UMPS: Really ought to love 'em

Recently, it was enjoyable to read about two people who have affected the quality of baseball/softball umpiring in the local area. When I served as President of the Coeur d’Alene Little League from 1992-1995, there was a key word that scared parents away from involvement in the organization: volunteering. And no job was feared more than umpiring.

Through research, I found out that Jim Edinger was deeply involved in softball. I spoke with him many times, and he was kind and helpful with ideas for developing our umpiring system. One of the coaches and parents at the time was a (young?) man named Frank Garcia. With an avid appetite for baseball, he developed into a well known ump, and now he has been summoned to San Bernardino to umpire in the Little League Regional Tournament. Good for him, and the sport. And despite a little shoulder problem, my youngest, Colin, learned to throw a mean curve ball from Frank at 8 years old.

To all you screaming parents who attend the games, if you think you can call a better game than “blue,” put on your cup (ladies too) and step behind the plate. I guarantee you’ll zip your lips and volunteer to work the snack shack!

RIP Jim, you left a fine legacy. And Frank will probably be like a kid on Christmas morning when he dresses up, and steps on to the field in Berdoo — have fun!

GEORGE WHITNEY

Hayden