Little League Umpire Beats Up Coach During Game

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KTLA - Parents and children were stunned after a violent brawl broke out between an umpire and a coach during a youth baseball game in Rosemead. …

Witnesses said the assistant coach had approached the umpire multiple times, visibly upset about a call in a previous play. When the umpire ejected him from the game, the coach reportedly spat in the umpire’s face and yelled, “You’re a fing little b*!”

The umpire dragged the coach to the ground and attempted to kick him before both men attacked each other as they scuffled on the ground. Bystanders ran over to break up the fight as stunned children and parents looked on.

“When you feel threatened, instincts just come into play,” said Don De Grazia, a man who spoke on behalf of the umpire. “He’s an exceptional young man. He served in the military. He’s a professional athlete himself.”

The youth baseball organizer, Herman Baca, released a statement saying, “Unfortunately, an umpire and coach fought during a game this past Sunday. Both parties were removed from the game and local enforcement arrived to handle this matter. …

[S]portsmanship is key and should always be passed along through generations and followed.”

“I think it’s unacceptable that he was doing that in front of little kids, 12-year-olds,” said Alejandro Alfaro, a resident who saw video of the brawl.

“I feel like, just every adult, in general, you’re taking care of a team,” another neighbor said. “You should be a leader, an example.”

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