A Florida man has been arrested after he sucker punched an umpire after a game.
The 63-year-old umpire is a disabled Army veteran.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday it has arrested Jorge Aponte-Gonzalez, 41, and charged him with felony battery and disruption of a school function as a result of the April 18 incident at Liberty High School in Kissimmee.
Aponte-Gonzalez, who had a son playing in the game, became angry at how umpire Ray Mora talked to his son. He walked over to Mora between innings and sucker-punched him, knocking him out.
“One of the players started to verbally argue with the umpire, exchanging words. So the umpire is obviously going to maintain control of the game, because that’s what they are there to do – to make sure kids learn all about sportsmanlike conduct,” Sheriff Marco Lopez said during a press conference (via Fox News).
“As his back is turned … one of the high school students’ fathers that’s in the game, leaves the stands, walks directly toward the umpire and just knocks him out. Just knocks him out right there on the ground.”
“The kid was being disruptive, so the umpire’s like, ‘Hey, tone it down,’ maintaining control,” Lopez continued. “They went back and forth a little bit. I don’t know exactly what was exchanged, but … that is what upset the father.”
Mora, who has recovered, told Fox 35 Orlando he’s thankful he wasn’t seriously injured.
“That individual was not even facing me,” Mora said. “At least the people who I faced when I was in combat, I saw them. I saw them in the distance. I knew they were coming. I was not even prepared.”
Mora said some parents just take their enthusiasm much too far.
“It needs to stop because I just got hit,” Mora said. “Maybe tomorrow somebody gets killed, then what?”
[Fox35Orlando.com; Photo Credit: Fox 35 Orlando]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.