I was present at the Lookouts game last night and was very upset by what I witnessed. Not only is it shameful that a group of grown men were fighting over a baseball game, but the actions of the fans in the bleachers was even more distressing. There were parents in the stands cheering and screaming for the fight as though this were an acceptable and even admirable way to act. This was a wonderful teaching opportunity to talk to kids about how retaliation is never the answer to a problem and how fighting is wrong and dangerous. Instead, these parents chose to teach their children that fighting is something that is fun and should be admired. I fear that these are the same parents who will be confused this fall when their children begin fighting in school and getting in trouble. There is no doubt in my mind that many children at this game learned a powerful lesson. Unfortunately, that lesson is that fighting is fun, and should be commended. Shame on the Lookouts and the Stars, but mostly, shame on those cheering parents.

I too was present at the Lookouts game and did not see the same sort of actions. I saw an umpiring crew who did not step up and take action when necessary to avoid the whole situation. Not only am I a parent, but also a teacher, who realizes that sometimes you have to stick up for yourself and your teammates. The Stars pitcher and team had it coming to them when THEY decided to take the low road and hit Tonys. Had the umpire crew ejected the pitcher when he hit Tonys, then the whole situation probably would have been avoided!
I could easily have been one of those "parents in the stands cheering and screaming for the fight as though" it were acceptable, but in no way are my children the ones who get into trouble at school or elsewhere. My children do realize however that there are consequences for your actions and you stand up for yourself, your family or team when necessary at times.
Also... my hat goes off to Tonys Gutierrez for his professionalism though out the game. After the pitcher was walked, Tonys spoke with him at first base as he does all players that come his way. During the 30 minute delay, he came out the dugout and threw our son a ball. We look forward to seeing him make it to the big leagues!

I am a Huntsville Stars fan and a resident of Huntsville, although I grew up in Chattanooga and remain a lifelong fan of the Mocs as you can tell by my name. I too was in attendance immediately behind the Stars dugout so I had a good view. Whether or not Patrick Ryan threw at Tonys is somewhat inconsequential. If he did it he did it the professional way, he threw below the belt. Like it or not, throwing inside and sometimes hitting the batter is a part of professional baseball. This was not a childrens league. This is men fighting, no pun intended, for a job.

I too agree that the umps (the home plate ump) receive a large part of the blame. When Patrick Ryan led off the next inning the first two pitches were at his legs, then the ump issued the warning to both benches. Then two more pitches were thrown at Patrick, both missing, and he walked. At that point the umps screwed up. The pitcher should have been thrown out before Brantley ever came to bat. But he wasn't. The first two pitches were thrown at Brantley and the ump was not doing anything. That is when Brantley walked towards the mound and was tackled. It was the Lookouts catcher that initiated the violence in the situation. If Brantley was running I agree it was right for the catcher to tackle Brantley, but with him slowly walking towards the mound the umpires could have intervened. But the home plate ump was not to be seen.

Both teams were active in the fight, punches being thrown both ways, there were no choir boys out there on that field. Both teams are lucky that nobody was seriously hurt, but remember, throwing inside and occasionally plunking a batter is a part of professional baseball, always has been, always will. Just stay below the belt, which both pitchers did in this case.

Of course the umpires should have done something more when the issues began to arise. We all find ourselves in situations every day where someone in authority "should" have done something to fix the situation. The old saying about two wrongs not making a right really holds true in this situation and kids saw these players handling this situation in the worst way possible. Just for the record, cheering for people who are engaged in physical fighting to resolve a conflict is called condoning violence in my book.