08/14/2026
Special thanks to the umpires who have been working the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Michigan USA. Appointment as a member of the volunteer umpiring crew is the highest honor that Little League can bestow on an umpire.
Members of the 2026 umpire crew for the Junior League World Series include:
Sean Belfry of Toano, Virginia
Christopher Ekstrom of Davenport, Iowa
Giuseppe Falcone of Valsamoggia, Italy
Ryan Gibson of Brownstown Township, Michigan
Jared Grissinger of Palmyra, Pennsylvania
Zachary Gump of Enola, Pennsylvania
Andrew Inkeles of Los Angeles, California
Michael Lalonde of Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Mario Martinez of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Christopher Mathis of Bonney Lake, Washington
Tyler Reddick of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Nathan Whitaker of Winters, Texas
Greg King of Kentwood, Ohio returns as assistant director of umpires
Jamie Hinojosa of Huron Township, Michigan is director of umpires. This year, Jamie was also selected as an umpire in the Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series in Livermore, California.
The selection process to become a World Series umpire is lengthy and rigorous and has become an honor that only a select group to achieve. To be eligible to volunteer in a Little League World Series event, an umpire must first have completed in a region tournament event. Each candidate must apply through the Umpire Registry. District administrators may also provide comments to the selection committee for review. Umpires may choose to participate in a tournament umpire identification camp, held in person at a Little League region location to help assess their skills and receive additional feedback. The Little League International Selection Committee then considers al nominated umpires in coordination with each of its nine region offices before selecting high-performing umpires to officiate each postseason tournament. All nominated umpires are then screened one final time by the Little League International Selection Committee and Region staff before their official selection to umpire in a Little League World Series tournament.
The group photo was taken on World Series Field during opening ceremonies. Congratulations to all umpires on the honor!
