Thurmont Little League seeking volunteer umpires

Mia Ferraro
CHS Class of 22

(3/2021) The Catoctin community is eager to get back to the fields as the 2021 season of Thurmont Little League (TLL) starts up, entering into the league’s 70th year of baseball. TLL is proud to support young athletes of the greater community, as the area for the league reaches the Mason Dixon Line (Taneytown to Cascade) and south (Mountaindale to New Windsor) with Devilbiss Bridge Road as the boundary. Registration for team members concluded February 21st, while the league is always seeking umpires.

"We umpire because we love the game, we love the youth, and most of all, we love seeing the community being brought together at the Little League organizations." Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) Blaine Young expressed. "It’s something that I think everybody should try if they have any interest in baseball, and especially if they have any connection with youth that’s involved in baseball. It’s just a rewarding experience that gives them the best view of the game and the best experience, honestly, because you see every detail of the game as it goes by."

Little League is always promoting this opportunity to give back to the community and support the community’s young athletes. Volunteer umpires are welcome at any time as there is no deadline to sign up. The league accepts any man, woman, and person of age 13 and older, now allowing junior umpires (ages 13-17), who are able to umpire one level lower than their age. High schoolers are encouraged to look into volunteering and try it out, which could make a great opportunity to fulfill any required service hours for academic programs. To sign up, email the league at theTLLnetwork@gmail.com or contact Young, whose contact information can be found at the TLL website, tllbaseball.com/umpires. You will receive an invite through email with a background check to complete, and that is all that is required. Everything else is taken care of, as you will be guided through the process. You will quickly train and attend early games where there will be more than one umpire on the field. A shirt, hat, and gear will be provided, and it is requested that you wear a grey pair of pants to match the umpire crew--called the "blue crew" or "blue team." There is always ample gear to use. The league will provide you with all of the necessary tools to do the job, and you can start out at bases if not yet comfortable at the plate. TLL always strives to have an experienced umpire with a newer one for guidance and clarification.

If you are interested in umpiring for Thurmont Little League regularly, you may consider attending Little League clinics in various region headquarters, but it is not required. Participants stay at dormitories and train for a week at professional stadiums. You might also decide to become a member of the Maryland State Umpire Association (MSUA). The association is all volunteer-oriented by umpires that have been active in Maryland for a long while. It offers lifetime memberships for one initial fee, or you can choose to pay a small annual fee. These fees cover the cost of their clinic. MSUA hosts online training and on-location clinics for umpires, as well as offers training resources and a group of people to communicate with. It is not mandatory to attend clinics or join the MSUA in order to umpire for TLL. Volunteers also do not need to commit to umpiring for a quantity of games, and anyone is encouraged to try it out and consider returning. "Being an umpire is about coming out and giving it a shot," Young explained, "and if you like it, attend some clinics with us."

Umpire-in-Chief Blaine Young has a long history with Thurmont Little League. He played baseball on the very fields used today in Thurmont as a child until early high school. Several years later, he began to volunteer frequently when his children were involved in the league. He stuck to volunteering and later attended a clinic to umpire regularly. Young has been a lifetime volunteer member of the Maryland State Umpire Association for about 10 years. "It’s a nice thing to belong to and to attend these clinics." he stated. "It's a great brotherhood, both at the state-level as well as with the various regional headquarters. They have very nice facilities and very nice people to be associated with." Young has been umpiring for TLL for about 15 years now in addition to volunteering for separate games. "It’s a great experience to see every aspect and every player--some giving their all, some feeling discouraged, some needing a boost--and it’s rewarding when you see good things happen on the teams." he said.

"Sometimes we’ll throw a remark to a kid to help them out." Young stated while discussing the role of umpires. "We’re very careful not to coach a kid--we’re umpires, not coaches--but they recognize that we are there to help. We’re not just there to judge the game, but also to see the game through in the best way for the youth." Umpires are responsible for looking out for the safety of the participants, and will attend to the coach and the players in the manner that they see fit. Once the initial home plate meeting is held, the umpire is then in charge of the game completely and has all control. If there are unsafe weather conditions or a public safety situation that affects gameplay on the field, the umpire can make the choice to clear the field and move the players and coaches to a safer place. After safety, an umpire’s next priority is to uphold the application of Little League and softball rules. They will ensure that both sides have an equal chance without an advantage.

Eric Myers joined the "blue crew" last year and is returning for another exciting season of Little League. "2020 was my first year umpiring, and I was admittedly a little nervous about picking up all the nuances of the rules." Myers expressed. "But there are so many great resources that the entire Little League provides online. Plus, there have been a number of clinics online during the pandemic, and even some hands-on clinic opportunities." The online clinics as well as other information regarding umpiring can be found at tllbaseball.com/umpires. Myers and his family have been a part of the Thurmont community for many years, and he finds volunteering for the league to be a great way to give back. "Umpiring is a good way to stay involved in baseball and in the community. Being a big sports fan, it’s one of my favorite ways to volunteer because I get to see competitive games and great young talent on the field." Myers also encourages locals to look into it and give it a try. "If you’re somebody that enjoys helping our community or enjoys baseball, umpiring is a great way to get involved." Myers recommended. "We’re there to help support the kids and help them enjoy one of America’s greatest pastimes."