Volume 1, Issue 3 Superclinic Success! May 2009 “It was the best Super- National Supervisor Corrie umpires from around the prov- clinic, by far” Davis and Former Major ince. Leaguer Ian Lamplugh were The first ever Friday Night Poker also present to take the troops were the statements echoed Challenge was won by young through their paces in gym and by many who attended Super- card shark Sean Weatherhill. classroom sessions. clinic 2009 in Surrey. BCBUA Each participant received a door welcomed 52 students to Sur- The instructor corps was prize and a gift (Satchel) plus a rey Christian School for 2 days rounded out by BC’s finest clinic shirt. of instruction from some of the clinicians which made for an Superclinic will move away from world’s finest instructors. unforgettable weekend for Vancouver next year because of those in attendance. International Baseball Federa- the Olympics and it is hoped that tion Supervisor of Umpires Social activities on Friday and Vancouver Island and the Interior Dick Runchey was on hand to Saturday provided for an excel- will both host a similar event next provide his usual top notch lent opportunity to meet and spring. instruction. Baseball Canada greet our guests and meet other Provincials Just Around the Corner BCBUA has appointed long the field, he continues to contrib- the logistics of staffing several time veteran Don Hass as the ute off the field in many different tournaments on the same week- new Provincial’s Chairman for ventures our association is pursu- ends. Don was also instrumen- the 2009 championship season. ing. Don assures us that there is tal in spearheading the new Hass is currently on a sabbati- a huge need for umpires at the travel fund that BCBUA has set cal of sorts as he recovers from various Provincials this summer. up. The fund will assist offi- some medical issues that have cials in rural areas who have to The deadline to apply is May 31. prevented him from umpiring travel to larger centers to get Level 3 umpires will get first over the past 18 months. And experience working in high dibs but we expect to take a large while Hass is sorely missed on profile tournaments. number of level 2 umpires due to World Baseball Classic Concludes… By now we all know that Ja- pires on the field for the tour- pan won the World Baseball nament for the first time ever. Classic in a fantastic conclu- Stephane Dupont from Mont- sion to a great tournament in real and Corrie Davis from March. It was Japan’s 2nd Edmonton were part of the EBALL UMPIRE’S ASSOCIATION successive victory in this crew of MLB/IBAF umpires event. Better news is that who worked the tournament. there were 2 Canadian um- (Continued on page 3) Calendar of Events: July 16-26 World Baseball Challenge – Prince George, BC August 6-9 Junior National Championships – Trois Rivieres, PQ August 6-9 Baseball Canada Cup – Kindersely, SK August 13-16 Midget National Championships – Fredericton, NB August 20-23 Peewee National Championships – TBA August 20-23 Bantam National Championships – TBA August 20-23 Bantam Girls National Championships – TBA August 20-23 Sr. Men’s National Championships – Dartmouth, NS August 22-30 Canada Summer Games - PEI BRITISH COLUMBIA BAS October 15-18 Baseball Canada Caravan – Edmonton, AB November 22 BCBUA Annual General Meeting (Tentative) – Victoria, BC Hey Blue! Online Baseball Canada Umpire Clinic At long last BCBUA hosted a high-level The 23 current Baseball Canada members Saturday night featured a banquet and umpire clinic for National/International and 13 prospective members attended the good will. Last season’s umpire accom- level umpires and those wishing to join weekend event in Langley which featured plishments were recognized and an- the Baseball Canada umpire program. special guest instruction from Ian Lam- nouncements were made with respect to Richard Christie, our Provincial Supervi- plugh and Corrie Davis. this year’s Baseball Canada assignments. sor, gets full marks for his hours of effort Interesting discussion took place during Christie indicated that there would be in putting this successful venture to- the classroom sessions on Friday and another similar clinic next season as gether. This clinic was a long standing Sunday with live Premier League game BCBUA attempts to improve its high goal of the BCBUA Education committee action for participants to umpire on Satur- level umpire program. which originally submitted a desire to day. Umpires were evaluated and taught host this event in 2006. how to evaluate by BC’s finest. National Championship Assignments for 2009: Congratulations to the following people who were selected to represent this province at this summers Canadian Na- tional Championships. We know that all of you will represent this province proudly. Peewee boys Bill MacMillan – Trail & Ed Berkenstock – Courtenay Bantam girls Kelly Hunter – Kelowna Bantam boys Chris Connelly – Kamloops Midgets Jerry Tregaskis – N. Delta Junior Fabian Poulin – Nanaimo & Fred O’Rourke – Vancouver Seniors Will Hunter – Courtenay & Steve Boutang – Cranbrook Canada Cup Chris Addison – Vancouver & Nick Moore – Courtenay & Richard Christie (Supervisor) – White Rock Canada Summer Games Chet Masse – Victoria Stump the Ump Answer from Issue 2 So here is the question from of sanctuary for the base run- vance because the batter run- Issue 2 back in January. ner. Many times people think ner is awarded first in this that because the base runner situation. With runners at first and sec- is standing on a bag he is ond base and two out, the safe regardless of what else In the case of an infield fly, batter hits a line drive straight is going on. In fact this in not the base runners must remain back at the runner at second the case. The base runner at their bases and as such who is standing completely must avoid being hit with a the base does become sanc- on his base when he is struck fair batted ball at all times ex- tuary and the runner is not by the line drive. The pitcher cept in the case of an infield out. But this play was not an made an attempt at catching fly. If the base runner is infield fly as it was a line drive the ball, but he missed it com- struck by a fair batted ball be- and two were out. pletely and no other infielders fore an infielder (other than had a chance to make an at- the pitcher) has a chance to Your job as an umpire is to tempt. play it, then they are out for know these small differences interference. All other runners in the rules and apply them The key part of this question return to their time of pitch almost instantaneously. is whether the base is a form base unless forced to ad- VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 2 (Continued from page 1) head in a ball game, I’ll be able to go and and went over the four umpire system. We take the test again and they can measure also received our uniforms and it was al- Davis and Dupont are both former BC those results against my baseline results to most overwhelming to see that WBC crest Superclinic instructors and friends of our determine if I have been concussed. There on my hats and shirts…it was like it finally program. are probably some managers out there clicked that this was really happening. who think I’ve been concussed for my The spring training games went pretty I had a chance to sit down and talk with whole career: Corrie about the experience at the recent smoothly…I felt well prepared and wasn’t Baseball Canada Umpire Clinic in Lang- S.B. -How much mental ability is involved in as nervous as you might expect. We did ley. Part 1 of this interview appears in this umpiring at the International/WBC level? three Spring Training games and worked with a few different umpires. I always edition. Check out the next edition for the C.D. -It’s a huge component for sure. The knew that MLB umpires were the best balls/ remainder of our conversation. umpires in the world…but watching their strikes/ every movement from the field (instead of S.B. -What kind of Prep time was involved in safes/outs from the stands or on TV) really helped getting ready for the WBC? (When did you part is just me to see that even more clearly. They are find out you were going, what kind of train- like it is in so well prepared, they read plays so well, ing did you have to attend, etc) every other and they work so hard…it’s easy to see level of C.D. - I found out about the WBC assign- why they are right almost all of the time. ment in mid-September of last year. We baseball… were told at that time that we would need it’s just S.B. -How were you treated as a WBC um- to attend the MLB camp in November, that the pire? stakes are so much higher at an event like MLB Spring Training in February/March, C.D. -First class all the way. We were this and you have to be able to stay fo- and then be available for the three week treated like an MLB umpire…even my cused and not get caught up in the mo- long WBC event (a five week commitment accreditation said “Corrie Davis – Major ment. It takes a lot of focus to be able to in total). League Umpire.” We stayed in a beautiful block out a huge crowd, the fact that resort right on the beach, we flew first I reported to MLB camp in Long Beach, you’re in a big stadium, working with st class, we ate in nice restaurants, we had California on November 1 .