Hello, everyone!
Like the title says, I've been reading this forum for a while, and I finally got around to joining this week, mostly because I wanted to chime in on some of the hilarious (and often very passionate) comment threads about a certain yellow-lettered equipment brand.
A little about me: I'm in my 30s and have been umpiring since I was about 14. An older umpire encouraged a curious young baseball player, who was nervous but eager to try umpiring, to give it a shot, and I was hooked from that point on. I umpired travel baseball throughout high school and started working showcase and high school ball soon after graduating. I even used umpiring as a great little job while attending college, and even encouraged others to get involved as well.
I took a few years off to start a family, but the itch to get back out there has been getting stronger (once an umpire, always an umpire, amirite?). So I joined the local association this year to jump back in. I'm a little older now, and hopefully a little wiser..... (jury's still out on that), but maybe I’ll revisit that old dream of officiating at the college level. At the very least, I’m excited to be back on the field, learning and doing something I’ve loved for so many years.
Mask: Davis Mirage 12 (Thanks to this forum)
Pads: FM4000 Mag Pads, Tan Leather
Chest Protector: Wilson Pro Platinum
Shins: Gerry Davis Apex
We're in the good times
-Llama