Umpire dies after collapsing from heat during softball tournament

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) – A beloved youth sports umpire died over the weekend while working during a heat wave.

The Sumter County Coroner’s Office said 61-year-old Mitchell Huggins died Saturday after being taken to a hospital.

Officials said the heat contributed to the 61-year-old’s death.

Huggins’ sister, Pamela Rufus, said her brother had passed out while officiating a softball tournament that afternoon at Patriot Park.

She said she first got word of what happened through a phone call from her son.

According to Rufus, she was able to FaceTime with her brother when he regained consciousness, but then he passed out again.

“He was just lifeless,” she said. “He didn’t even look like himself.”

Rufus added that everyone on the field tried everything to resuscitate her brother, as players and parents began praying for him. Huggins was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Parents of players in the tournament shared their concerns about why the games were being allowed to be played in such extreme weather conditions.

“We are aware of an unfortunate incident at Patriot Park during a recent softball tournament and we would ask everyone to pray for the family of Mitch Huggins,” a spokesperson with Sumter County shared.

Tournament organizers did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the situation.

Meanwhile, Rufus said her brother died truly doing what he loved, being an umpire for kids on the diamond, something he had done for over a decade.

She said Huggins would often be called “Uncle Mitch” or “Mr. Mitch” by some of the players.

“That was his whole passion … that was his second home,” she said. “He loved those kids.”

According to Rufus, Huggins did mention that it was hot but that “he was going regardless” and was excited to umpire at another tournament.

“He just did what he did. I don’t think he looked at the temperature,” she said.

But Rufus did say his death could have been prevented.

“They said he was telling them about it being hot,” Rufus said. “It was just too hot … the heat was not good for anybody.”

Huggins was also passionate about his work with Top Gun Sports, a nonprofit focused on youth sports. Rufus said that the organization was another home for him.

Rufus added she’d like for Huggins’s death to raise awareness about extreme heat and illnesses. But she ultimately wants her brother to be remembered for loving what he did and caring for all the kids he served as an umpire for.

“He just loved the game,” she said.

A celebration of life for Huggins is being held Saturday at the former Timmonsville High School on Kemper Street.

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