Umpire Diaries

12/29/2025

12/15/2025

Merry Christmas!!!

09/15/2025

On the dish for 12U Boys.

One of the teams is very well coached, sliding everytime they make it home. The dirt around the plate is more like silt. I bet i spent 15 minutes of a 90 minute gsme cleaning off the plate… ⚾️

09/15/2025

I had the privilege of officiating a game tonight in which Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle’s grandson was playing. I asked him if he was the Mayor’s grandson, he grinned and said “yes sir”.

Cute kid. Pretty good ball player… ⚾️

09/04/2025

Is there a better last name for a pitcher??? ⚾️

08/16/2025

Don’t complain about the lineup if you weren’t at practice. Don’t gripe about playing time if you’ve never shown up with a clipboard and a whistle. Don’t criticize the coach from the stands if you’ve never once raised your hand to help.

Because here’s the truth:

Youth sports run on volunteers. The early mornings, the missed dinners, the late-night field prep, the emotional investment. That’s all done by someone who’s not getting paid a dime.

So when you're sitting in the bleachers, arms crossed, muttering about how your kid “should’ve played shortstop”, remember that coach is out there in the heat, the rain, and the chaos for YOUR kid.

They didn’t sign up for your attitude. They signed up to teach fundamentals, to build character, to help kids fall in love with the game.

They give up their free time to pour into our children. They go home replaying mistakes in their head, wondering if they made the right calls. They’re not perfect, but they’re trying.

And unless you’re willing to step up, to fill out the background check, to show up with a lineup and a lesson plan, then sit down, clap louder, and say thank you.

Because youth sports don’t need more critics. They need more helpers. More encouragers. More grownups who remember it’s just a game, for kids…

07/19/2025

Umpire Diaries:

Men’s 25 + league, Discovery Middle School Field
Madison, AL.

Me — Man it is HOT out here and it ain’t even August.

Player in 1st-base dugout — You ain’t wrong Blue. It’s hotter’n 2 wet rats fornicating in a steaming wool sock…

Batter up!