12 Year Old Killed by Lightning on Ball Field

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A sad reminder to take lightning seriously.

A 12-year-old Virginia boy is dead after he and his friend were struck by lightning while playing catch on a baseball field Wednesday night, MyFOXDC.com reported.

The Little League umpire called the game around 6:30 p.m. and ordered everyone off the field in Fredericksburg, Va., because of dark clouds, rain, hail and lightning.

But, Chelal Gross-Matos and his unidentified 11-year-old friend lingered on the field playing catch, the station reported.

"Their parents were close by. Their children were being supervised by their parents and they were just kind of playing catch with one another when they were struck," said First Sergeant Liz Scott, a spokeswoman with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Department.

The lightning seemed to strike Gross-Matos first, singing his hair and burning him all over before jumping to his friend, MyFOXDC.com reported. Both kids were knocked unconscious.

"People were yelling, two boys were struck by lightning!" Richard Atchley, a witness, told the station. "I saw one of the boys laying here, his eyes were rolled back. You could see the whites of his eye."

 

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wait....
did they both die or did just one of them die

 

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I never complain about lightning delays for that reason. You never know.

 

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Awful!

 

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The 12 year old died. The 11 year old is in critical condition in the hospital.

 

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several years ago a good friend of mine in Kettering had a son hit by lightning never had a chance.....freak accident but so sad!!

 

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Dugouts do not offer much protection. The best idea is to head for your cars. We had a neighbor get struck by lightening while standing just inside his garage with the door open.

 

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The best place to avoid getting struck by lightning is in your car. Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the rubber tires whatsoever. The cars' metal body directs the lightning around the occupants, instead of through them to ground.

 

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We had a situation last weekend during a tournament. There was lightning well within sight distance and the umpire just kept watching it. He didn't do ANYTHING and let the girls continue to play until the TD came by and he asked him about it. They ended up stopping the game but the girls stayed in the so-called dugouts until the tornado siren started blowing and then they sent us to our cars. I feel that was very poor judgment on the umpire. Don't they have the authority and the duty to stop the game as soon as they see it?

 

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Even after reading this, there will still be some parents, coaches, umpires, and TD's who will not heed this WARNING MESSAGE. At the High School Level at the first roar of thunder,the ballfield is cleared of all coaches and players and they are advised to go inside the school or the buses. The 30 Minute Rule will be enforced.

CAVEAT: To those of you who umpire games at any level of play, You as the umpire may be held liable in the death or injury to a player or team as a result of your negligence.


FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

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Family Watched As Lightning Struck Boy

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/060409_family_watched_lightning_strike_boy


FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

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The umpires not only have the authority to stop the game, but in the case of lightning they have the responsibility to do so.

I can't speak for all sanctioning bodies and don't know what they are teaching. However, in my experience with the OHSAA and ASA, the guidelines for handling a lightning situation are laid out in their rule books, umpire manuals, classes and training.

I've had to enforce this at least a few times each season. At the first sight of lightning, or sound of thunder, the field will be cleared. No play will resume until 30 minutes has passed from the last lightning flash or thunderclap.

All I will add is that if you feel conditions are unsafe for you or your child, no matter what the reason, ultimately you are responsible for your own safety. Just because an umpire isn't enforcing this safety rule, no one is forcing you to stay on the field and expose yourself to danger. You have every right to remove yourself and your family from the area, whether someone tells you to or not.

 

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Rain is one thing, Storms are another. Thanks for bringing this up to remind everyone our responsibilities to our kids.

Too sad.

 

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Lightning and other foul weather aren't worth the risks for an amateur game...too often umpires feel like they are doing it 'for the players' to get as much of the game in as possible before the weather hits...but in truth people are at risk for what - an extra inning or game?

We have posted (myself and other league directors) our foul weather policy for all to see at the park in Sidney.
It is pretty much verbatim of the 30 minute rule...
If anyone EVER questions our umpires on stoppage of a game, it is simple to send the person who questions this to the sign and read up a POSTED RULE, not an UMPIRE JUDGEMENT.
(We define that thunder IS lightning, seen or heard we are clearing the field of play, including dugouts...and so on...)

Posting this takes the pressure of keeping people happy off the umpires, makes it simple and unquestionable -- just another rule of the game...!

 

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THOUGHT I'D POST OUR WEATHER POLICY JUST SO PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA HOW WE HANDLE IT... (DIRECTLY AS IT READS ON THE WALLS AT FLANAGAN'S PARK IN SIDNEY)

Lightning / Weather Policy

Thirty Minute Lightning / Thunder Rule:
When lightning or thunder is seen or heard, play will IMMEDIATELY be suspended (delayed) for safety reason. Teams must exit from the field of play (including dugouts) and seek reasonable cover.

Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30 minute count, reset and another 30 minute count should begin.

Lightning includes lightning flashes (including heat lightning) & thunder.


Other conditions - i.e. rain, wet (muddy) fields, dangerous wind, light failures etc - will be judged for safety and may also be causes for delay or cancellation.

Contests that are able to be resumed same day shall be resumed from the point of interruption unless both teams agree to terminate the game with the existing score.

(Both managers MUST report this directly to the umpire)

Game postponements and delays will be at the discretion of league directors (when present) and umpires.

Safety, field conditions, and reasonable conclusion time for contests will all factor in these decisions.

Contests that are cancelled due to weather:

If trailing team has concluded their at bat in the 4th inning, game is final and score stands. (Visiting team top of 4th, Home team bottom of 4th)
If game is tied beyond the 4th inning, game will be resumed as rainout from point of interruption.
Very important for both teams to keep scorebooks. Current score, runners on base, and outs must be current.
Games that have not reached the 4th inning will be resumed as rainout from point of interruption.
Very important for both teams to keep scorebooks. Current score, runners on base, and outs must be current.
Please refer to your league rules / schedule / league or tournament director for makeups.

Flanagan Park Softball Fields Rainout Number: (937) 498-8176