Plant will be without senior pitcher

When Plant opens Class 5A-10 district tournament play Tuesday, the top-seeded Panthers will be without senior pitcher David Bergin, who has left the team for personal reasons, his mother confirmed Monday.

Bergin spent most of the season as the Panthers' No. 1 starter. He was 6-2 with a 2.30 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings (To see Bergin's complete stats, click here). Along with junior Mychal Givens, they combined to give Plant one of the best 1-2 starting pitcher combos in the county.

Plant coach Dennis Braun would not discuss Bergin's status Monday afternoon.

"I don't want to comment on that right now," he said.

Plant athletic director Laura Figueredo did not return multiple messages left by the Times.

Nationally-ranked Plant (21-3) will play the winner of today’s play-in game between Robinson and Blake tomorrow in the district quarterfinals at 7:30 at Chamberlain.

Bergin has earned a scholarship to Georgia Southern. He one of seven Plant players who will play college baseball next season.

-EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Comments

[Mrs. Esterhaus]

Ouch, that hurts.

Doesn't Plant usually wait until districts before the wheels come off?

[baseballsupporter]

Had to of gotten in some type of trouble.

[Don]

Let the kid have his space and figure out whatever his isssue is. We hear so often of the pressure teenagers must deal with on a daily basis. I hope his family,friends and teammates rally around this young man with sincere support.

[Baseball Fan]

Yes, the teammates will rally around a young man who let them down by quitting. Great idea.

[The Grapevine]

What a bunch of posers

[mike]

no, you guys are all wrong, i am personally close w/ bergin and the entire plant high family.. i can say that this wasnt unexpected, and i am here to say i am surprised he didnt leave earlier and more people havent left, there are many internal problems with the coach and player relationship, coach braun hasnt been likes since he came to plant, and not just with the baseball team, people who have his class also dont like him, everyone who jus reads the paper and goes to games dont see things like this

[Plant Panthers]

Basically a quitter.

Posted by Plant Panthers, Tampa on 04/11 at 07:05 PM

The reason Bergin was playing on the Juice while his coach and teammates were playing on a different team was because his family was aggressively trying to get Coach Braun fired. Why you ask? The age old weak player thinking he is not getting enough play time. What he should have done is work harder on his game and earn more playing time. Many of his teammates went to the coach’s defense and they were not all starters and/or full time players. The fact Braun plays him at all shows he is the bigger person. I am sure that also did not help Bergin with his teammates either. Only nice guy on the field for Plant, I don’t think so. While there have been some really harsh things said, David, you reap what you sow.

Weak player? He's good enough to play at the next level. Maybe the coach is an egotistical jerk? It does happen you know.

Just another example of a spoiled kid and his parents not getting what they want so they quit and go home. What a loser! Being a starting hurler on a nationally ranked team isn't good enough. The coach actually had the audacity to raise his voice to the player about team play so he cries to mommy and daddy and they allow him to quit. I've known David since he got to Plant and no one who knows him is surprised by this behavior. He is a crying momma's boy! Maybe he can go back to threatening to beat up girls again.

I, also, have heard the Bergens have been trying to get the coach fired because he doesn't let David run the team or do what he wants, when he wants. Just another super spoiled cry-baby who ruins it for those hard working Panthers who DO possess some work ethic, maturity, and integrity. Let's see how long he lasts in college away from mommy and daddy. Two years would be a miracle!

Way to place yourself over the team, "Baby Bergen"!

Who needs a state championship when you can cry into your pillow about how your coach is a big "meanie"!

Thanks for being a good team-mate!

This young man's parents should be embarrassed and horrified not enabling this selfish and deplorable behavior. But, when you allow it from an early age this is what you get. A player who quits right before the playoffs is just a whiny little punk. I hope the panthers win States this year and rub it in his snotty little nose! Go try to beat up some more girls, wuss!

I hope Georgia Southern sees what kind of child they signed. What a joke this immature clown is!

[J Canseco]

The "Juice". What a perfect name for a baseball team in this day and age.

He should have moved to another school district if he hated the coach so much.

[know kname]

you know the coach failed the boy, his job is to coach and treat these kids like what they are, kids not college players. Braun has probably the best assembled team in the state, but where does he guide it? How does he motovate, he doesen't. Does he play his favorites to the detriment of the team, no doubt! Maybe Bergan is a man and didn't want to put up with the BS. Why does he run up the score,to pad the stats! something ain't right here!
He runs off kids to other school, for our benefit,though!Others need to know where the real problem lies. Run off a kid, make him quit or be a real coach, counsel, advise and lead by example, give guidence and direction, Plants, principal and AD have failed this boy.
A RHS parent HHS parent a JHS, we all speak as one now. Plant parents take notice, see what we see