Xaverian baseball coach charged with assault after incident with player

WESTWOOD, Mass. — A baseball coach at a private school in Westwood has been suspended after an allegation of assault during a game.

Xaverian Brothers High School confirms Gerry Lambert, a teacher, and graduate of the school was involved in "a physical altercation" with a student-athlete.

Lambert has been charged with one count of assault and battery. The incident happened during a baseball game against St. John's Prep. A witness told Boston 25 News the student was arguing with the umpire and Lambert walked out, grabbed him by the neck and pulled him off the field.

"We do not condone aggressive behavior by any member of our school community," the school's headmaster, Daniel Skala, said in a statement.

Lambert has been placed on leave and the school says it is cooperating with authorities.

The victim is a 17-year-old and a junior at the school.

"Last night he was okay to the extent that we could see visibly, and by that I mean it wasn’t the type of case where we show up and someone has broken bone, thank god, or bleeding or a black eye, something that required medical attention," Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey Silva said. “It was an unconsented to touching, and therefore it's an assault and battery."

Police say they haven't seen any video of the incident. Lambert is charged with "simple assault," meaning he won't be arrested unless the assault is witnessed by a police officer.

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