Tourism officials say last year’s softball dad fight was a one time event

One of the biggest softball tournaments is back on the shore, the USSSA World Series. The opening ceremonies kicked off Wednesday night. The event is an economic driver for the area and it’s usually a good time for all involved, but last year a fight between two dads threw the event a curve.

The dad’s apparently had a long standing feud, that reached an apex outside of the Wicomico County Civic Center during last year’s opening ceremonies.

“It just culminated to the point where words were being exchanged via social media and text message which prompted an individual to drive all the way down from New Jersey last year to try to settle a score in person,” said Lt. Tim Robinson with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office.

This year though Wicomico County Tourism officials aren’t expecting a repeat event.

However in case something does happen, they are prepared.

“This year we got deputy enforcement on site at all the opening ceremonies we don’t anticipate any issues like that, it was truly a once, unfortunate, once in a lifetime circumstance, so we’re excited to get started this year and move past that,” said James Simmons, assistant tourism manager for Wicomico County.

47 ABC caught up with some coaches Wednesday during the registration period including Keith McCarthy. McCarthy’s team participated in the tournament last year and tells 47 ABC he’s not worried about a brawl breaking out again.

“That’s very rare, I can’t imagine anything like that happens, most people around this activity are good people and they want to do things for the kids. So, I don’t have any concern about anything like that happening here this year. I think it was a rare, rare occasion,” McCarthy said.