Father of baseball player arrested for punching 63-year-old umpire, sheriff says

[sarisataka]

Father of baseball player arrested for punching 63-year-old umpire, sheriff says

A father has been charged after punching a 63-year-old umpire during a high school baseball game in central Florida, authorities said.

During a game on April 18 at Liberty High School in Kissimmee, the father of a player approached the umpire -- a disabled veteran -- and "knocked him out" after an argument between the official and a player, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said at a news conference Wednesday.

The sucker punch and the umpire's fall were recorded by surveillance video released by the sheriff's office. People quickly rush to the spot, with one upset player throwing his helmet as the alleged attacker walks away, it shows.

Jorge Aponte Gonzalez, 41, faces charges of battery on a sports official and disruption of a school function, a sheriff's office arrest warrant shows.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/us/florida-liberty-high-school-umpire-punched/index.html

Some days I miss being able to officiate youth sports; other days I am glad to not take the risk.

[canuckledragger]

1. These cowards are always tough guys against those that can't easily fight back.

May the coward get everything he's earned through his actions.

[onethatcares]

2. wondering if the perp

had his son in youth sports to instill a sense of sportsmanship.......

This country has lost its' way..

[Goodheart]

3. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[marble falls]

4. Where's the agravated assault charges??? One of the more cowardly things I've ever seen.

[Celerity]

5. I knew it was Florida before I even clicked

[MineralMan]

6. I hope they throw the book at him!

I think about 6-9 months in the county pokey would give him some time to think about his reaction.

[jimfields33]

8. I think that's not enough time for Jorge Gonzales. A few years for assault is appropriate.

[MineralMan]

9. No, that won't happen.

Realistic expectations are a good thing.

[jpak]

7. Hope the son and the father get banned

That should teach em and their fellow assholes.

Yup

[gratuitous]

10. Jeez

I took grief from the fans when I umpired, but that goes with donning the tools of ignorance. But nobody out of the stands ever approached me. I'd like to think that someone would have warned me before some violent hothead got within sucker punching range.

[lpbk2713]

11. I see a few sessions of anger management in Gonzalez's future.

And if the judge is not in a good mood he might be a guest of the county for a while.

[Chainfire]

12. It is all about learning sportsmanship.