Georgia coach Wes Johnson, Tre Phelps tossed from regional final vs. Liberty

“For the record, Tre’s family was sitting up in the stands,” Johnson said when addressing media after the game. “Tre was waving at his family. The umpires, whatever, I’m not an umpire. They thought he was talking to the dugout.”

Phelps will have to sit for Georgia’s next game, per Johnson, who clarified that the Bulldogs cannot appeal. Johnson faces no further penalty and can coach the next game.

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Liberty coach Bradley LeCroy also got fired up during Phelps’ trip around the bases and left the dugout.

“I don’t have anything to do with the ejection, but I’m going to protect our guys 100% ... He made remarks to our dugout and looked straight at our dugout,” LeCroy said postgame.

LeCroy added that he didn’t know what Phelps said in the direction of the visiting dugout.

On if Phelps may have been interacting with his family, LeCroy said: “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. And if they were, like, hey, I wasn’t the one who ejected him, right? ... If his family was above our dugout, great. They can go review it. The umpires can write a report. I’m not going to take the blame for him getting ejected.”

Prior to the play, Georgia had struggled against Liberty starting pitcher Cooper Harrington, only tallying one hit. Harrington ultimately gave up two earned runs on three hits, issuing zero walks and striking out six. The Bulldogs put up four runs on the Flames’ bullpen.

Entering Sunday’s game, Phelps had gone 1-for-6 (.167). in the Athens Regional, drawing two walks and hit by two pitches (for a .500 on-base percentage).