NCAA suspends Nevada baseball coach for one game

Monday, March 18, 2002 | 8:37 a.m.

RENO, Nev. AP) - The NCAA suspended Nevada baseball coach Gary Powers for one game and fined the athletic department $2,500 Monday for allowing three players to compete in an off-season scrimmage last fall.

Powers earlier reported the infraction to the NCAA and the three Wolf Pack players sat out a one-game suspension the first game of this season at Pepperdine.

The players, Mike Gillies, Josh Laidlaw and Craig Markel, were eligible to practice in the off-season but violated NCAA rules when they played against outside competition in a scrimmage with an area amateur team, the Reno Astros, school officials said in a statement Monday.

Nevada Athletic Director Chris Ault said Powers would serve the suspension Tuesday when Nevada (10 (11)- hosts Pacific.

"I made a mistake and accept responsibility for these actions," Powers said in a statement.

"It was an oversight on my part and I feel horrible for what has come about because of my error," he said.

Powers, in his 20th season as head coach of the Wolf Pack, has an all-time record of 597-440 and hasn't had a losing season since 1991.

School officials said they were notified of the fine and suspension on Monday.

"We followed our institutional procedures and will accommodate the NCAA with its penalties," said Dr. Chris Exline, the school's faculty athletic representative.