Cooperstown Dreams Park Unable to provide safety to CHILDREN. Internet, New York

Our baseball team attended the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament in New York June 2-9, 2012. Everything went great from checkin to the initial 6 games. Our team is a very talented bunch, and won 6 of the 6 games, which placed us as the #4 seed in the tournament out of 104 teams. We only allowed 10 total runs in the first 6 games.

On the 4th game of bracket play there was a massive downpour which caused a delay of about 2 hours, pushing our game starting time (5th bracket game - our 1st because of byes) back to about 11pm. In the 5th inning of our game we were ahead 13-5, using our #5 pitcher. We were having no issues beating the #36 seed.

This is where the trouble begins. Heavy Fog rolls in and the umpires are asked to pause the game due to our inability to see our outfielders. The umps refuse and tell us we must ask the staff of the park, which are nowhere to be found at around 12:30am. I had to run across this massive park to find a kid, who has to call the tournament director to come see the field. He makes the umps stop the game, which gets delayed until a little after 1am.

When the umps restart the game we are now up 13-7. The fog rolls back in within 2-3 minutes heavier than I've ever seen fog in my 38 years. The umps again refuse to stop the game. Parents are yelling at the umps. The coach is pleading with them. At this point it is a Major safety issue. Forget about the score. The umps continue to refuse to stop the game and pop fly after pop fly drive the score to 13-13. We literally can't see 20 feet and these idiots continue the game, citing the schedule is important.

End of story... We lose 14-13. Big deal for the kids and disappointing. However, the worst thing is the staff is unapologetic about the whole incident and fails to realize that one line drive shot could KILL a child that cannot see the ball.

I highly suggest that if you are going to Cooperstown Dreams Park you realize fog is very likely here. If this happens to you do not hesitate to FORCE your way onto the field and make the umps and staff stop the game. The staff is NOT very likely to help, and could care less. I was dealing with the boss that evening and he made excuse after excuse after excuse. At this park the kids safety DO NOT come first, the schedule does!