NY softball player's death ruled a homicide

A softball player who died after being punched in the back of the head by a rival team member was a victim of homicide, a pathologist ruled Thursday.

A grand jury will probably decide within the next two weeks whether to indict Sean Sanders, 27, on murder charges in the death of Daniel Andrews, 36, prosecutor Paul Dontenville said.

Witnesses said Sanders punched Andrews, a father of three and a champion bowler, from behind at the end of a recreational league game in a Rochester suburb. Andrews died Monday evening.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was head and neck injuries, the Monroe County medical examiner's office said.

According to court documents, Andrews was in a minor fight with members of the opposing team. He was punched after the men separated and the teams were shaking hands.

Sanders was charged with second-degree assault and is being held without bail.

He once served four years in prison after pleading guilty to battering a man with a golf club. He claimed he was intoxicated and was helping a friend who was being attacked.

His attorney, John Bradley, said the altercation that preceded the fatal injury was still being investigated.

"It was certainly not anything that was expected or foreseen," Bradley said. "Obviously it was an altercation, some blows were thrown by both teams, both people."

Sanders' pregnant girlfriend, Samantha Prince, 22, has said "he did nothing but defend himself. It was a baseball brawl."

Terra/AP