SPORTS DIGEST: OVC SUSPENDS EIU HEAD BASEBALL COACH

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- The Ohio Valley Conference has suspended Eastern Illinois head baseball coach Jim Schmitz for the first three games of the 2002 season.

The suspension is the result of Schmitz's behavior after his team was eliminated from the 2001 OVC Baseball Championships in Paducah, Ky., on May 18. Schmitz confronted and verbally abused a conference official on the field at the conclusion of the contest.

"Although this behavior is out of character for coach Schmitz, it was a serious breach of sportsmanship and a very poor demonstration to student-athletes and fans as to the appropriate manner to address concerns," said OVC commissioner Dan Beebe.