Is there college in my future?

[LMSANS]

This weekend I'll be taking the college test. The exam is in 2 sections, 100 question written test and then Montclair State Univ plays a doubleheader that the applicants take turns umpiring 2 man mechanics.

If passed, then next spring I start with JC and D-III games. I'm not as ambitious as Umpire in chief, looking for Omaha, but I have worked a lot of college summer ball and would like more of that level during the season. If in my advanced years, I should do well enough for post season consideration, I will be happy.

I'll let you know what happens. :confused:

Edited September 25, 2008 by LMSANS
correct redundent phrase

[Umpire in Chief]

Great news Larry. Let us know how it goes... :confused:

[LMSANS]

:eek:

Now because of the weather, they have moved the test from Montclair State Univ to Baseball Heaven on Long Island. Adds 1.5 - 2 hours to the trip. ugh!

Baseball Heaven has turf fields and they don't want to move to another weekend.

Love the new Smilies :cool:

[Umpire in Chief]

I feel your pain with the weather, I'm supposed to have 2 showcase games this weekend. Most have already been cancelled. Mine are still on but who knows for how long?

With the smilies, I got bored/frustrated working on the FireFox issues and my attention drifted over to smilies. But I will fix those formatting issues soon.

[LMSANS]

I drove 2.5 hours for the 9am scheduled start. I got there at 850am.

There are 11 of us taking the test. The test starts at 935am, 85 rules questions, 15 mechanics. I finish by in about an hour. I feel I did well, but will never know as they don't share the written results.

The 11 of us are then assigned to 2 "showcase" high school games. The theory is one inning behind the plate and one inning on the bases. The games are occurring concurrently on 2 adjacent fields. The games start at 12:45. I get the plate in the 5th inning on field 4 and the 7th inning is the bases. The games have a 2 hour drop dead curfew. There are 6 - 7 evaluators walking back and forth between the 2 games. I am partnered with an evaluator for my plate time.

Field 4 game is dragging. My "partner" comes over for our pregame and brags about being the biggest A--hole on the field . I finally get on the field at 2:30. 5 strike outs and a home run later, I'm done. No specific comments on my performance. The game ends because of the curfew. Everybody else has completed both postiions and leave. I bring up that I didn't get on the bases. They tell me they're working on it. I take off my plate gear and get ready for my Base inning. The next games start at 3pm. They get the paid base umpire to sit out an inning while I demonstrate my skills

I have a good pregame with my partner and all of the evaluators are sitting a good distance awaytalking. So I figure I'm going to go through the motions and not get a fair shake. Au contrare! As the first pitch is about to come in, I notice all of the evaluators sitting in the front row watching ME .

I had a good inning...turned the wrong way when there was R2 and a single to left. But I saw everything I needed. Ended my performance with a nice bang bang double play. All of the evaluators thanked me for staying to get the work in (I had a choice!?!).

Here's the punchline. As I'm getting undressed by car, the chairman of the testing committee comes over to me and compliments my performance...but asks how much experience I have (4 years). He tells me that they saw the beginnings of a good umpire out there that needs more experience and training.

The testing committee takes the test scores and performance evaluations and make recommendations to the board. The board almost always follows the recommendations. This takes 2 - 3 weeks. So I won't hear anything for about a month.

[Umpire in Chief]

Larry,

Sounds like it was worth the drive. Keep us informed of how it turns out.