Tonight is a little bitter sweet for me. I am retiring from umpiring Little League baseball and softball. I have been blessed to be able to do something I truely enjoy for almost entire life. When I was 15 my mother suggested that I go down to the Dept of Parks and Rec to see if they needed any umpires. They did and I started umpiring, T-ball. Next year I started calling games and have never looked back. For the past 6 or so years, I have been lucky to have been able to umpire for and represent Charleston Central Little League. The familes that make up and have made up this organization have made me feel like the best umpire in the world. I have been a small part of this outstanding leagues success. I would like to thank Tammy Johnson Wells, Carrie Goodwin Fenwick, and Nikki Boggs for being outstanding Presidents and allowing me to have control of our officiating. The outpouring of thanks a gratitudes expressed during this, my last week, has been, well, overwhelming. Hearing you will be missed and that you can not be replaced are great things to hear. Several times this week I have had parents tell that I made a difference in or added to their childs life in some way. I just hope they had fun when they were on the field. So as I prepare for my last couple games, as I turn over my equipment to a young man that at the age of 14 wants to umpire, and as I will watch from the bases as he calls his first 2 games behind the plate, I can not help think of and thank the people that taught me about officiating. Mike Stanley, your father was a great influence on me and I am forever grateful for the many weekends we spent together. Thank you to Chris Kazen and the rest of my Little League umpiring school buddies for helping me fine tune my craft. Thank you to my parents who supported me through out my 25 year officiating career. Finally thank to the kids, for making my time on the field fun, allowing me to enjoy your successes along with you, and keeping me young at heart. Finally as I say to my pitchers when they come into the game, We are going to do 2 things; have fun and throw strikes, but the first thing is that we have fun. May you all that read this find that thing you love to and be able to have fun at it too.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 20:38:06 +0000
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