First taste of College Ball

[JonnyCat]

Just wanted to share a great day of umpiring.

An umpire buddy of mine, he does JUCO as well as High School, calls me up on Friday and is wondering if I am available to umpire a San Diego State University intersquad game on Sunday. "You mean San Diego State as in Tony Gywnn and Tony Gywnn stadium?" Hell Yes! We ran a 3 man. I was on the plate for the first 3 innings and on the bases for 2. We only played 5 innings, but what a great experience. I've never done anything above 18u, and let me say it was impressive. Being on that field with D1 players, pitchers hitting their spots, working in that stadium, and Tony Gywnn on the bench. It doesn't get much better than that.

 

I will say that my Wendelstedt training really paid off. Even though it was an intersquad game, it was nice to know that I could handle that level of ball. I know I have a long way to go, but I felt good about my zone and my timing, etc. JUCO ball is something that I may work towards in the future. I hope he calls me again!

 

 

Here is a shot of me on the plate.

 

 

And one on the bases.

 

Pictures taken courtesy of my umpire groupie! My lovely wife, of course! ( I had to give her a shout out for always supporting me with this crazy obsession!)

[umpstu]

You hit the nail on the head. There is nothing like umpiring a well played ball game. Those are the ones where no one knows you're there, because they do their jobs correctly. Good luck in your college careers. I umpire in the Southern California area and the ball is fantastic.

[alex7]

Congrats!  Get that resume updated and send it to Tom Hiler!   

[alex7]

I must add I'm impressed you were confident enough to wear sunglasses behind your first college dish. 

[th3]

that's great...good for you..

[JaxRolo]

Congrats! Why are you holding your b@lls? :wave:

[zm1283]

When you move up in levels, it's always crazy to see how much faster the game is until you work enough of it to get used to the speed. 

[noumpere]

Congrats! Why are you holding your b@lls?

HAha -- when I did my first college game they were sucked up so far there was nothing to hold.

[grayhawk]

Looking good John - congrats!

[Haid D' Salaami]

I must add I'm impressed you were confident enough to wear sunglasses behind your first college dish. 

was the sun shinning?.... if yes.. then wear sunglasses.. its really not a secret....

[ricka56]

Congrats! Why are you holding your b@lls?

He has his wedding band on. Maybe he's like me. My wife doesn't let me leave the house with my nuts, she keeps them in the frig at home when I'm out...who needs a nutty buddy?

 

Congrats...Enjoy

[Scratch Franzeo]

Congratulations! Thats awesome.  How was the speed on the field compared to big high school ball?

[JonnyCat]

Congrats! Why are you holding your b@lls?

 

I love my balls, that's why I hold them! Actually, that is how John Tumpane taught us to put our hand at Wendelstedt. I hope he wasn't messing with us!

[JonnyCat]

 

Congrats! Why are you holding your b@lls?

He has his wedding band on. Maybe he's like me. My wife doesn't let me leave the house with my nuts, she keeps them in the frig at home when I'm out...who needs a nutty buddy?

 

Congrats...Enjoy

 

She used to keep them in the freezer, that is until I got, how shall I say, a certain (snip) surgery! I guess I hold them in memory!

[JonnyCat]

Congratulations! Thats awesome.  How was the speed on the field compared to big high school ball?

 

It was very fast. You can't hesitate even one bit or you will be chasing the runner. It was also pretty hard for me to get to the 45' line while trailing the batter/runner. Apparently I've lost a step or two when I turned 50! Aw, who am I kidding, I never had any speed. The guys on my softball team call me the "slowest non-injured guy."

 

Another thing that really stood out was the bat speed. It was incredible how these guys could get the bat around.

[jjb]

Screw the game or the sunglasses: I am WAY impressed with the knife-edge crease on your base pants!

[JonnyCat]

Screw the game or the sunglasses: I am WAY impressed with the knife-edge crease on your base pants!

It helps to be good friends with a dry cleaner. He's also an umpire, so he takes good care of us! Gotta love those poly-wools!

[umpstu]

I always thought I was fooling coaches by wearing a cup. Then they would see the wedding band and know the only balls I have are the ones in the ball bags. Curses.

[umpstu]

Screw the game or the sunglasses: I am WAY impressed with the knife-edge crease on your base pants!

Amen to that. I am trying to drill it into a younger umpires head that though he may feel that the lower level games aren't that important, they are to those kids, parents and coaches. They deserve to have you come on the field looking professional with pressed uniforms, clean hat and shined shoes. Then they know you're serious right off of the bat.

[johnnyV]

Congrats JonnyCat...I know the feeling!  For the first time, I too have called JUCO, NAIA and an occasionaly D1 scrimmage this Fall...and I like it!  I could definitely get used to it.  As "Haid D' Salaami" (great name btw says, it is a process and I'm working on it myself.  Good luck!  

[Thunderheads]

Ok, guys, relax a little  bit here ....

 

Alex never said D1, ....and Haid was just making a point about any assumptions one may have on Alex's comment .....  let's not get too crazy on the facts here....

 

John, congrats, ... that must have been great!!

 

Some thoughts  ....and a comment:  Alex, ... what do sunglasses have to do with anything?   And .... John, .... just a suggestion ..... when working the plate, I wouldn't wear my wedding band.  You catch a ball to the hand and it swells and you have to have your ring cut off, ...you may have something else cut off by SWMBO!!

 

CONGRATS!

[JonnyCat]

Ok, guys, relax a little  bit here ....

 

Alex never said D1, ....and Haid was just making a point about any assumptions one may have on Alex's comment .....  let's not get too crazy on the facts here....

 

John, congrats, ... that must have been great!!

 

Some thoughts  ....and a comment:  Alex, ... what do sunglasses have to do with anything?   And .... John, .... just a suggestion ..... when working the plate, I wouldn't wear my wedding band.  You catch a ball to the hand and it swells and you have to have your ring cut off, ...you may have something else cut off by SWMBO!!

 

CONGRATS!

Never thought about the wedding ring. I have always worn it when umpiring, but that is a good tip. We certainly don't want SWMBO upset!

 

Alex, thanks for the comments, i knew exactly what you meant.

 

It was a great time, and like I said in my OP, I'm not ready for JUCO yet, but it could be something in my future.

[JonnyCat]

Ok, guys, relax a little  bit here ....

 

Alex never said D1, ....and Haid was just making a point about any assumptions one may have on Alex's comment .....  let's not get too crazy on the facts here....

 

John, congrats, ... that must have been great!!

 

Some thoughts  ....and a comment:  Alex, ... what do sunglasses have to do with anything?   And .... John, .... just a suggestion ..... when working the plate, I wouldn't wear my wedding band.  You catch a ball to the hand and it swells and you have to have your ring cut off, ...you may have something else cut off by SWMBO!!

 

CONGRATS!

Never thought about the wedding ring. I have always worn it when umpiring, but that is a good tip. We certainly don't want SWMBO upset!

 

Alex, thanks for the comments, i knew exactly what you meant.

 

It was a great time, and like I said in my OP, I'm not ready for JUCO yet, but it could be something in my future.

[alex7]

Thunderheads

 

It took me 2 years to be confident enough to wear sunglasses behind the plate (and then only at young kid level).  And then as I moved up, it took me a while to gain the confidence at each stop.  Probably just my weird little oddity, but perhaps in sunny so cal you kinda have to rush that    

 

Nothing serious meant by it.

[Umpire in Chief]

Moved off topic posts to their own thread.