[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I just finished my 15th year umpiring baseball and fastpitch softball. I only umpired slowpitch softball my first year of umpiring and I would even umpire a baseball game before I would umpire a fastpitch softball game. Having said that, I am suprised that major softball organizations such as ASA, USSSA, or NSA do not require catchers to wear a mask simply as a safety issue.

I attended the Univ. of Miami (the one in Coral Gables, FL, not the one in Oxford, OH, that one is Miami Univ.) in the mid-70's and the intramural sports department required all catchers and umpires in its slowpitch softball leagues stictly as a safety issue.

I am not a lawyer, but I know that no matter how quick one is, there is already that one time when a foul ball is going to come back and hit the plate umpire or the catcher in the face. And it only takes one foul ball to the face to ruin one's day. I was never comfortable behind the plate that year I umpired slowpitch softball.

Just my humble opinion.

MTD, Sr.