By JOSH KOCH/Special Contributor
HOUSTON -- Plano Prestonwood head baseball coach Todd Cash was banned from coaching in his team's TAPPS 5A state championship game Wednesday afternoon against Beaumont Kelly Catholic after violating TAPPS rules earlier this season.
"It was a rules violation," Cash said. "The thing that was important to me was it was not an integrity issue. The intent was not there the way it all happened. That's what I cared about more than anything. But a rule's a rule, and the rule was broken. That's what they decided on for it so I have no complaints at all."
Cash was seen filming an April 23 Beaumont Kelly Catholic-Houston St. Thomas Catholic district game without the consent of the schools, in violation of TAPPS athletics bylaws section 138, according to a TAPPS official.
Cash said he was not aware of the rule he violated.
According to Cash, he went to St. Thomas on a weekend to scout St. Thomas. Cash charted the game for six innings but never had a phone out or anything. Cash noticed the pitcher in the game had a unique finish to his delivery.
At the time, St. Thomas was warming up a new pitcher. Cash said he took just 30 seconds of video of warm-up pitches.
Following the game, St. Thomas officials approached Cash. He told them he wasn't aware of the rule. Cash said he didn't try to hide the video and later deleted it..
TAPPS was informed of the rules violation, and Cash was suspended for Tuesday's game against St. Thomas and Wednesday's against Beaumont Kelly Catholic.
"I honestly did not know the rule," Cash said. "It was one of the lowest points of my life to not to be able to coach my son (Ryan Cash) in his last game. It was tough, but a rule is a rule. But the intent was not there to cheat."