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A youth baseball game in Massachusetts came to a dramatic halt when shocking scenes unfolded on the field this week.
Two Massachusetts youth teams, Milford Post 59 and East Springfield, faced off in the playoffs of American Legion Baseball - a variety of amateur baseball played by 13-to-19-year-olds - when the matchup descended into chaos Monday night.
The two teams were tied in the bottom of the fourth when a shocking brawl between spectators and players spilled onto the field from the stands.
Players from East Springfield were captured exchanging blows with fans, who had invaded the field in a tense standoff.
Milford fans near the East Springfield dugout were allegedly taunting the opposing players, which led to a challenge being issued, according to Tim Caouette, Milford TV's play-by-commentator.
'It was clear that with some of the taunting that was going on with the Milford fans, it was having some sort of impact on the players on the East Springfield side,' Caouette told Boston 25 News.
A youth baseball game in Massachusetts came to a dramatic halt when a brawl broke out
An individual in red shorts broke onto the field and started fighting one of the players
'Then, eventually, it was Milford fans that came out onto the field. It was right by the East Springfield dugout. So, there were definitely members of the East Springfield team involved. The Milford players, themselves, were separated on the other side of the field.'
The wild incident was caught on Milford TV's coverage of the game with the broadcast picking up expletive comments from the stands.
'You're an old ass woman, what the f*** you doing coming in the stands?', one fan could be overheard.
The umpire then turned toward the stands while play stopped, while a flurry of activity could be seen over on the third base side.
It was difficult to make out what was happening but 'come on this side' and a repeated 'Max' could be made out before an individual in red shorts broke out onto the field.
On East Springfield player made a motion to suggest he was ready to fight before an umpire and security grabbed the fan. A player then through multiple punches, appearing to connect at least once.
East Springfield coach Eduardo Colon claimed the fight broke out after a Milford fan 'shoved (a player's) mother to the side and took a swing at his father.' He also acknowledged that one of his players threw a punch.
'When the (fan) came around (the dugout), he swung at another parent that tried to stop him from coming, and he was just going swinging,' Colon told the Boston Globe. 'So the kid that had seen his parents getting pushed and swung at, you know, swung back.'
Umpires and members of security swiftly intervened to break up the tense scenes
The incident occurred during a game between Milford Post 59 and East Springfield at Fino Field
Members of the Milford Post 59 American Legion team are pictured at the weekend
Umpires and coaching staff swiftly intervened to break up the shocking dispute and attempt to diffuse the tension. Players from both sides were then ordered to leave the field and remain in their dugouts until police arrived.
Officers are said to have arrived on the scene shortly before 9:10pm and it was later decided that the game would be suspended and that play would not continue Monday night.
The matchup has since been rescheduled to resume 6pm Wednesday evening. Fans will be welcomed back but a heightened police presence, including the chief, will be in place.
Milford police have opened an investigation into the brawl and officials have said that assault charges could be brought against certain individuals, according to NBC Boston. DailyMail.com has contacted Milford Police Department for comment.
