RWPatten

Oklahoma Sooner great Wayman Tisdale has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was a wonderful basketball player, an even better musician and an even better man.

I am just going off of my 1st year, so HS Varsity is the highest I have called. I have found that the Varsity and 9th grade coaches argue more than JV or MS. At least where I have called. The MS catchers kill me, because I have taken one every MS game I have called. MS players kill me, because they figure out ways to eliminate run rules or time limits- phrases you never say while umpiring a game. I teach MS so I guess it is par for the course.

In Oklahoma where we have begged some years for rain, the rain won't stop. It has rained every day for 5 days. The playoffs for schools here are getting all kinds of messed up. It is supposed to stop tonight and be dry for a couple of days. I guess we will see.

I have heard about the no HS ball in some states. I can see why, with some of the weather in the more Northern states. At the last meeting my umpire association had, we were told to try to find 2 people interested in umpiring and to bring them to our 1st meeting in january. We need umps pretty bad. I got into umpiring full blast just now at age 29. I have enjoyed the heck out of it. After doing school ball this 1st year, little league is much easier. I wish I had gotten into umpiring when I graduated HS. I think the best thing for a person new to umpiring to do is, get certified and find a partner to work MS or 9th grade or JV school ball games with. A mentor is a big help. THEN get into little league. I have found that the things I am expected to do in school ball games, to speed up the games and keep them moving, work very well in little league. I think it makes all of the umps look more professional. I am bummed that school ball is over, but I will get as many little league and fall ball games as I wish.

My 1st year of school ball has concluded and I have had the opportunity to call games at all age levels- MS through Varsity. I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. It has also made calling little league games MUCH easier than last year. I was wanting to know, what are the favorite age groups to umpire for everyone? After my 1st year, I enjoy large school (5A/6A in OK) JV games. The kids have some ability and the coaches have all been pretty laid back. MS games are shorter, but I have gotten beat up in these. 9th grade and Varsity have been too big time and whine too much. What are your opinions?

What are the numbers like in your states for umpires- for school games like MS, JH, Freshmen, Sophomore, JV, Varsity? In Oklahoma, we have a big shortage. The playoffs for the smallest schools start this week and the schools are having a hard time finding umpires. This is my first full year and I have worked most everyday that it has not rained. I have called all levels, from MS through a Top ten Varsity matchup. There really have not been very many coach or fan issues, at least not as many as I expected. I have had a blast this 1st year. It has gotten a little bit easier and alot more fun as I have gone along. I just wanted to see what it was like in other states.

This is my 1st full year, so the number is small right now. Here are 2: 1. "Great Hustle Blue!" From 3rd base coach, when I covered 3rd on a base hit to right field, running from the plate. 2. "You're leaving? Can you stay for the next 2?" After calling the 1st 2 games of 4 at a Freshman Tournament. That team had just been run-ruled.

This has been quite an experience in my 1st full year of umpiring. Yesterday at a MS game, winds consistently at 30+ MPH, gusts over 50. You may have seen the destruction outside of OKC by wildfires. Over the last 2 weeks, every game I have called has had winds over 20 MPH. Gotta Love Oklahoma! Has been a great year so far. I have got to call all levels, from MS through Varsity. I even called a JV/9th DH by myself. I will be in my 9th day in a row calling games. And the checks are starting to come in. If you want to umpire, the OKC area is always needing umps. No problem getting games here. The Little leagues need them for the summer too.

Bases Loaded. No Outs. I am UIC. Fly Ball hit to LF. Ball is caught, R2 doubled off at 2nd. I had the fly and R1's tag at 3rd lined up. BU calls obstruction, saying that the SS obstructed R2 leaving 2nd base after the ball was hit. BU sends R2 back to 2nd. Only one out recorded. I did not see the obstruction in my periphreal vision. When the coach argued, I backed up the BU umpire. Needless to say, the coach was not happy and the fans let us have it. The team on offense got 6 consecutive hits before the next out was recorded, so the heckling pretty much stopped. What are you opinions on the play?

I have had everything since Wednesday cancelled because of the weather. I hope to get in the full week I have scheduled next week.

:kissass: I know. I think I like being behind the dish as of right now.

I took a HS Varsity/JV Doubleheader today on short notice. This was my first school ball experience. I had a blast. I was FU for the Varsity and PU for the JV. My mechanics suck right now, but I'll know I will get better with experience. Home team won 11-10 on a bases loaded walk. Had a bang-bang play at 2nd in the 7th inning. Fans didn't like the safe call, but they couldn't see that the SS never tagged the runner. Then the visiting pitcher walked everyone else. The only thing is I wish I got paid for how many runners were left on base. It was crazy. I can hardly wait for the next games.

I have 25 JH Games as of now. I am in the process of filling in more dates. One thing that is nice here in OK, if you want to umpire and get certified, you have no problem getting games. I received my card yesterday, and I am pumped to get going.

I took the test last night after I got home from our rules meeting in oklahoma. I started about 11:00 pm and ended a little before 1:00 am. I scored an 88%, which I was pleased with for the time of day that I took the test and that it was my first time ever to take it. I am just glad to have passed and now I am ready to get some real study done and get started.

Hey Everyone, My name is Ryan Patten. I am getting full bore into umpiring. Over the years, I have dabbled in it here and there. I am going full certification this spring. I will do some JH and a few HS games here in Oklahoma. I have some friends that are involved in umpiring that are helping me out. I just wish I had decided to do this about 12 years ago when I graduated HS! I will be starting officiating Football this fall. I am really excited. I look forward to talking to everyone and sharing my experiences this 1st full season.