AUBURN - The most scrutinized people in a Little League game are not the players - they're usually the umpires.
"There are many aspects to being an umpire," District Five administrator and umpire Dennis Hickey said. "It is like being a player. You have to separate yourself from the crowd and you learn a lot. It is a very rewarding experience in my mind."
According to returning umpires like Mike Daum, the rewards are simple.
"I played Little League when I was a kid," Daum said. "It was a good experience. So I already have experience and knowledge of the game. And I want to make it a lot of fun and give that same experience to the kids so they can have fun with the game."
This group of volunteers behind the plate and in the field are the ones who make sure the game keeps going, safely, smoothly and fairly for all the kids.
"You have to want to help the kids," said Dick Granato director of umpires for the Auburn Little League Board. "They go from 7 to 12 and you have to want to help out and help the league and like baseball."
"You want to do your best for the kids," Brandon Musso said. "They are what it is all about it is all about the kids and them experiencing and enjoying it for themselves."
In recent years there has been a lack of interest in umpiring, with lower numbers of volunteers making it difficult to find officials. Granato said things are better this season.
"Last year, we didn't have a lot, this year we have quite a few," Granato said. "We have a good range of umps this year from 16 to 60 and they all really want to do it."
Across the board, there are umpires from former Little Leaguers to parents who are passionate and eager about the game.
"My son used to play," new umpire Tom Bolak said. "So I used to ump boys and girls games. Now that my son is older and there isn't a conflict of interest I wanted to help and make sure it is equitable and everyone has a good safe game."
The dedication to be a good umpire is no less than what it takes to be a good player.
"I played my whole life and have always been around the game," Ryan Nolan said. "I think I have a good knowledge of the game and a good idea of what is going on, so it's nice to give something back and be around the game."
This season's crop of umpires has been attending clinics and seminars in preparation.
"There is a lot of training involved," said David Koziol, president of Auburn Little League. "An umpire from Williamsport (the headquarters of Little League) came and did a seminar and they got to pick his brain for all the ins and outs. They are all really that involved and like the experience."
"That was very helpful," Bolak said. "There are some new rules and a couple of rules I wouldn't have thought to call the way they do. It is very beneficial."
Between the kids, the coaches and the parents there are many eyes on each and every call, this can be a nerve-wracking experience.
"You have to block it out," Musso said. "It is in the back of your mind but you have to block it and do what you are supposed to. After the first pitch the nerves go away and now you can play and let your instincts take over."
The fact that it is youth sports, doesn't make it less intense or emotional for the players or fans when tempers can run high in the heat of the moment.
Over the years, more than one person has been asked to leave the stands.
"People can get out of hand," Granato said. "There is a pressure to win, the coaches and the parents and the players want to win. We have a good board we try to do a good job watching what is going on and keeping everyone away and keep control of the game. We don't want the umps throwing people out. The board handles the fans."
When these situations arise, umpires have to exercise control and patience. They have to remember not only is it a game, but they are setting an example.
"A lot of fans get restless," Daum said. "There are arguments, but it has to go in one ear and out the other and keep your cool and stay calm. They are taking out their frustrations and you have to take it. You have to stay calm and lay down the law and get the job done."
But these umpires say the benefits outweigh the pressures.
"You have to take each game as your best," Musso said. "You can have a bad day and it is going to show and things aren't going to flow right. But you have to take each play and each pitch as it comes and see the entire play and you can mess up, but you have to do your best for the kids and enjoy it."
According to returning umpires like Mike Daum, the rewards are simple.
"I played Little League when I was a kid," Daum said. "It was a good experience. So I already have experience and knowledge of the game. And I want to make it a lot of fun and give that same experience to the kids so they can have fun with the game."
This group of volunteers behind the plate and in the field are the ones who make sure the game keeps going, safely, smoothly and fairly for all the kids.
"You have to want to help the kids," said Dick Granato director of umpires for the Auburn Little League Board. "They go from 7 to 12 and you have to want to help out and help the league and like baseball."
"You want to do your best for the kids," Brandon Musso said. "They are what it is all about it is all about the kids and them experiencing and enjoying it for themselves."
In recent years there has been a lack of interest in umpiring, with lower numbers of volunteers making it difficult to find officials. Granato said things are better this season.
"Last year, we didn't have a lot, this year we have quite a few," Granato said. "We have a good range of umps this year from 16 to 60 and they all really want to do it."
Across the board, there are umpires from former Little Leaguers to parents who are passionate and eager about the game.
"My son used to play," new umpire Tom Bolak said. "So I used to ump boys and girls games. Now that my son is older and there isn't a conflict of interest I wanted to help and make sure it is equitable and everyone has a good safe game."
The dedication to be a good umpire is no less than what it takes to be a good player.
"I played my whole life and have always been around the game," Ryan Nolan said. "I think I have a good knowledge of the game and a good idea of what is going on, so it's nice to give something back and be around the game."
This season's crop of umpires has been attending clinics and seminars in preparation.
"There is a lot of training involved," said David Koziol, president of Auburn Little League. "An umpire from Williamsport (the headquarters of Little League) came and did a seminar and they got to pick his brain for all the ins and outs. They are all really that involved and like the experience."
"That was very helpful," Bolak said. "There are some new rules and a couple of rules I wouldn't have thought to call the way they do. It is very beneficial."
Between the kids, the coaches and the parents there are many eyes on each and every call, this can be a nerve-wracking experience.
"You have to block it out," Musso said. "It is in the back of your mind but you have to block it and do what you are supposed to. After the first pitch the nerves go away and now you can play and let your instincts take over."
The fact that it is youth sports, doesn't make it less intense or emotional for the players or fans when tempers can run high in the heat of the moment.
Over the years, more than one person has been asked to leave the stands.
"People can get out of hand," Granato said. "There is a pressure to win, the coaches and the parents and the players want to win. We have a good board we try to do a good job watching what is going on and keeping everyone away and keep control of the game. We don't want the umps throwing people out. The board handles the fans."
When these situations arise, umpires have to exercise control and patience. They have to remember not only is it a game, but they are setting an example.
"A lot of fans get restless," Daum said. "There are arguments, but it has to go in one ear and out the other and keep your cool and stay calm. They are taking out their frustrations and you have to take it. You have to stay calm and lay down the law and get the job done."
But these umpires say the benefits outweigh the pressures.
"You have to take each game as your best," Musso said. "You can have a bad day and it is going to show and things aren't going to flow right. But you have to take each play and each pitch as it comes and see the entire play and you can mess up, but you have to do your best for the kids and enjoy it."