Sometimes, it comes down to a matter not of right and wrong, but of wrong and wrong.

Such was the case Sunday afternoon at Cornerstone Park in Starkville, where two adults — one a sheriff’s deputy, the other an umpire — were arrested for fighting at the end of a 14-and-under boys baseball tournament.

Lt. Darrell Holley, a coach for Starkville’s 14-U select team, and umpire Jeff Akins were each arrested on a misdemeanor charge of fighting not in self-defense.

As the charge indicates, both men were culpable. It was needless, irresponsible behavior by two men who were entrusted with boys. No one involved can possibly be anything but deeply ashamed of his conduct. It was an embarrassment to the city, the parks and recreation department and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, which wasted no time in terminating Holley. Holley’s son, who also participated in the fight, has probably seen the end of his travel-team career. It seems unlikely that Akins will be able to continue being an umpire. So who won?

While there is no single, definitive database that tracks every incident, “shouting matches” between game officials and parents and coaches are not rare. That in itself is regrettable. When adults lose their composure and act on impulse in the presence of kids, they are sending a not-so-subtle message. The kids are watching and learning. Little pitchers have big ears, the saying goes.

In some cases, such as the one that happened Sunday, shouting matches can easily become violent.

Adult altercations in youth sports have reached what many experts call a crisis level.

This kind of conduct is why kids and umpires are quitting at an astonishing rate.

According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, approximately 70% of children quit organized sports by age 13. The No. 1 reason cited is “pressure from adults” and the toxic environment created by parents and coaches.

The National Association of Sports Officials reports that about 80% of new officials quit within their first two years. When surveyed, the overwhelming majority cite “abuse from parents and coaches” as the primary reason.

In response, leagues across the U.S. have had to implement parent codes of conduct that carry the threat of permanent bans, which is what happened after Sunday’s incident. Grand Slam Tournament Director Mike Narmour said everyone involved in Sunday’s altercation will be banned from all future Grand Slam tournaments.

Several states, including Mississippi, have recently passed legislation specifically increasing the criminal penalties for assaulting a sports official, treating it as a specialized category of assault due to the rising frequency of these incidents.

If an umpire or referee assaults a coach or spectator, he or she is charged under the state’s general assault statutes — in this case, Mississippi Code § 97-3-7. He or she can be fired by the organization’s governing body.

The requirements for being an umpire or official include having “thick skin” — the ability to ignore taunts and insults from fans, coaches and players. The requirements for being a coach include setting a good example for the kids in his care.

Both men failed to meet that standard Sunday.

Nobody won.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.