Nationwide — Mitchell Huggins, a 61-year-old African American man from Sumter, South Carolina, who served as an umpire for youth softball games, died over the weekend after collapsing during a heatwave while officiating a tournament at Patriot Park.
Huggins was working a youth softball tournament on Saturday when he collapsed on the field. His sister, Pamela Rufus, said he briefly regained consciousness during a FaceTime call but passed out again shortly after. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Rufus said her brother had mentioned the heat but was still eager to attend. Umpiring had been his passion for over a decade. Kids and parents at the games often called him “Uncle Mitch” or “Mr. Mitch.”
“That was his whole passion… that was his second home,” his sister told WMBF News. “He loved those kids.”
People on the field immediately tried to help. As efforts to revive him began, others started praying. The Sumter County Coroner’s Office confirmed that heat contributed to his death. Temperatures were unusually high that day, leading many parents to question why the tournament hadn’t been postponed or canceled.
Sumter County issued a short statement asking for prayers for the Huggins family. Tournament organizers have not responded publicly. Rufus believes her brother’s death could have been avoided and hopes it brings more attention to the dangers of heat-related illnesses.
Huggins was also active with Top Gun Sports, a nonprofit that supports youth athletes. Rufus said the group was like family to him and another part of his life that brought him joy.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family cover funeral expenses during this challenging time.