Port Dover Minor Baseball is calling on baseball fans to step up to the plate as umpires this summer.
The organization is encouraging youth aged 12 and older, as well as adults, to consider getting involved.
Senior umpire Canaan Awde says he first picked up the role as a teenager and never looked back.
Awde has been umpiring for nearly 20 years and now works both fast pitch and hardball games in Port Dover and Simcoe. He says making the shift from player to umpire offers a new perspective.
Umpiring is a paid position and a way to stay active in the sport. New umpires start at Level 1, complete a clinic, and can move up through certification levels over time.
Awde says the certification pathway allows officials to grow in the game.
Level 1 and 2 umpires attend annual clinics, while Level 3 officials complete a clinic every three years along with online testing.
Port Dover’s Level 1 and 2 clinic is set for April 18 at 9 a.m. Those interested can learn more at playoba.ca or reach out to Kadey Oliver at kadeyo@hotmail.com.
Jeremy Hall
