Derek Bryant. (Morgan County Sheriff)
Don’t drink and call strikes. Leave that to the fans. An umpire was arrested and charged with public intoxication at a junior high school baseball game in Alabama.
Derek Bryant was arrested after having officiated the full game while inebriated, according to police in Priceville. The cops were called when coaches said they smelled alcohol on Bryant.
Bryant had called games for a number of hours that day and he admitted to police that he had been drinking, WAAY reported. Bryant also said that he had come off a shift for Huntsville Emergency Medical Services earlier, according to the station.
A witness involved with the team told Fox News: “I kind of had an idea from the first meeting at first plate. There was no question.” He went on to say that no calls were inaccurate but, “the calls got slower during the game.”
The umpire is not affiliated with the high school or the school district in any way and is a member of the Greater Huntsville Umpire Association. Bill Hopkins, Superintendent of the Morgan County school district tells WHNT, “They assign individuals to the game. We have no knowledge of who the individuals are until they arrive. And typically we don’t even know names. They’re given umpire numbers.”
Priceville Junior High lost the game to East Limestone 10-2.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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