A North Carolina Little League game descended into chaos on Monday after an “embarrassing” brawl between a coach and an umpire broke out in front of the young players.
According to the video, two adult men began fighting during a game between under-12 teams at the Wilson State Championship Tournament. Obtained by WRAL News.
The foul-mouthed video, recorded in the top of the fifth inning, shows the Cherryville team’s coach and the home plate umpire arguing on the field, with the coach yelling at the umpire.
The umpire, identified by WRAL as Robbie Beamon, can be heard telling the coach that he should be ejected from the game for using foul language.
According to the video, Beamon walked back toward home plate, but the coach followed him and shoved him.
The video shows Beamon repeatedly brandishing a metal and Styrofoam mask at the coach as a second official rushes in to try to separate the two.
Another Cherryville coach ran over and tried to stop the umpire’s swing, but all three backed away from the camera angle.
The referee and coach return to the camera frame to see the two men struggling on the ground as several men try to pull them apart.
Coaches, parents and players from Bull City’s opposing team were not involved in the brawl.
The brawl lasted just over a minute, and Wilson police were called to the scene after the altercation ended, according to the news station.
No charges have been filed, but both men have been suspended by the city. CBS 17 reported.
“We will never tolerate behavior like this,” Wilson Parks and Recreation Director David Lee said in a statement to the station. “There are so many people working hard to ensure our young people have a positive experience and it’s unfortunate and frankly embarrassing that two adults ruined that last night.”
Despite Monday’s dramatic interruption, the remaining games in the state tournament continued as scheduled.
