South Jersey Dads Arrested After Fight At Youth Softball Game

Two South Jersey men were charged following a fight at a youth softball game in which one man allegedly drove from New Jersey to Maryland to confront parents on a travel softball team following a text message exchange.

Michael Barbella, 48, Ventnor, and Michael John Duffy, 45, Mays Landing, were charged with second degree assault, disorderly conduct and affray, according to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page.

The fight took place outside the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center on July 15 and was caught on video.

In the video, Barbella approaches Duffy and begins an argument, apparently centered around Barbella’s daughter no longer being on the team. Duffy tells Barbella the reason she’s not on the team anymore is because of you, to which Barbella responds “She’s not on the team anymore because I don’t want her to be.”

The two continue to argue until Duffy says “You’re not going away until someone punches you.” A fight then breaks out between the two.

When police arrived on the scene, Barbella was being attended to by EMS.

Police learned that Barbella drove to the game from New Jersey to confront Duffy and other parents of players on the travel softball team.

Police were shown text messages allegedly sent by Barbella earlier in the day in which he challenged Duffy to a fight.

Barbella was detained in lieu of $20,000 bail. Duffy was released on his own recognizance.

The attached images of Michael Barbella and Michael Duffy were posted on he Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page.

WARNING: THE VIDEO ATTACHED TO THIS POST CONTAINS PROFANITY AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE