Mass. Little League mom — and surgeon — saves umpire’s life

A charity Little League game ended with an all-star save — but not just from a player.

UMass Memorial Health surgical oncologist and Little League mom Dr. Jennifer LaFemina is being credited with saving an umpire’s life after he was hit in the neck by a foul ball. 

LaFemina’s son was playing in the District 5 Jimmy Fund tournament when the game’s umpire, Korey Pontbriand, was struck by a baseball in the second inning, Algonquin Baseball and Softball said in a social media post. Despite “obvious pain,” Pontbriand stayed in the game until the sixth inning, when he collapsed on the pitch.

“Jennifer rendered emergency medical services until first responders arrived. Korey was rushed to the hospital with life threatening injuries. After the emergency treatment, extensive testing, and excellent hospital care, Korey wanted people to know that he was stable and breathing on his own,” the post says. 

It was a good day for the entire LaFemina family. The Algonquin All-Stars, her son’s team, ended up winning the game. And he was the one to score the game-winning run. 

The Oxford Board of Selectmen presented LaFemina with a celebratory citation at a meeting on July 16. 

The team refered to LaFemina as Pontbriand’s “guardian angel,” and said they are “deeply grateful” for her lifesaving efforts. The Algonquin All-Stars were in the tournament to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, an organization that raises awareness and funds for cancer research. 

“There is something remarkably fitting about a surgical oncologist saving an umpire’s life at a Jimmy Fund tournament,” the team wrote.