Oddity

Umpires with some serious power

Don't know if anyone saw this: Umpire ejects crowd

I've been to a few games that probably should have had this happen.

Re: Umpires with some serious power

Interesting... I'd like more info

Re: Umpires with some serious power

I've ejected fans before when I umped Little League. Never all of them though.

Umpires with some serious power

Umpire ejects entire crowd from game
By Matt Levins
The Hawk Eye



It isn't uncommon for a coach to be ejected from a high school baseball game from time to time.

But what transpired Thursday night at Falcon Field in West Burlington will be talked about for years to come.

West Burlington trailed Winfield-Mount Union 11-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Falcons rallied to within 11-9 when controversy struck.

A close call at home plate prompted W-MU coach Scott McCarty to come out of the dugout to argue the play with home plate umpire Don Briggs.

West Burlington coach Jeff Housel, not knowing time had been called, sent Caleb McDowell from third to home.

Briggs sent McDowell back to third, prompting Housel to come out and argue the play.

After both coaches were warned by Briggs, the crowd also drew a warning.

When a fan yelled from the crowd, Briggs ejected the entire crowd from the game.

Briggs then called West Burlington police, while West Burlington High School secretary Mary Storch, who witnessed the episode, called superintendent James Sleister, who came over to the field.

After discussing it with Briggs and base umpire Kevin Youngmeyer and both coaches, it was agreed that the fans would be allowed back into the game, with the understanding that anyone making a negative comment toward the officials would be ejected from the premises and could be charged with disorderly conduct.

''Everything seemed to be pretty much under control when I got here," Sleister said.

''(Briggs) ordered everyone out of here," Storch said. "Nobody was obeying him, so I thought I had better call Jim."

The final two innings were played without further incident, although under the watchful eyes of two West Burlington police officers and Sleister.

West Burlington won the game 12-11 when Dustin Guihan stole home in the bottom of the seventh.

Briggs and Youngmeyer were escorted from the field after the game by West Burlington police without incident.

Umpires with some serious power

Yeah funny incident. It was posted the other day though.


EDIT: dammit i merged the topics the wrong way and it kept the new title. oh well

Re: Umpires with some serious power


The final two innings were played without further incident, although under the watchful eyes of two Springfield police officers and [Superintendent] Chalmers.

Must be a small-town thing.