Winter Haven Police Department Press Release
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On Jan. 17, 2026 at approximately 6:20 pm, Winter Haven Police officers responded to a reported fight at the Chain of Lakes Complex Baseball Fields located at 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven. Officers located two victims, one a 21 year-old umpire officiating a game wearing his official umpire identifiers (Victim 1) and the other victim the umpire’s father (Victim 2) who was in the stands watching the game.
During the game, Victim 1 gave a verbal warning to 25 year-old Marcos Antonio Aballi (Kissimmee Florida) who was a coach of one of the teams playing in the tournament.
Right after the warning, the father of the umpire (Victim 2), was approached by 38 year-old Yosmany Guzman Fernandez (Kissimmee Florida), who is a father of a player on the team of the coach who received the warning. Guzman started an altercation with the victim due to his displeasure of the warning. Guzman proceeded to push the victim and started punching the victim in the face. (It should be noted Guzman and both victims have had negative encounters in the past prior to this event.)
Seeing his father being attacked, the umpire (Victim 1) left the field in an attempt to separate the two when he was punched from behind by the warned coach, Aballi. The victim fell to the ground due to the attack. At this point, the team of the coach who was warned emptied the dugout and joined in the fight. A witness jumped onto the victim in an attempt to shield the umpire from the attack and was also struck.
Fernandez’s son, 17 year-old Yosmany Alejandro Fernandez who was on the team, joined in the fight and started kicking Victim 1 while he was on the ground. Fernandez was pulled off the victim by witnesses but immediately re-engaged in the fight.
Victim 2 did not require medical attention, however the umpire, Victim 1, was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
“There is absolutely no room for parents to ruin what should be a great showcase of sports talent during these tournaments,” said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “The talent of players should be in the spotlight – not the actions of these instigators.”
It should be noted that all involved parties are Legal US Citizens.
The three defendants in this case are being charged as follows:
Marcos Antonio Aballi (25 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) Transported to the Polk County Jail
Yosmany Guzman Fernandez (38 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) and Simple Battery (M1) Transported to the Polk County Jail
Yosmany Alejandro Fernandez (17 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) Transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center”
