The president of the Lady Lake Little League will have to answer in court later this month after a weekend brawl on the diamond.
James Andrew Karoly, 47, of Fruitland Park, has been ordered to appear Nov. 16 in Lake County Court on a charge of battery after police were called Sunday afternoon to the Guava Street Baseball Field.
Lady Lake police officers interviewed multiple people who witnessed the altercation between Karoly and a 50-year-old man who resides on Blossom Terrace in the Village of Duval. He left the scene after the altercation, but later returned to give his account to police.
One witness said Karoly and the Villager had been yelling at each other and other parents tried to separate them. As the two men started walking away from each other, the Villager yelled something at Karoly and Karoly ran back and pushed the Villager to the ground, the witness told police. A group of people then pushed Karoly up against a fence, away from the Villager.
At one point “a kid player” got caught up in the altercation, but an adult pulled the youngster away and informed him the conflict “was an adult issue,” according to the police report. Another witness said multiple players and adults jumped into the altercation.
Both men refused medical attention, however photographs were taken of their injuries.