Massachusetts Minor League Mom — and Surgeon — Saves Umpire’s Life

A Little League charity game ended with an All-Star save — but not just one player.

Dr. Jennifer LaFemina, a UMass Memorial Health surgical oncologist and mother of a Little League player, 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 game umpire Korey Pontbriand was hit by a baseball in the second inning, Algonquin Baseball and Softball said in a social media post. Despite being in “obvious pain,” Pontbriand remained in the game until the sixth inning, when he collapsed on the field.

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

It was a good day for the whole LaFemina family. The Algonquin All-Stars, his son’s team, ended up winning the game. And he scored the winning point.

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

The team called LaFemina Pontbriand’s “guardian angel” and said they were “deeply grateful” for her life-saving efforts. The Algonquin All-Stars were participating 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 the life of a referee at a Jimmy Fund tournament,” the team wrote.