Umpire's Resource Center - Umpire vehemently denies he swore at player

Umpire vehemently denies he swore at player

You Need ABUA Insurance - Join Today!

The first-base coach of the Kingston Thunder house league baseball team whose player is accused of attacking an umpire last week claims the umpire swore at the player before the alleged attack, a charge fiercely denied by the umpire.

Don Butler, who said he was standing no more than two metres from the incident last Tuesday at Woodbine Park, believes the actions of the 16-year-old umpire after a disputed call at first base fuelled the anger of Thunder player Kyle Pyke, 19.

Pyke threw his helmet to the ground after he was ruled out.

"(The umpire said), 'Get the (expletive) off my diamond, you're out of here,' " Butler, 42, said.

"(Pyke) turned around and said, 'What the (expletive) did you say to me,' and the umpire said, 'Get off my diamond (expletive).' "

Butler then said that Pyke punched umpire Brandon Cross in the head.

Cross, who was punched twice according to the police reports, said he never swore at the player.

"There is no truth to that at all," Cross said. "I did not do that."

Pyke was charged with assault. He is scheduled to return to court July 21.

The visiting Prince Edward County Lynx, based in Wellington, had a big lead on Kingston when the incident occurred in the final inning of the game. Pyke was ruled to have been tagged out while running to first base.

Lynx coach John Allison was not at the game.

"The bottom line is, whatever the umpire said, it does not allow someone to attack the umpire," said Allison.

Butler agrees. He also agrees with the indefinite suspension handed to Pyke Friday by Kingston Thunder Baseball.

However, he feels strongly that Cross used the wrong choice of words when dealing with the incident.

"I believe that if he had not sworn at him, this would not have happened," he said. "A 19-year-old is not going to take somebody younger swearing at him.

"I believe the official abused his powers."

Butler said he has talked to Pyke recently and said the player is "very, very remorseful."

Nonetheless, the Thunder served Pyke with his suspension notice in writing immediately after the board gathered for an emergency meeting Friday.

"The player is suspended from Thunder indefinitely with the right to appeal," Thunder president Carol Steele said.

"The player can't participate in a game or coach or take part in any activity with the Thunder at this time."

Steele said the organization consulted with Baseball Ontario and Baseball Canada before its meeting.

"Baseball Ontario has a code of conduct that's under Baseball Canada (regulations)," Steele said. "We are just following precedent. We've researched and asked what the precedent was and this is the precedent."

If the player wants to appeal the decision, an independent official from the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association or Baseball Ontario will be brought in, Steele said.

Thunder vice president Don Parkinson, who is in charge of house league for the organization, plans to meet with the rest of the Thunder junior team.

"It's just basically to go over that the team isn't to be held responsible for the (alleged) actions of one individual," Parkinson said. "It's also a chance (to stress) that this sort of action isn't acceptable in the future."

Posted on Tuesday, June 30 @ 11:40:32 EDT by jasonk