Wendelstadt Umpire School

Hey everyone, Rich here. I have been easing back into the real world since returning from Umpire School. I am sure you have all been informed by now, but if you have not been I will let you know that although I had an amazing time, I was not recommended for professional baseball at this time.

However the experience was one of the greatest I have had. As has been the last year of my life in which I went to Tennessee, Hawaii and St. Maarten each for the 1^st time, the Redsox won the World Series, and most importantly I got married to an amazing soul.

I’d like to share a little of the Umpire experience with you all. I was sitting in the lobby after unpacking and this guy Marty asked if I would like to have a drink with him. I said OK and we hit it off right off the bat (no pun intended). He was the first person I met and the person who ended up becoming my best friend while I was in Daytona Beach. He also ended up being from Ellicott City, MD! We set up a study group that met every day after classes, we were very dedicated and helped each other to do the best we could.

I was challenged at school to the best of my abilities. We learned something brand new from the rulebook everyday and then had to learn something new in positioning on the field everyday. We didn’t get many opportunities to show our stuff. There were 130 students there and we mainly learned what not to do by watching everyone else.

In the end they said that I was where I needed to be but the people they chose were just a little more where they needed to be. I learned a lot about the game and a lot about myself. I gained measurable confidence, which I know I will be able to apply to the real world. Already I have started a new position at work in Sales, and I am umpiring at high school baseball and softball games. After my intense umpire school experience, I went to the high school mechanics clinic and I felt like I could have taught it!

Here’s a picture of me and some of the boys.
Until we meet again, Rich