I will add photos as I can, and will answer questions as I can you may e-mail me at jmh@blue17.net

I promptly returned his call, once I got home after the game I was umpiring when he left the call. I was humbled by his offer and gracefully indicated I would be honored to be an umpire in this tournament. I would check with work and then get back to him the next day.

We then went to the park where the Senior regional will be played. The fields were great and the park should be a great venue for us all to enjoy.

I also was the Plate umpire for the State final game and I had a great time. The winning team D8 seemed to have a handle on the game after the first few batters and the game was mostly un eventful. I was not able to get in a good rhythm since the two teams of pitchers were so different it seemed like it took me a few batters to re-adjust form one to the other. Needless to say the D8 team pitched theirs for the entire 5 innings and he was one of the best pictures I have seen this year so far, and that includes the High School varsity games I have done. I did get hit about five or six times in one inning where I called the D1 pitcher and catcher together and explained 'You pitch and you catch I can't call strikes if I am bailing out because I am getting hit, so you two discuses...' and I walked away the pitcher and catcher seem very amused by this, with their laughter. I think it helped them as they did get much better. The catcher even apologized since he hadn't caught much at all this season and was having his own bad day. They, the battery, were great and we did have a good time. I also had a breaking ball fall off at the cut-out and hit the catcher in the thigh of D8. As I usually do when a catcher is banged up, I went to the pitcher slowly and changed balls with him explaining that 'it seems this ball hurts your catcher'. The pitcher thought that was funny, and thanked me for giving his catcher a break while we exchanged balls.

Sent and e-mail to Honigs to have two more shirts billed to LBUA and will be picked up by Doug.

Received a phone call from Chad at Promotions west to confirm they received the two shirts and they can have the order done by Friday afternoon. Also we learned the order I sent did not have the last line print out and we were short by 12 hats. So I indicated they could use 12 hats from the LBUA order to finish, and then order the replacements with normal delivery to save a few bucks.

We all meet at IHOP for breakfast and yes I did have the rooty tooty fresh and fruity.

After that I came back to the hotel and waxed the toper the the truck, the tail gate, and did the windows to the toper.

Prepared my shoes and uniforms, got dressed and picked up Loui at his hotel and we all meet at the park and got started.

The first game is at 4:00 PM I am at third and have four calls in the first two innings with two of them being bangers. I really got into the game fast with these plays. then at second I detected three balks, two 'no pause' and one 'dropped ball'.

Then after the last out of the last game I warned a player for throwing the bat and helmet after being the last out of the game.

We then meet a crews and had our review from the evaluator. After that we all went to the Papas Pizza place for a bite to eat and drinks, there we laughed about the days events. We also worked on our nominations for the sportsmanship award and that drew some interesting conversations. We finished off a few pitchers and three pizzas and were off to our rooms by 12:30

I then waxed the sides of the truck bed and the front fenders. Went to the store for some things I needed, lunch and back to the room to prepare, pack and get mentally ready for the days games.

When we all got to the field today George Eder and I both had the last game on the plates. I bet George we (the crew I am on) would have a faster game time. We put a beer on it.

I started today at first base, not much big here today, I had a safe that was close and an out that the crowd thought was close but it was by a full step. We as a crew did a full rotation on bases three times in a row with balls hit to the fence,  but no real action at the diamond.

Game two I got to do my plate. I started the whole thing off with a strike call where my foot hit a rock or a raised dirt hill and nearly tripped me, then an inning latter I nearly tripped over the cut out. For a moment there I thought I was going to have a hard night. but it all got better after the second when I got hit in the arm by a foul and then a batter or two latter a curve ball in the dirt found my gut. well I did the same ole thing I usually do dropped my head to let my crew I got tagged and then went to the mound to replace the ball that hurts. the pitcher and catcher were amused and the catcher was sorry and did not miss another one all game.

We as a crew meet for our reviews and then headed off to bar and had dinner, and drinks. We reviewed for the sportsmanship award and told some interesting war stories. As it turned out our game went 2:13 and the other game was not recorded for the bet but there was a strong assumption that the were faster. So I conceded to George he own.

Lori came to these games with Carissa, with her sister Karie and her husband Jeff.  After the first game Carissa came running to me up the sidewalk. I carried her to the truck and I hade to get my gear for a quick turn around for the next game. I then carried her to the field and then we started that game.

Laundry day, washed in a machine and then hung the stuff all over the room to dry way too many others waiting to dry. No waxing today.

Game one was a game with lots of different things for me. The most hard to deal with was when I saw four, yes four balks that I didn't call. For some reason I just froze and did not call it. the manager was not happy with our umpiring crew and he even spoke with George the UIC. I was apologetic to my team and hope that this will never happen again. I had a coke and a diet coke for the next game to see if I could shake off the last.

Game two, first inning.... 'THATS A BALK' ,, Yes sports fans I'm back. I set the expectations in the first inning and we had no more balks the rest of the game. unfortunately for me in the two games that was the only call I actually had.

Dinner was at Old Chicago and Susan drove so we all could enjoy barley pop. We talked and laughed about all of the things so far. It was another great night. Brad and Susan came to my room for a night cap and we talked more about baseball, big surprise. We wrapped up the day around 2 AM.

Again No waxing today. Luis and I went to Salem to pick up hats and shirts. After it taking forever to find a restaurant to eat lunch we ended up at Dennys and were quite amused by the place.

Only one game today so we watched the first part of the other crews first game and I ran into Lori, Bill and Linda from Washington.

Our game was a well contested game. I had a ton of calls at first and probably the closest bang bang play of the season, of which I am 100% confident I nailed it and the runner was out. I had a lot of close safe calls today and I was totally into the game. I had a warning to a player for language but it was uneventful and the player understood.

After the game the Washington cheer team was very supportive of my game, with some good feedback and even great cheering during the game. What a plus for my experience.

Dinner was at Applebees and we had a great time again with eats and drinks, no drinking for me today and I made it to bed early at 12:30 AM.

We all met for breakfast in our hotel and then as a group went to Downtown Portland to ride on a Jet Boat. It was a great time. Sergio continued to dare the boat driver to get him wet, since he was in the middle, that basically meant that we all were going to get wet. The boat would spin and on occasion would drop the nose of the boat into the water getting the front rows soaked. After that we went to lunch and then got ready and went to the park for the games.

My first game was between what I think are the two best teams in the tournament. District 8 Oregon and Southern California. the game was great and there were very little side shows during. It again proved that good teams make an umpire look good. Southern California won with two home runs in the 6th and won with a one run lead that was challenged in the bottom of the 7th.

The second game was a bit on the slow side I had basically no calls and struggled throughout the game with keeping excited. I was able to keep loose and ready, however coming off a plate made me a bit hyped and with the lack of activity was a real challenge to keep excited. Lucky for me I was kept busy with the Arizona team as their dugout was constantly having to be warned about their behavior. The struggle for me was not too over warn and some how be able to get the behavior to stop. Each time I had to warn them about something different. The coaching staff was willing to work with me and they themselves were struggling with all that was going on.

Dinner was good, we all went for Mexican and the restaurant was nice enough to stay open for us.

I was at second for the first game and mostly I was only responsible for three balks that were called. Unfortunately on the same picture for the same thing. I am sure the pitcher was frustrated as was I since I called one I figured he would have adjusted. Like I always say if a pitcher has a bad habit they will not be able to fix the problem until they get rid of the habit. And yes the fans seemed to think the the umpiring is why their team lost the game. Not the fact that in the 7th they gave up a two run lead and offered the other team a two run lead. We and myself specifically were delivered a barrage of f-bombs. What an embarrassment for the league and the district they are representing. Many hard working volunteers that have worked many hours to allow them to have this experience just to have this event tarnished by immature behavior. What a shame.

Second game similar to the first I was at first base and not many calls a few close at the bag but not a large amount of action. I did again have a balk, and yes the manager did not agree with my assessment. I wish managers, coaches and parents would put as much energy into the teaching of pitching as they did into the arguing of the umpires.

Dinner again was at Old Chicago. This time George Walker was lucky enough to be able to join us.

Went swimming and enjoyed spending the day with Lori and Carissa. They left around 2 and I was napping for most of the afternoon.

I had the plate for the first game and third for the second. The first was a real yawner. Not much happened I did make a strong effort to keep my focus during such a game but this was real work. the second was not a great deal better but I did stay focused.  We ended our games and met with Duane who agreed the first was a real yawner.

Brad and I had beers in my room again after we got to back to the hotel.

Two games again today, we started with a basic game no real consequences but the teams played hard. the energy seemed to reflect a regular season game. We as a crew seemed to keep it together for the whole game with no real issues. the second game was a bit more complex. We had a game that seemed to have the energy of a final game. there was a large crowd and each play seemed to draw a cheer for at least half of the spectators. There were many other teams there and they were ooohing and aaahing all of the events also.

After we received a review from Doug, Duane and George. We got our assignments for the final games and here they are.

Dinner was fun as usual, and we all toasted Sergio. After dinner Sergio, Sergio II, Luis, brad and myself had beers in the room and laughed at and about many different things that had happened, Again we toasted Sergio on his assignment.

Lori called and is on the way for tonight's games and will stay over for the final game tomorrow. I can't wait to see Carissa and Lori.