Man Injured in Local Softball Game

By Eric Von Gringleheim, Staff Reporter

BURBANK, CA�� Steven Brisson, 48, a Burbank resident, was admitted to Burbank Memorial Hospital at 5:37pm today for injuries he sustained in a local softball game.� The Mud Hens, Mr. Brisson's team, were playing The Hornets on field #5 at the Burbank Sports Complex this afternoon when he was hurt.� The incident apparently occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brisson, who plays catcher for The Mud Hens, was involved in a collision at home plate between himself and Gary Cozine, 31, who plays right field for The Hornets.� According to eyewitnesses Cozine lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and blooped a pop fly into shallow right field.� Michael Burgess, who was playing right field at the time, stumbled and fell allowing the ball to get by him.

����������� "I tripped over a sprinkler head that was part way up," said Burgess.� "He (Cozine) didn't even hit the ball that hard.� If I hadn't tripped I would have held him to a single, no problem."

����������� Apparently no one was backing up Burgess and the ball rolled all the way to the fence which allowed Cozine to round the bases and head for home where the collision with Brisson occurred.� Mr. Brisson was apparently in the base path waiting for the relay from the cut-off man when Cozine hit him.

����������� "He was running real hard," observed Mary Shelton a Burbank resident who likes to bring her son to watch the games.� "He (Cozine) dropped his head, put out his elbow and hit (Brisson) right in the chest. "� This was apparently what caused Mr. Brisson's left lung to collapse.� "I don't even think he saw him coming.� He was waiting for the other guy to throw the ball to him." Brisson's other injury, a broken right index finger, was sustained when Cozine landed on his hand with his cleat.� According to Shelton, he was jumping up and down celebrating his single and three base error yelling, 'I knocked the crap out of that ball!' when he landed on Brisson's hand, crushing his finger.

����������� Asked about the play in question Cozine stated, "The pitch I knocked out of the park was on a 2-0 count.� The pitch before brushed me back.� I'm not going to take that.� It was intentional as far as I'm concerned.� I know that (Brisson) called for it.� I saw him put down four fingers.� Kent (Adam Kent, The Mud Hen's pitcher) brushed me back, no question about it.� The ball was up near my head."

����������� When told of Cozine's statement Mr. Kent replied, "This guy is a total idiot.� There was no brush back- we don't even have signs.� Of course the ball was near his head--this is slow-pitch softball.� The ball has an arc to it."

����������� Cozine's response to Kent's response, "He's just pissed that I took him yard."

����������� Asked why he was playing so aggressively when his team was leading by 12 runs, Cozine responded, "Hey--we're trying to make the playoffs.� I play hard, I bring my A game.� If� (Brisson) doesn't want to play to win, that's his problem.� They don't call it softball for nothing."  He added, "I saw how Pete Rose took out that catcher in that All Star game-- I don't ever hear anyone coming down on Pete Rose."

����������� Cozine's teammates think it might be something other than the playoffs driving him.� Cozine went into today's game batting .213, considered by some to be a low batting average for softball.� There are reports that the right fielder may be in danger of getting dropped from the starting line-up.� When asked, Sal Bennett, the team's player/manager, reluctantly confirmed that Cozine's offense hadn't  been up to par.� "I have dropped him from 5th to 10th in the line-up.� We've also talked about the fact that softball isn't for everyone."

����������� Jim Teller, The Hornets third baseman was asked why he thought Cozine had been so rough.� "I'll tell you why-- he's the only one on the team who has never hit a home run.� He wanted one real bad. �Sometimes he'll sit on the bench and rock back and forth and mumble, 'Must hit home run, must hit home run' over and over.� It's kind of creepy."

����������� Other members of the team think the answer is simpler.� "There's nothing to figure out.� The guy is a dick," says Peter Mullikin, the team's center fielder.

����������� Asked why he hit the catcher so hard Cozine said, "I had to knock the ball lose."� When he was reminded that Brisson didn't even have the ball at the time of the collision (it was still being fumbled by the cut-off man), Cozine's eyes narrowed and he intoned, "If he doesn't have the ball, that base path is mine."

����������� Cozine may have more to worry about than just spending increased time on the bench.� David Browder, Burbank's Commissioner of Parks and Recreation said by phone, "We're looking into this matter very carefully and considering disciplinary action.� We can't tolerate this sort of behavior.� This isn't big league ball.� People are there to have fun.� Not to mention the kids."  Browder was apparently referring to Jimmy Brisson, the catcher's six-year-old son who was seen crying by spectators as his father was taken off the field on a stretcher and asking� "What's wrong with daddy?"

����������� Lisa Brisson, the catcher 's wife, could not be reached for comment but one eye witness reported hearing Mrs. Brisson yell, "You're an assh---!" to Cozine as she climbed into the back of the ambulance.

����������� When asked if he had any apologies for the hurt Brisson Cozine said, "Yeah, I'll talk to him as soon as he walks up to me and admits to my face that he called for that brush back."� When it was explained to Cozine that Brisson was in intensive care with a collapsed lung and it would be a week or two before he could speak at all, Cozine mumbled, "Well, we'll see who makes the play-offs" and walked away.