Sheriff’s deputy fired after video shows brutal brawl with umpire at little league baseball game
It’s not uncommon to see flights and brawls break out in the world of sports.
However, it is not expected to occur in a little league baseball tournament.
But, unfortunately, that is exactly what happened over the weekend, when a baseball tournament in Starkville, Mississippi took an ugly turn as a coach started a fistfight with an umpire.
Darrell Holley, a police lieutenant with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office and a coach of the Starkville U14 team, got into a brawl with umpire Jeff Akins.
Video of the brawl, posted to X, showed Holley appearing to elbow Akins near the pitchers mound.
Akins retaliated with a push before the two began punching each other. Holley’s son also got involved in the fight, according to Commercial Dispatch.
Holley’s son allegedly punched the umpire in the back of the head twice, and knocked him to the ground.
Per reports, Holley’s son began repeatedly hitting Akins before a crowd of officials ran in to break up the fight.
Both Holley and Akins were arrested and charged with fighting not in self defense, with the coach swiftly being terminated from his role within the Sheriff’s office.
“Regardless of the circumstances, the (Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office) will not tolerate this type of behaviour,” the press release said.
“A baseball field is supposed to be a place of fun and family; fighting has no place there.”
Grand Slam tournament Director Mike Narmour, who was not at the tournament when the fight occurred, was not sure as to why the fight happened.
“Grand Slam Mississippi is sickened and devastated by these types of events, and there is no place for this whatsoever in youth sports or adult sports,” Narmour told The Dispitch.
“There’s blame for the umpire, there’s big time blame for the coach and the (involved) kids of that team.
“There’s no right for that and there’s no place for that in front of those kids.
Narmour also said that everyone involved in the altercation will be banned from all Grand Slam tournaments, and harsh measures will be implemented to prevent future incidents.
Mayor Lynn Spruill also commented on the violence displayed at the city-owned park.
“To say this least, I’m very disappointed in the behavior of all parties,” Spruill also told The Dispatch.
“This is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be an altercation opportunity between coaches and parents, and so that behavior was well outside the bounds of what we expect from our adult community.”
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