Cops overturn umps, charge pizza-thrower

It started with angry fans disputing umpires’ calls at a heated Little League game. It ended with alleged threats and taunts and, police say, an assault, when someone threw pizza at an ump.

League volunteer Sherri Ferns, 35, of Concord, has been charged with two counts of simple assault for allegedly throwing pizza, hitting an ump and a fan. Police say Ferns was working in a concession stand at the game between the Concord National Little League All-Stars and a team from Salem.

Salem won 10-9. Ferns’ son played for the Concord team.

Afterward, according to the umpires and a league investigation, Concord parents and Little League volunteers taunted the umps and tried to provoke them.

The league board disciplined nine parents, board members and volunteers, asking some to resign from the board. Ferns was one of the nine.

Police also confirmed that some parents were drinking alcohol at the game, but no one was charged.

“This is a serious matter,” said acting Police Chief Robert Barry. “A Little League game escalated to the point where there was violence.”

Ferns’ lawyer, Brian Quirk, said he’s upset the police became involved.

“I believe the board has taken the appropriate disciplinary actions for what happened at the all-star game,” he said. “I am disappointed that this is now being treated as a criminal matter.”