Let me begin by saying I do not and have not ever since living in Lampasas written a letter to the editor of this publication. However, when an injustice is done to a young man of this community, I feel obliged to do so.

As you probably recall, week before last a young Detroit pitcher by the name of Armando Galarraga had pitched a perfect game, was in the ninth inning with two outs when a call was made by the umpire in error, and it cost young Galarraga a perfect game for the record books. Also, if you saw this footage, you saw Mr. Galarraga’s eyebrows raise with a shocked expression on his face. That was it!!! He did not yell and scream; he proceeded back to the pitcher’s mound and finished the job -- the reason being the umpire is in charge of the game, as any of us who have played baseball or softball are made aware up front and emphatically.

Just last week at a Little League game in Lampasas with seven- and eight-year-olds, this was not the case. An “out” was called at third base, not because the play was questionable but because the runner was totally out of the baseline to avoid a possible tag. This, too, most players and coaches learn early on is not allowed in any rule book.

The umpire in this case is a young Christian man recently graduated who has given up his time (and there has been a lot of it!) during this Little League season in order to serve the youth of this community. He has been fair, unbiased and is knowledgeable of the game and its rules, having played himself, I am told.

When the out at third base was called, the coach went ballistic, stomping and yelling and generally pitching what my Mom would have called a “hissie fit”! He proceeded to get up in the umpire’s face, yelled and screamed. The umpire kept his cool until he had had enough and told him, “You’re out of here!” Whereupon Mr. G advised him he was not “big enough to put him off the field,” then added “besides you forget, I pay your salary.”

If this was not enough, after the next play had started, this same coach dragged out his cell phone and evidently made a call to the president of the Little League. He came to the field, as did the second in command. Kids stood around big-eyed, wondering what was happening while the game wa held up another 20 minutes, and these two lectured or censured this young umpire. Let’s just say they did not stand behind him. What a fiasco and an embarrassment at a Little League game!

I’m 66 years ago, have played baseball and league softball as did my husband, my daughter and my grandchildren. Never have I seen anything like this involved in Little League sports.

Mr. and Mrs. Stoneham, you can be very proud of your son. His actions were what you would expect of someone who has been counseled at home and at church as to how people are to treat other people. Contrary to what you have been told, he did not yell and scream -- this just did not happen.

Treva Clark