/Ugly softball incident in Laurel is a sign of the times

Ugly softball incident in Laurel is a sign of the times

It doesn’t matter what the score is. It will be forgotten within days, if it is not already. Those who were present at the scene will never forget what happened. Eyewitnesses have reported that Kiara Thomas, the mother to one of the Hattiesburg-based players, repeatedly criticized the umpires and used vulgar language during the game. She was told to stop. She did not. Finally, she was asked to leave. However, she did not leave the stands before threatening Ellisville umpire Kristi Moore with a vulgar threat. Thomas appears to have never left the softball complex. The game was over. Moore was out of the game when Thomas approached her. “You got something you want to say to me, b Thomas said. Thomas then slugged her with “a sucker punch,” according to several witnesses. Thomas left wearing a T shirt that read “Mother of The Year” and then returned to her car. A witness then followed Thomas and took a cellphone picture of her license plate, which she then called Laurel police. Thomas was arrested shortly after being stopped. Thomas was arrested and charged with misdemeanor basic assault. She was bonded at $425.25. A May 18th court date has been established. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. Moore is currently suffering from a black eye, a severe concussion and nerve damage, according to her doctor, and a bruised right eardrum. Moore was the official umpire in chief of the USFA statewide. She took over the officiating duties Saturday night when another umpire fell ill and couldn’t. This isn’t an isolated incident. Youth league umpires as well as high school referees and officials are more frequently the victims of verbal and sometimes even physical abuses. Moore, who assigns umpires to tournaments throughout the state, claims there is a shortage in umpires for travel leagues and recreation leagues due to the majority of verbal abuses from parents, mostly. Robert Holloway coordinates umpires at the Mississippi High Schools Activities Association. He says that games have been delayed or even cancelled due to a shortage of umpires. Holloway stated that they have had to change playing times and sometimes not play the games as they don’t have anyone to call them. Holloway said that umpires are leaving and that few people want to replace them. He blames fan abuse for the lack of umpires. Holloway stated that Mississippi needs legislation with teeth to protect officials. Holloway stated that such legislation was introduced during this legislative session, but it was rejected by committee. Moore, who is the program director of Laurel’s AmeriCorps said Tuesday that she started umpiring because her stepdaughter was a player and “because it’s something I love.” She has had to rethink her future as a softball umpire. She said via phone from Laurel, “That’s something that I have to decide.” “I cannot say what I will do at the moment, but it is definitely on my mind. I am single mother raising two children. They both broke down when I returned home on Saturday night. It’s hard to believe, but I have to think about it. Moore cancelled rec league umpiring for two nights this week. Andrea Russell, an umpire, was there to witness the event. Although she wasn’t calling the game, Russell said that she was there to observe Moore in “the hope of learning something.” Russell stated that she is the best. “Kristi made a good decision and managed herself well in the circumstances.” “She didn’t deserve what happened to him in the slightest.” Kristi Moore and Kiara Thomas have become well-known through social media. Moore stated that she has received support messages from countries as far as Canada, Australia, and Nigeria. Thomas was not able to be reached. She did not sound repentant in a vague Facebook post that she later removed. She wrote in all caps: “I don’t play that respectful s— and I won’t let you make it once that line is crossed.” I will never be an example to anyone. I’m so embarrassed by a misdemeanor, that I can’t even remember what it was.