Kristi Moore, who has been a softball umpire in Mississippi for nearly a decade, recently posted a picture on Facebook of her bruised face after an irate parent made the decision to punch her following a 12-year-old softball game.
During the game, Moore allegedly heard one of the mothers cursing loudly, so she asked her to leave. The mother, reported to be Kiara Thomas of Laurel, refused. The cursing continued, and a coach finally was able to get Thomas to leave the stands. But instead of simply going home, Thomas allegedly waited in the parking lot for Moore.
That’s when the confrontation took place.
According to WLBT, Thomas punched Moore before quickly fleeing. She was soon thereafter arrested by Laurel police.
In Moore’s Facebook post, she explains that most parents — and fans for that matter — don’t know how hard it is to be an umpire.
“Before you post the next ‘funny’ meme about umpires that suck, or are blind, or have missed calls on their phone or whatever it is, before you post about how an umpire was so awful and terrible and lost the game for you…….why don’t you sign up? Get on out there and give it a go,” she wrote.
Thomas has been charged with a misdemeanor and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. She will also be banned from all recreational facilities in Laurel.
