State championships

[RichMSN]

It's been a while since I've posted here, so I feel a bit odd coming back to, essentially, self-brag.  Oh, well.  I'll fill in some other details while I'm here.

 

27th year.  Never worked state anywhere -- never lived anywhere long enough to lay down roots till now.

 

Last week I got the call from the state office.  It's not an easy gig to get -- only 4 first-time umpires are taken every year, statewide.  Provided I don't screw it up, I'll go back next year (it's a two year gig, typically).  It's the third week of June.

 

The best part about going is that I'll get to go with my regular HS partner (HS games are assigned in crews, here, and 90% of my scheduled HS games are with this one umpire).  He went last year.  It's very unusual that partners get to go together - I'm hopeful we'll be assigned to the same crew, but if not I'll watch him work and vice-versa.  There are 3 crews of 4 umpires.

 

The ironic thing is that this year I've worked the fewest games of any year since I moved here.  I was out of town for work for 3 weeks in April this year and am still under 20 games worked for the season.

 

Besides my day job, I applied to be a HS conference commissioner this past winter.  A commissioner assigns all the officials for all varsity events for the conference among other duties.  I made the first cut, interviewed in person on April 9, had a final interview on April 30, and was offered the gig later in the day.

 

Oh, and I'm coaching my daughter's softball team this summer.

 

Not sure what this means for my officiating, but I only have so many cycles and the day job is still what pays the bills.

 

 

[Majordave]

Congratulations Rich McBraggart.

Hahaha.

Seriously. Sounds like life is firing on all cylinders for you. Good luck in your new endeavors.

[RichMSN]

Time to figure out what bait to cut.  Seriously, this has always been the hardest thing for me.

 

Maybe I'll contemplate it this evening when working the bases.  I have a HS DH, my first games in a week.

[Stan W.]

good job rich!.........

[RichMSN]

7 weeks after working state, I finally watched the video of my plate game last night.  

 

Funny, earlier in the day I worked my last plate of 2014.  Probably.

 

Football season, y'all.

[catsbackr]

Congrats Rich!

I worked my 3rd this year, it never, ever gets old. Congrats again.

[RichMSN]

Going back June 16-18 to work 6 games at our state championships this season.

Even lighter season than last year.  I've only worked 13 HS games.  Work travel took 3 weeks of my already short season and rain took even more.

Quality over quantity, I guess.

[RichMSN]

And it's over.  Worked 4 state semifinals and 2 championship games (we have 4 divisions).

Now I go back on the list and if I'm lucky I'll post again in 5-7 years.

[WIUMP]

If you don't mind me asking, which games did you work? I was up in Appleton for the first day of D1 games. I wish I had seen this thread earlier, I'd have said "hello" or "don't suck" or something.

[RichMSN]

I worked the 2 D1 semifinals (the last 2 on the first day), the 2 D3 semifinals, and the D2 and D1 finals.