Let's hope this story doesn't inspire another awful Hollywood vampire plot.
Four New Jersey high school baseball ballplayers have been suspended for a hazing ritual two weeks ago that involved pinning a junior varsity schoolmate down and biting him until they broke the skin, sources told the Times of Trenton.
Until further notice, the Florence (N.J.) High foursome will not be allowed to take the field for a Flashes team that has started the season 3-0. The alleged hazing incident, dubbed by one Times source as "a ritual that has gone on for years," is under investigation by Florence Township School District officials.
“The players have not been with the team since they were pulled when the incident was reported,” FTSD Superintendent Donna Ambrosius told the paper. “We'd like to try and get the team back together and move forward, but only if we know the students are safe.”
Florence head baseball skipper Joseph Frappoli Jr. faces "possible" disciplinary action but will continue to coach the team during the investigation, according to the report.
“We played a great game despite all the garbage,” Frappolli told the Times after his depleted team's 9-7 victory against rival Pennsauken (N.J.) High on Tuesday. “Every time there’s an incident there are a thousand stories out there. It’s tough enough to come down here and win a rivalry game like this one without the other stuff going on. We are trying to move forward and win some games.”
While the superintendent did not disclose any of the names involved in the incident or exactly how many junior varsity players were involved, there is one positive in all of this: A friend of the victim reported the hazing issue to the proper authorities, the Times said.
Perhaps some progress is being made on the recent bullying epidemic. Now if only Hollywood can put an end to this tired teen vampire awfulness.
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