutor Jon Marshall said, "[Castillo] decided he was going to hurt someone, anyone, he decided he wanted to throw a baseball, as hard as he could, in the direction of the dugout."

Castillo's lawyer, Dennis Lieberman, said his client threw the ball out of frustration, but wasn't aiming for anyone in the dugout.

"He throws it at the dugout, at the fencing in front of the dugout, an inanimate object, to scare them away, to make them go back into the dugout. "

Marshal said McCarthy suffered serious injury from being hit with the baseball, and had to miss work.

"Mr. McCarthy was diagnosed with a concussion, he had a hemotoma, and a swollen knot in the area where he was truck with the baseball. the stitching from the seams of the baseball were visible on Mr McCarthy's scalp," said Marshall.

A week after the melee, eight players on the Dragons team were suspended, along with their manager, Donnie Scott. Another six players from Peoria were suspended, along with Castillo, and their manager.

The trial is expected to wrap up later this week. If convicted, Castillo faces more than a decade behind bars.

Here's the early coverage of Day 1, thanks to our friends at WDTN/NBC2 in Dayton

Rawhide Assault in Dayton

Peoria Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo ((pictured, thanks Dayton Daily News)) is now the proud owner of a $50,000 cash bond issue and a felonious assault charge in the Thursday incident where he, apparently and even on video tape, tried to make a statement in a Midwest League brawl between his Chiefs and the home-standing Dayton Dragons.

The statement being "Stand still while I attempt to throw a baseball at your person as you charge me."

Castillo's Problem - he missed his intended target and hit a fan in the stands at Fifth Third Field in Dayton. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9AM August 1.

James Cummings article in the Dayton Daily News is hyah

WHIO-TV's coverage is hyah
WDTN TV has team coverage hyah

WHOI-TV's in Peoria has coverage hyah

WEEK-TV has coverage hyah

Their details are below...

"The out of control brawl lasted 10 minutes and resulted in 15 ejections. But since that didn't leave enough players to continue the game without putting pitchers in the outfield the umpires were instructed by Midwest League President George Spelius reverse the ejections and resume play. All but Castillo were allowed to return. But Spelius plans to review video of the incident and hand down penalties.

The original ejections for Dayton were Scott, Justin Reed, Kevyn Feiner, Phipps, Mesoraco and pitchers Henry Arias, Jeremy Horst, Jeff Jeffords and Luis Montano.

Brandon Guyer, Jovan Rosa, Mario Mercedes, Cliff Andersen, Castillo and pitchers Stephen Vento, Audy Santana and Martinez were banished for the Chiefs.

When play resumed Dayton took a 5-0 before eventually holding on to post a 6-5 victory over Peoria."

The short version is hyah...