Umpire Biography

I first started Umpiring for my Father's Slo-Pitch League in the Goulds in 1988.  During a Slo-Pitch Tournament in late September of 1991, I was approached by a fast-pitch umpire, Brenda Butt, who had happened to be watching the game.  She asked if I would like to start umpiring fast pitch with the local umpires organization - "Metro".  In April of 1992, Gabe Babineau and Max Pye came to Newfoundland and held an Umpires Clinic.  I registered with Softball Newfoundland as a Level I Fast/Slo Pitch Umpire and was giving the opportunity to umpire Various levels of ball from mite to Senior 'B' Men's.  In 1993, at the age of 19 - I started umpiring in the Junior and Senior Men's League at Lion's Park.  In 1994, I registered as a Level II, and 1996 as a Level III.

During the span of 1996-1997 I umpired in two provinces; Newfoundland and Ontario.  I spent the summer of 1996 & 1997 in Ottawa working with the Ceremonial Guard.   I umpired with the local organization under the direction of Zone 10 UIC George Findley.  I had  the opportunity to umpire at two provincial's in the area and various levels of ball from Midget to Senior Men's.  During the Fall, late August and September I umpired in Newfoundland.

In 1999, I was asked if I would like to attend a Canadian Championship.  I attended the Midget Boys Fast Pitch Tournament in Kitchener, ONT.  I worked the C4 plate and 2nd base on the championship game. Max Pye, the UIC and Doug Hadley DUIC of the tournament told me that I should start working on getting a Level IV theory course completed in order to have the opportunity to some day umpire at a Senior Men's Tournament.  At the Metro Umpire's AGM in October, I was selected as the HSRS Umpire of the Year for Newfoundland. 

In 2002, Randy Souliers and John Baldwin held a Level IV theory course at the Ashley Building in St. John's.  A week later we had our Umpires AGM and I was elected President of the Metro Umpires Organization.  I attended my second Canadian Championships, the 2002 Midget Boy's in Napanee, ONT.  Under the guidance of UIC Frank Hughes, and DUIC Jerry Kirk, I worked a total of 8 plates including a tie-breaker game, C6 game and Bronze Medal game.  I received a Junior Men's recommendation.  At the Umpires AGM I received the HSRS umpires award for Newfoundland.

In 2003, I attended the Junior Men's Championships in Waterloo, ONT - the year of the illegal pitch.  UIC Robert Stanton and DUIC James Herbert supervised the tournament.  I officiated the C1 game on the plate and 3rd Base in the Championship Game.  In the championship game, the year of the illegal pitch, I called 21 illegal pitches against the Newfoundland Pitcher and 18 for the Jarvis Pitcher.  At the tournament, I received a recommendation to a Senior Men's Tournament for consistency in calling the illegal pitch.

In 2004, I attended the Senior Women's Championship in Charlottetown, PEI.  Supervisors were UIC Mary deBruyn and DUI Luice Carmicheal.  I sustained a foot injury early in the tournament, however it healed within two days.  I worked a total of six plates including the Bronze Medal Plate.  Upon completion of the tournament I received a Senior Men's Recommendation.

In January of 2005 I was appointed UIC by Lloyd Power for Softball Newfoundland & Labrador.  I attended the Senior Men's Championship in St. Thomas, ONT (August 28 - Sept 4).  Supervisors were UIC Brian Van Os and DUIC Gabe Babineau.  Working Level V's at the tournament included Bob Henning, Don Bracey, Jimm Barr and Ian Brown.  I worked the C1 game on the plate and 1st base in the Bronze Medal Game.  On Sunday Oct 2nd I received a phone call from the National Director of Umpires, Mr. Robert Stanton, congratulating me on my appointment as a Level V Umpire.

In 2006 (Prince George, BC) and 2007 (St. John's, NL) I worked the Senior Men's as a Level V working official.  Supervisors were 2006 - Chris Lee & Brian Van Os, 2007 - Gabe Babineau & Brian Sharples.

This coming year I will be a supervisor (Deputy Umpire in Chief) of the Midget Girls FP Canadian Championship in Stellerton, Nova Scotia.

2005 Senior Men's Fastpitch - St. Thomas, ONT