A youth softball coach in Georgia has been removed from her position with Fury Platinum Softball in Chattanooga because she attacked opposing coaches at an 8U tournament in Dalton, Georgia. It is currently unclear as to exactly what caused the incident but the reason for her rage ultimately does not matter.
Unless she can provide a reasonable explanation for her behavior, which I cannot imagine exists, she acted way out of line.
There is no logical reason for an adult to get that upset over youth softball. The coach will now be forced to face the consequences for her actions, which allegedly includes criminal charges for battery.
Meredith Haskew Grant allegedly assaulted an opposing coach.
This unfortunate incident took place during an 8U game in Dalton, Georgia over the weekend. The 8U team in question is based out of Ringgold, Georgia as part of the Fury Platinum Fastpitch organization.
Meredith Haskew Grant is listed on the roster as one of three coaches for GA Fury Platinum Harris. Her daughter is on the team.
A video of the altercation, originally captured on the GameChanger app, went viral on Instagram. It was posted by popular social media personality Corey Harper, known best as ‘The Tattooed Ump.’
The clip shows GA Fury Platinum Harris trailing by seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, 14-7. A group of coaches and players were gathered inside the circle for what appears to be a postgame handshake line. Perhaps the game was already ruled as complete because of a mercy rule. Maybe they only play four innings.
I don’t know for certain and I’m not sure it matters.
For whatever reason, the coaches for both teams were all huddled together. They stood with their players around the pitcher’s mound to shake hands and to exchange “good games.”
The video then shows a woman, identified as Meredith Haskew Grant, charge at a rival coach in a fit of rage. She tackles one of them to the ground as nearby parents yell, “Girls, get in the dugout!”
And it only escalates from there. Check it out:
Multiple punches were thrown. It was ugly!
What happened at the youth softball tournament?
Lauren Stithem serves as a head coach for the first-ever girl’s fastpitch softball program in North Georgia, known as ‘The Wreckers.’ She shared the following account of what happened:
“let’s just say we have been beating her team since 6U rec. she’s salty every time we play them. Was running her mouth to my coaches on the dugout while coaching 1B. Yes we were giving it back to her. She couldn’t control herself while shaking hands and she put hands on my male assistant coach and then my female and then me.”
Stithem affirmed that her coaches did not say a single word to Grant while they were actively shaking hands in the circle. The incident was not triggered by anything that was said in that exact moment.
According to Stithem, Grant “will be charged with assault and 23 acts of child endangerment.” I was unable to confirm the pending charges or arrest.
However, a spokesperson for Fury Platinum Fastpitch confirmed that Meredith Haskew Grant is no longer affiliated with the organization. She has been removed from her role after the attack.