Umpires announced for World Cup of Softball and Battle of the Border

[IRISHMAFIA]

Umpires Announced for KFC World Cup of Softball and Border Battle

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the umpires selected to work the KFC World Cup of Softball and the Border Battle, July 22-26, in Oklahoma City. Thirteen umpires from eight different states and three different countries will work this International event.
“We, as we did last year, have assembled a group of umpires from each country represented in this year’s World Cup of Softball and Border Battle,” said ASA Supervisor of Umpires Kevin Ryan. “These umpires have a lot of experience in National Championships in their country along with International Events. I am sure the umpires assembled for this event will give the teams playing the game 100% of their ability and do the best job they can when on the field. It is a pleasure to have all of them represent ASA as well as their local Associations, Softball Canada and the Japan Softball Association in these prestigious events.”

Four umpires make return trips to the World Cup including Scott Thomas (Broken Arrow, Okla.) who most recently umpired the 2009 ISF Men’s World Championship. Bryan Smith (Lansing, Mich.) has worked several ASA National Championships, two ISF Men’s World Championships and a World Cup. Katrina Kershaw (Lakewood, Calif.) returns after officiating in last year’s World Cup while Christie Cornwell (Greensboro, N.C.) returns after umpiring the event in 2007.

Other umpires representing the U.S. are Bobby Shelton (Henderson, Nev.) and Brenda Terpstra (Lynden, Wash.) who have worked ASA National Championships and are making their first-ever appearance in a World Cup. There will be two foreign umpires working the bases in Canada’s Tonya Ribalkin and Japan’s Harutoshi Kitayamam, both umpiring their first World Cup.

Five umpires will work the second annual Border Battle, for the first time in their careers. Representing the United States are Sean Barel (Shelby Township, Mich.), Jimmy Derrick (Douglassville, Ga.), Kerry Joseph (Lanham, M.D.) and L.V. McCree (Vista, Calif.). Barel is the Deputy UIC for Detroit and has worked the highest level of slow pitch including the ASA Hooters Championship Series. Derrick has also worked the HCS and is one of a few umpires certified in ISF Slow Pitch. McCree and Joseph have represented their associations at the HCS as well as the Armed Forces Championships, along with Derrick and Barel.

The lone representative from Softball Canada is Gerry Zvonkin who has worked the highest level of slow pitch in Canada.

[SergioJ]

Congratulatios to all who were selected! Having the honor of working with Jimmy Derrick, Kerry Joseph and Christie, I can certainly say that they are very worthy of their selections. Good luck to all umpires, whether working a World Cup/Battle of the Border, National Championships, or even at the local level.

Serg

[BuggBob]

Brenda is my DUIC! I was on the plate for her first game ever. She is a great umpire and an even better person.

Bugg