FALMOUTH, Mass. -- A Cape Cod man appeared in court Monday in connection after police say a baseball rivalry turned violent following fireworks in Falmouth.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that police said that Robert Correia, 20, beat a man from Long Island with a baseball bat Saturday night because Correia thought he was a New York Yankees fan.

VIDEO: Man Charged In Beating Appears In Court

Correia was arraigned in Falmouth District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and malicious destruction to a motor vehicle.

"The defendant went into a nearby apartment, grabbed an aluminum baseball bat, came out of the apartment and then assaulted the victim in this case. He swung the baseball bat three times at the individual," prosecutor Guinevire Henrique said.

The incident happened on Worcester Court while several other people were yelling obscenities, police said.

Defense attorney Robert Knolan said that Correia was not part of the taunting and that he went to help a friend when he was approached by the New York man.

"The guy approached him and walked toward him. He said, 'Why don't you just get in your car and go away?' He said the guy continued toward him, was bigger than him, swung the bat at him and hit him in the arm. He said that he took the bat away and was jumped on by a number of people," Knolan said.

Correia's landlord went with him to his arraignment. He said that Correia is a good tenant who has never caused trouble.

"It was something that just escalated and got out of control. That is all he said," landlord William Blaisdell said.

A dangerousness hearing was scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

The victim was released from the hospital, where he was treated for bruises and possible internal injuries.