Softball in Benton, Arkansas, turned into a stoppage when a foul-ball call led to shoves between a coach and the first base umpire during the USSSA Wood Grill Buffet/Everett Classic. Arkansas Pride 12 was ahead of Tulsa Elite NEA 7-2 in the top of the fourth when the confrontation broke out.
On a 3-2 pitch, an Arkansas Pride hitter sent a ball down the first base line and the umpire immediately ruled it foul. The Pride coach argued the call after speaking with the home plate umpire, then came face-to-face with the first base umpire as shoves were exchanged.
USSSA Wood Grill Buffet/Everett Classic
Tulsa Elite’s coaching staff said its team was sent to the dugout and stayed there until the situation was resolved. The staff also said no players were running around the field, and that all parents stayed on the sidelines except for one person who tried to separate those involved.
That sequence matters because the dispute did not stay in the category of a loud argument. The moment the umpire and coach moved chest-to-chest, the game stopped being about a ruling on the line and became a discipline issue for the tournament officials watching it unfold.
Tulsa Elite coaching staff
In a statement posted to the team’s Facebook account, the coaching staff said, “Our team was immediately sent to the dugout and remained there until everything was resolved. At no time did we have players running around the field. Additionally, all of our parents remained on the sidelines except for one individual, who was assisting in preventing further escalation and attempting to separate those involved,” and later added, “This type of behavior is unfortunate for our sport, and we are not here to take sides or place blame. The video speaks for itself.”
The staff also said, “When we were informed that our parents would have to leave, I made the decision to forfeit the game and remove our team from that environment. My responsibility is to the safety and well-being of our players, and I felt that was the best decision at that time.” Tulsa Elite NEA left Benton with a forfeit on the record, while Arkansas Pride 12 walked away from a game that had been shaped by the 7-2 score and the fourth-inning call before the altercation.
Office of Arkansas USSSA Fastpitch
The Office of Arkansas USSSA Fastpitch said, “The Office of Arkansas USSSA Fastpitch takes this matter very seriously. We are unwavering in our priority to deliver world-class events that maintain a safe environment for all. We are currently conducting a thorough investigation of the incident. We will offer no further comment at this time,” and it has not said what discipline, if any, will follow.
Joe Kinsey, Senior Director of Content of OutKick, was identified in connection with the account, and the central dispute remains the foul call that started the confrontation. Whether that first base ruling was correct is not answered in the material, but the fallout already is: one team forfeited, the state organization opened an investigation, and the scene at the Everett Classic in Benton is now part of the tournament’s record.
