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The Florida High School Athletic Association is investigating a postgame confrontation between an umpire and fans last week following a baseball game at the Huggins-Stengel Complex between Northeast and St. Petersburg.
The police were called to the field shortly after Vince Grasso's inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the seventh inning gave St. Petersburg an emotional 9-8 win over one of its biggest rivals. There were no arrests.
Umpire Frank Digga, who called Grasso safe on a close play at home, wrote to the FHSAA that the Viking players and coach Roman Johnson erupted off their bench and threw helmets and bats onto the field following the play, and some fans were "aggressive and threatening" as he was followed to his car.
Digga, who did not return a phone message, is vice president of the Suncoast Umpires Association, which declined comment.
At least two parents said that there was no equipment thrown on the field by the players, nor did the players erupt off the bench and charge the field. Players can be fined $100 and suspended for leaving the bench, and any suspensions would likely end the season for any players cited.
Johnson said that almost all of Digga's report is false.
"I can tell you, this incident in no way whatsoever has anything to do with my players and myself," he said. "It was between an umpire and a fan."
Johnson declined further comment, saying he had filed a report with the FHSAA as well.
Parent Robin Lancaster said that Johnson was quick to keep his players under control and immediately started screaming for a St. Petersburg administrator to help diffuse the confrontation between Digga and a parent.
Lancaster said it began when Digga, who had to walk by the Northeast parents to leave the complex, got into a heated verbal exchange with some of them. After walking by the fans, Digga turned around and walked toward a parent before another exchange took place that involved some physical contact.
Lancaster was unsure who initiated the bumping, but thought had Digga continued toward his car, the situation would not have escalated.
"He was out of line," Lancaster said. "He probably should have just kept on walking."
Lancaster described the incident as ugly, but added "there wasn't going to be a riot or anything."
The schools have been asked to file reports with their sides of the story. John Stewart, FHSAA Associate Commissioner for Athletic Operations and Officials, said he will rule on the investigation when he receives them.