Fight between the umpire and parents follows end of Buhach Colony-Del Campo playoff game
Related Update: Buhach Colony baseball playoffs postponed after umpire-fan fight stirs investigation
There was an ugly scene in the parking lot after the Del Campo-Buhach Colony high school baseball playoff game on Monday afternoon.
Video obtained by The Sacramento Bee shows what appears to be Buhach Colony parents confronting an umpire.
Del Campo defeated the Thunder 3-2 on the final play in the bottom of the seventh inning in the first of a best-of-three Division lll Sac-Joaquin Section playoff series in Carmichael.
“It’s an unfortunate situation that occurred away from the ball field,” said Buhach Colony athletic director Kevin Navarra. “Obviously it will be addressed and taken care of moving forward.”
Cougars coach Kevin Dawidczik told The Bee the incident made him “sick to his stomach.”
Dawidczik was born in Merced near Buhach Colony.
As soon as he saw the fight, he raced to the parking lot.
“I had a parent tell me umpires were getting attacked,” Dawidczik said. “I sprinted as fast as I could to get those umpires. I can’t believe that would ever occur at my facility.”
He added, “We need more coaches who understand umpires are there to help our kids. They are going to get calls wrong and right. We aren’t always going to agree with them. We have to support these guys. We have to.”
According to Navarra, no players or coaches were involved in the altercation after the game.
The winning run was scored on a close play at the plate on the final play of the bottom of the seventh inning. Buhach Colony coach Joe Medeiros argued the call by the umpire, but both teams shook hands after the game, according to Navarra.
“After an emotional, competitive game emotions were running very high,” Navarra said. “I commend the players and coaches for showing great sportsmanship.”
The Thunder (23-8) are set to host Del Campo (26-4) in the second game of the series on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
