Umpire Takes Charge (got to be one for the record books)

[GSB]

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa - An umpire emptied the stands at a high school baseball game, ejecting the entire crowd of more than 100 fans for being unruly.

Umpire Don Briggs said he had no problem with any of the student athletes during Thursday's game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington.

He said he had to take action because fans were being unruly, yelling and arguing.

However, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister said he didn't see any unusual behavior and said he thought the umpire overreacted.

The game resumed after a 40-minute delay. West Burlington won 12-11.

The umpire called police as a precaution. West Burlington police officer Al Waterman says there were no arrests.

[wadeintothem]

Thats what I'm talkin about.

[Sam]

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa - An umpire emptied the stands at a high school baseball game, ejecting the entire crowd of more than 100 fans for being unruly.

Umpire Don Briggs said he had no problem with any of the student athletes during Thursday's game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington.

He said he had to take action because fans were being unruly, yelling and arguing.

However, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister said he didn't see any unusual behavior and said he thought the umpire overreacted.

The game resumed after a 40-minute delay. West Burlington won 12-11.

The umpire called police as a precaution. West Burlington police officer Al Waterman says there were no arrests.

Interesting....considering he has no authority to eject anyone in the stands.

[coachEd]

I have actually seen something like this before. Way back in 1978 or 1979 when I was in HS, the refs cleared out the entire gym during one of our basketball games. The game was getting ugly between the players (lots of pushing and shoving, hard fouls, verbal confrontations) and the fans started throwing stuff on the court, yelling at the refs, etc. So the refs cleared out the entire gym before they would let the game go on. After that, it was like playing a scrimmage game with nobody there to watch.

[wadeintothem]

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa - An umpire emptied the stands at a high school baseball game, ejecting the entire crowd of more than 100 fans for being unruly.

Umpire Don Briggs said he had no problem with any of the student athletes during Thursday's game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington.

He said he had to take action because fans were being unruly, yelling and arguing.

However, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister said he didn't see any unusual behavior and said he thought the umpire overreacted.

The game resumed after a 40-minute delay. West Burlington won 12-11.

The umpire called police as a precaution. West Burlington police officer Al Waterman says there were no arrests.

Interesting....considering he has no authority to eject anyone in the stands.

obviously....

He did.

[Sam]

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa - An umpire emptied the stands at a high school baseball game, ejecting the entire crowd of more than 100 fans for being unruly.

Umpire Don Briggs said he had no problem with any of the student athletes during Thursday's game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington.

He said he had to take action because fans were being unruly, yelling and arguing.

However, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister said he didn't see any unusual behavior and said he thought the umpire overreacted.

The game resumed after a 40-minute delay. West Burlington won 12-11.

The umpire called police as a precaution. West Burlington police officer Al Waterman says there were no arrests.

Interesting....considering he has no authority to eject anyone in the stands.

obviously....

He did.

...they perceived that he did....but that doesn't change the fact that he didn't.

[wadeintothem]

Perception is usually enough

[NoTimeForChores]

Perception is usually enough

Is there anything in the rule books that says an umpire can't eject the crowd? If not, I believe they can. They are responsible for the safe play and safe progression of the game. If a crowd is getting unruly are they just to sit back and let it become a full blown riot?

[GIMNEPIWO]

Perception is usually enough

Is there anything in the rule books that says an umpire can't eject the crowd? If not, I believe they can. They are responsible for the safe play and safe progression of the game. If a crowd is getting unruly are they just to sit back and let it become a full blown riot?

They go to the manager and tell him to control his fans or HE will be ejected.

Our 'local' SOP for HS is to tell the Home Manager to tell his AD to control the crowd, if he can't, game over, forfeit.

[greenandblue]

From a HS Baseball UIC, I remember him saying that it was an umpires' responsibility to make sure that "nothing interferes with the integrity of the game", (to paraphrase him), and that he made sure that his crews enforced this rule that was written in their rule books.