Empire-Advance

    In my second season of umpiring baseball games and with some senior games under my belt, I was invited to go to Birtle for the July 1 annual MSBL tournament. I was very excited to be asked to go and work a couple of games and it was an honour to work in that tournament.

    When I got to Birtle that day I was told I would be working behind the plate calling the balls and strikes. The game was between the Riverside Canucks and the Hamiota Red Sox. I am like man this is a huge game.

    I was excited and nervous for this game and naturally up for the task at hand. I was thankful to have Dwayne Barkley working the bases. Dwayne was a great umpire, but he was much more than that to me. He seemed to know if I needed encouragement or just a lift or a vote of confidence. Thanks Biff!!!!

    About 15 minutes before the start of the game, Wallace Henderson who was also working the tournament comes up to us and says did you hear of the bench clearing brawl in Riverside last night. The Red Sox were there playing a league game. My thought was oh great! What have I got myself into this time? I asked Wallace, is this a setup? Wallace said no not really but the league executives are all here to watch this game and to see how you make out, have a good game and he walks away. I looked at Dwayne, shrugged my shoulders and went on to the field. I just wanted to puke!  A couple of deep breaths and I called the managers from each team to home plate to go over the ground rules. Neither team sent their manager but instead a player with the lineup cards. I think it was Kerry Lowe from Hamiota and Ron Seafoot from Riverside at the plate. I get the ground rules explained to them. You could just feel the tension between the 2 teams. One wrong move and it could explode again. The 2 players at the plate were just glaring at one another. There was some heat in the kitchen!

    I said you guys got any questions, both said no. I really do not think they cared about the ground rules. I said in that case I have something to say. I said I heard your teams played last night and there was a bench clearing brawl, I just want to let you know that if a pitcher on either side throws a baseball at anyone today, I will throw the pitcher, the manager and your best hitter out of the game. Ron Seafoot said, you can not do that. I said oh yes I can, and I will, just try me.

    I then said, play ball. The game went off without any trouble, but the tension stayed there for the entire game. One close pitch or a play at the bases could lead to a showdown.

    Bob Senff and Wallace Henderson came over to us after the game and informed Biff and I that we had passed the test. Now we know how you can handle any situation, great job! The reward Dwayne and I got to do more MSBL games, playoff games, league finals and more July 1 tournament games. Also, we did Provincial Senior weekend tournaments. At the end of the day we did have a lot of fun. That tension filled game really boosted our confidence and sort of just spring boarded us to big and greater games.