A Coach’s Unlikely Heroics
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Kevin Lomon, now a high school baseball coach in Oklahoma, found himself at the center of a sudden violence during a team trip in August. The squad was staying at a hotel in Shawnee when a player reported a man brandishing a knife in the hallway.
Lomon, who had previously pitched for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, immediately responded to the warning, confronting the assailant as the hallway lights flickered with tension.
The Night of the Attack
The attacker, later identified as Christopher Stevens, advanced toward Lomon with a knife in hand. Without hesitation, Lomon launched a series of punches, subduing the aggressor until police arrived on the scene.
When officers entered the room, they discovered two knives hidden in the attacker’s belongings and arrested him on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and public intoxication. No injuries were reported among the players or staff.
Career and Aftermath
Lomon’s brief MLB career spanned parts of the 1995 season with the Mets, where he posted a 6.75 ERA over nine and one‑third innings, and a later stint with the Braves, compiling a career ERA of 5.94 across 16 and two‑thirds innings. The incident marked his first recorded save in any capacity.
Following the confrontation, Lomon retained legal counsel as a precautionary measure. While the episode has drawn attention, he remains focused on his coaching duties and the safety of his students.