When I was asked to umpire a Baptist tournament (Men's Slow Pitch) this past weekend, the first thing that ran through my head was the song by Tim Wilson, "Church League Softball Fist fight" and I cringed at the the thought but agreed.
I could not have asked for a more fun job assignment. The league policed every thing from the bats used (approved / Non approved) to any complaints which went through the league president to the tournament director (park employee) then to me. Which by the way, there were none. As a matter of fact, the only comments I heard all day were along the lines of, "great job blue."
It seemed that each church brough their entire congregation with them to the ball park as the stands were full on either side of the field. So it felt as if I were officiating a world championship game, during every game.
This assignment was a single man crew, but by the time we got to the championship of the losers bracket, myself and the other 2 officials that were there decided to give them a 2-man crew (giving the 3rd guy an hour break from the heat) during the championship of the losers bracket, then we ran a 3-man for the championship. All for the pay of one umpire.
Next year, I'm volunteering for this tournament.
