Former Astros player acquitted on assault charge

(8/29/07 - HOUSTON) -- A former major league player was acquitted Tuesday of hitting a youth baseball coach during a fight at a Little League championship game in October 2006.

After a two-day trial, a jury found Charlie Hayes not guilty of misdemeanor assault in the incident. Hayes said he acted only after a racial epithet was used by Darrell Johnson, who has denied that claim.

The fight occurred after a heated exchange between the two men during the Oct. 22, 2006, championship game at Baseball U.S.A. Hayes was manager of the White Sox and Johnson was the coach of the Avengers.

Hayes played 14 seasons as a third baseman for seven teams, including the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. He faced up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if convicted.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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