[Blue37]

Originally Posted by rei

Classification, level...pick your term. BUT, after our re-classification alignment last year, it was pretty obvious that "playing level" comes into play, because many teams that could not play for a winning record in the old system are now some of the top teams in their new, and LOWER classification. So, indeed, the higher the classification, or "level", generally speaking, the better the baseball. I seriously doubt that the teams of lower classifications can beat the teams at higher classifications when it comes down to the state championship game.

I never said college experienced was required to work the top level state championship game, and Tim C getting the call this year proves that! It is highly unlikely that the 3rd on his crew will have college experience because I am not aware of anybody from the area the 3rd is coming from that has done college. Please read my post. I stated that usually, only college umpires are selected for the top level game. The obvious answer to your question though is that generally speaking, the college umpires are much better umpires. Indeed, we have a "few" guys (really, maybe 3 or 4 out of 154) in our association who are quite good enough for college, but don't have the time and/or commitment to work that level.

Why require that you work the level that you will work in a championship game? Hey, I don't know how it is in your state, but here, we have little dinky associations that have maybe 15 guys, who service maybe 4 schools, all of them the lowest classification schools. The bottom line is this: The baseball at those schools is nowhere as good as the top classification schools play. The high levels play harder, faster, and with far more skill! I would be VERY nervous with having a partner who does not have regular experience at that level working with me on the biggest game of the year, and frankly, the teams deserve guys that have a COMMAND of doing that level, not a guy who is used to seeing slower, less skilled baseball. Frankly, the JV teams at the top classification schools can usually beat up on the lower classification varsity teams all day long. I certainly do not want a JV umpire working with me on a state championship game.

Sorry you misunderstood what I posted earlier. Nobody else seems to have.

I sometimes forget that not all states are alike. In my state, good baseball is good baseball and bad baseball is bad baseball, regardless of classification. Your statement about top classification JV teams routinely beating lower classification varsity teams is not true here.

Likewise with umpires. A good umpire is a good umpire and a bad umpire is a bad umpire, regardless of the association to which he belongs or the classifications he works during the regular season. We are association based when assigning regular season and district tournament games, but all regional and state level games are assigned by the state organization. The state has a preseason camp each year and also has close to twenty supervisors who observe officials during the regular season and district tournaments. Even officials from the "dinky associations" have an equal chance to prove themselves.

I apologize for sensing an elitist attitude if none exists.