Ball hawk Zack Hample under fire for attendance at Fort Bragg game

ESPN

By Darren Rovell

Players line up prior to a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves in Fort Bragg, N.C., Sunday, July 3, 2016. (Gerry Broome)

FORT BRAGG -- Noted ball hawk Zack Hample made his presence known at Sunday night's Major League Baseball game at Fort Bragg, which was meant for military personnel.

Many, including the 82nd Airborne Division, which is headquartered on the base, were not too happy that he had gotten into the game.

Delete your account. https://t.co/DHYwUuRHbL
— 82nd Airborne Div (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016

The contest between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves was the first regular-season major pro sports game played on a military base. Tickets were awarded only through a lottery system to active members of the military with U.S. Department of Defense identification.

Even Laurence Leavy, otherwise known as Marlins Man, chimed in.

@zack_hample Zack, that game CLOSED to NON department of Defense Employees and their family. Give any balls u have to kids and leave. NOW.
— Marlins_Man (@Marlins_Man) July 4, 2016

Social media at large did its part, as #ThingsBetterThanHample trended for some time Sunday night.

Sensing the heat, Hample closed the night by saying he had caught many balls and was going to make a donation.

I got 11 balls today and gave 10 away. As promised, I'll be writing an $1,100 check to https://t.co/B7S73jb999. Please everyone, calm down.
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) July 4, 2016