The Challenger Game

No game during this Tournament will exceed the value, the experience, of this game for me.  Awesome is not even close to a description.  I had shied away from Challenger games.  At the VSTUA meetings, we have heard often how these games can be tough, even though they are begging for Umpires for the Challenger Jamboree each Mother's Day weekend down in Virginia Beach. 

The time had arrived for the Challenger game and we had our usual pregame meeting, this time with all 8 Umpires in attendance.  If you have ever umpired a game with 6 Umpires and thought it was an over kill, this game could have had 3 times that many and maybe more.  I found out later, that the Challenger program was just started here last year and an attempt was made to have a Challenger game in last year's Regional Tournament, but there was simply not enough time to have it.  This year, we played pool play for 2 days and then an "off" day, which provided time for the game.  (Jen Colvin would later announce at the Banquet at Robins AFB that this was the inaugural game of the first of many.)

If you are an Umpire and you've never umpired a Challenger game or been involved, this synopsis is really for you.  It is the best game in town and the best game of this Tournament without doubt.  This just solidifies what I said about everything else about this Tournament is what goes on outside the real ball games.

Not knowing what to expect as well most of our Umpire crew, Marshall wrote one simple note on our board......Call no one out in this game.  The first note from the first day was still there.....Have fun.  Fun I've found is not avoidable.  We have a great Umpire crew.  Maybe I'll post just about the eight of us.

We played 2 innings.  I think we sweat more in this game than any of the other games.  Not sure why.  The teams were introduced, with the announcer telling the favorite things about each player.  Umpires were the next introduced.  As in all other games, it was followed by our National Anthem. 

Initially, most of us just applauded any action by a player, either batting or fielding.  Before the game was over, we had enjoyed the positive experiences with those that were in the game.  We gave them high five's, etc.  Some players were even recruited and taught to give safe calls.  One picture that I will hopefully post soon will show a player named Tyler in a great shot with Guy Vilt, one of our 2 Florida Umpires.  It is similar to a picture that will adorn the Umpire Room at the stadium adjacent to the Umpiring crews from last year's softball and baseball Tournaments at the new home for the Southeastern Region.  It is a "Tough Man" pose.  Except, you can't see Tyler's eyes because he's wearing cool sunglasses.  During the game, Carla noticed her Grandmother in the stands and the game of baseball became secondary.  She became very frantic because she did not have her hat.  Buddy Peyton, our Georgia Umpire was holding her hat for her, and after she was able to retrieve and wear it for her Grandmother, she again concentrated on the game, with encouragement from a coacher, many of which were on the field during the game.

Some of the players stayed on the field after the game to show off their moves to the music that continued to play.  And, during the game the Umpires added to their and my repertoire, the Chicken Dance.  Again, the crowd, and most importantly the players enjoyed it.  Since there were 8 of us in the game and we knew ahead of time that "YMCA" would be played, we planned that we would pair off in 2's and each spell out one letter.  Simple, huh?  What we did not know was that it would be announced that anyone that would, "Like to help the Umpires, please join in" would create some additional members, including a member of the Warner Robins Police Department.  Our plan turned out to be a disaster for us, but still well received.

Now a little about what I've not really wanted to make these posts about....me.  My experiences, yes, but me, no because I'm not the only one of our Chantilly Umpires to umpire in a Regional Tournament.  I have to admit, I'm not the only one of our Umpire crew who was moved to emotion by this game.  It simply will humble you. It will help you realize some of the things you might take for granted.  So, take a minute and realize all the things you can be thankful for.  I know I did before, during and after this game.  At the clinic that Darren and I attended in Kissimmee, Florida, Jim Evans, a long time Major League Umpire, taught us that every pitch and every play in every game you umpire is important to someone.  How true that was for this game.