Indiana’s second baseman Tyler Cerny missed last night’s regional championship game against the University of Kentucky after the NCAA issued a violation for celebrating a home run with a prop on Saturday. 

Tyler Cerny was not only ejected from the game on Saturday but was also suspended for Sunday’s game due to the NCAA’s rules on celebrations.

Tyler Cerny suspended for violating NCAA celebration rules

Cerny brought a prop onto the field to celebrate his teammate Peter Serruto hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning during the Hoosiers 5-3 win over Kentucky on Saturday. 

When Hoosiers players came out to greet Serruto at home plate, Cerny broke out the team’s “Crimson Chain” to put around Serruto’s neck after his massive home run that ultimately won Indiana the game.

Tyler Cerny Ejected & Suspended for Home Run Celebration

Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to do that because the NCAA has ridiculous rules against such behavior. 

Per the NCAA rules, “After a home run, scoring play or at the end of an inning, teams shall not bring celebratory props onto the field of play. Any such props must remain in the dugout.”

What makes it even more ridiculous is that if Cerny simply waited for Surruto to return to the dugout, there would have been zero issues. The only reason he was ejected and then suspended for the next game is because he brought the Crimson Chain onto the field. 

The result was an ejection on Saturday and a suspension on Sunday. Entering Sunday, Cerny was batting .276 with a .350 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage. He is tied for second among Hoosiers with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases, and he’s sixth on the team with 43 RBI.

So sure, let’s eject and suspend him from the NCAA Tournament. Seems like the right move.

Yes, I’m fully aware that the NCAA put rules in place to limit celebrations at the start of their baseball season and there are a ton of people online right now saying that Cerny should have known better but honestly that’s a really stupid way of looking at this. 

This is just another example on how out of touch the NCAA can be with their rules.

No one gives a shit if Tyler Cerny brought out a chain while celebrating a three-run home run. I’m not sure what the NCAA thinks they are protecting by ejecting and suspending him for a game but every time something like this happens, they are the only people getting criticized. 

Let these college athletes celebrate home runs and have fun while playing sports.

Time and time again, you hear about how baseball needs to grow the game and appeal better to a younger generation and the second that we get a glimpse of what the sport could be with celebrations and everyone having fun, it’s immediately shut down by the NCAA. 

How does that make sense? 

Kentucky managed to avoid being eliminated yesterday with an 11-6 victory over Indiana and I doubt that Cerny would have been a difference maker, but the rule still stinks and the NCAA is still lame. Indiana and Kentucky will play again on Monday night to determine which team advances to the Super Regionals.

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