buttheads like this make me want the death penalty.

By RAMESH SANTANAM, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 20 minutes ago

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - A youth baseball coach on Thursday was ordered to stand trial for allegedly paying one of his players $25 to hurt a 9-year-old mentally disabled teammate.
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Eight-year-old Keith Reese testified at a preliminary hearing that Mark R. Downs Jr. made the offer before a playoff game June 27.

"He told me if I would hit (the teammate) in the face, he would pay me $25," Reese said.

Reese warmed up before the game with his mentally disabled teammate, Harry Bowers. His first toss hit Bowers in the groin area. As Reese walked away, he said his coach told him to "go out there and hit him harder."

"So I went out and hit him in the ear," Reese said.

The 27-year-old Downs will be arraigned Sept. 15 on two counts of criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault and one count each of corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy and recklessly endangering another person.

Downs' attorney, Thomas W. Shaffer, on Thursday again denied the allegations.

Reese's father, Keith Reese Sr., also testified Thursday. He said Downs admitted after the game to offering his son money to hurt the other boy.

The team was part of the R.W. Clark Youth Baseball League, which ended its T-ball season earlier this month.

League organizers have said Downs won't be allowed to coach again if he is convicted of criminal charges.