Softball Ontario has produced some of the mostexperienced, disciplined and well-respected Umpires in the softballworld.  Softball Ontario has one of the best Umpires Programs in thecountry.  Our Umpires continue to respresent our program in aprofessional manner.  Below are articles that relate specifically to theSoftball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpires.  Enjoy reading!  Here is aquick index of articles to allow Fast Pitch Umpire to quickly access theinformation they want.

 

 

The Softball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpires Program ispleased to announce the following Fast Pitch Umpires have beenselected and the respective alternates :

 

 

1.  Steve Gallagher-Cobourg, ON
MichaelFeldbloom-Thornhill, ON
Stephen Sciuto-Ajax, ON
Andrew Clark-Kitchener, ON

Bantam Girls, Oakville, ON, July 29-August 2, 2009
1.  Angelo Cerisano-North Bay, ON
Jordan Hearn-Hagersville, ON
Gord Jay- Oshawa, ON
Maurice Carde-Stratford,ON 

Midget Girls, Brampton, ON, August 2-9, 2009
1.  Paul Tanti- Innisfil, ON
Josh Hamilton-Rockwood,ON
Conrad Walpot-Kingston, ON
Alsie Jack-Whitby, ON

Junior Women’s, St. Catharines, ON, August 2-9, 2009
1.  Kelly Jo Murphy-Kitchener, ON
Peter Klein-Thornhill, ON

Glen Whitwell, Ancaster, ON
Bob Moses, Kingston, ON

Junior Men’s, Owen Sound, ON, August 2-9, 2009
1.  Dave Mills- Acton, ON
Dick Beaudoin- Amherstburg,ON
Mike Morrissey- Peterborough, ON
Dave Norris- Westmeath, ON

1.  Justin Van Horn-Blenheim, ON

Senior Women’s, Open for Bids, TBD
1. Norm Lyon- Oshawa, ON
Bruce Ellis- Newmarket, ON
Ted Burchell-Newmarket, ON
Gary Chenier- London, ON

1.  Jimm Barr- London, ON
Jay Hart- Dunnville, ON
Tim Whitelaw- Kitchener, ON
Terry Burr- Pusclinch, ON
Rob Deakin-Woodstock, ON

 

Softball Ontario would like to congratulate all of the Umpireswho may be attending Canadian Championships; each attending Umpirewill be provided an official Softball Canada shirt for their first appearanceat a Canadian Championship, courtesy of Softball Ontario.  Financialsupport for travel to and from the Canadian Championships will be provided bySoftball Ontario to each of the selected umpires.

 

TheSoftball Ontario Canadian Championship Application Process governed theselection of Umpires for the 2009 Canadian Championships for both Slo-Pitchand Fast Pitch which is available online at www.softballontario.ca.  TheApplication Process was developed in 2005 for both the Slo-Pitch Umpire’sProgram and the Fast Pitch Umpire’s Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JimBradford was truly the complete umpire.  He achieved his level V statusin both Fast Pitch and Slo-Pitch and constantly devoted his timeon developing techniques and implementing methods of improvement. Jim cared deeply for the game of softball as well as his fellow umpires andgained world-wide respect for his craft.

We have another umpire who is still active in our great sport of softballwho is finally being recognized for the same level of commitment and greatpassion.  Working on and off the field for the past thirty five years,this umpire has the fortitude to get back up and keep going when the goinggets tough.  Although this is not a new phrase, the umpire coined theterm on the field responding to an unruly coach: “Do I look new?”

Noreen Atkinson has been mentoring young umpires for years.  As anelite catcher in the game, she easily slid into the role of umpire. Noreenattended her first Canadians in the 80’s and received her Level V in PEI in2002. 

To prepare for those Canadians, she attended theCanada Summer games the previous year.   It was the shout that washeard around Canadian ball parks everywhere!  Somewhere under thatbeautiful tree….we heard….”Oh my god!!!  Is that MY game going on overthere?”   There are times that hard lessons are learnt ……………and yes,Noreen fell asleep and missed her game…

Let’s talk about commitment!  Selection for the ISF Junior Women’sWorlds in the Netherlands is an amazing accomplishment.  Planescancelled…. transportation from airports missed…..but Noreenpersevered………booked her own flight………got on trains……..and managed to arrive ather foreign destination in time for the event.

Participating in Canadian Championships as both an umpire and supervisor,Noreen devotes a great deal of time to instruct and mentor all those aroundher.  Whether singing in the rain and coal mines in Nova Scotia,instructing at a clinic or umpiring a mite game, she is an umpire thatcontinually gives back to the game that she loves.

After all these achievements, Noreen is currently the Zone Umpire-in-Chiefof a very active zone.  Noreen inspires us all.  A single mother ofan university son, Noreen just recently graduated with her Masters ineducation.   We would all like to congratulate Noreen  as thefirst female recipient of the Jim Bradford Award.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our sport.

TheFast Pitch Umpire Committee:
Peter Kluszczynski – FP PUIC
Dave Mills– FP DPUIC
John Snook – FP DPUIC
Leslie Pipher – FP DPUIC 

 

 

 

 

On behalf of Softball Ontario and the Fast PitchUmpires Committee, Softball Ontario is pleased to announce Angie Cerisanoas the Home Run Sports Zone Umpire-in-Chief of the Year, also known as theZUIC of the Year.  The Home Run Sports ZUIC of the Year is an annuallygiven to a Zone Umpire in Chief who has made outstanding contributions to theSoftball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpires Program and to their Fast Pitch UmpireZone.  Angie is no exception to this rule.

It was natural progression for Angie as he switched over to Softball Ontarioafter being a Baseball Umpire for many years.  Angie registered withSoftball Ontario in 2000 after seeing the light and realizing that Softball isby far a better game than Baseball.  Angie has strived to put northernOntario on the map by improving the Softball Ontario Umpires Program in hisregion.   Under Angie’s leadership, he ensures that Zone 11 hosts atleast one Umpire clinic a year which is a huge feat for his extremely largegeographical zone he looks after.  Angie is often known to put his ownneeds aside and gets great pleasure out of mentoring Umpires to improve theirgame. 

In the last two years, the Softball Ontario Fast PitchUmpires Committee selected two (2) Umpires from Zone 11 to represent SoftballOntario at two different Canadian Championships.   Angie was veryinstrumental in preparing these Umpires to represent the Softball OntarioFast Pitch Umpires program well.  Under Angie’s strong direction,Zone 11 was able to tackle any requests for an On-Field Evaluation, ruleinterpretation questions or servicing many private tournaments.

During the off season, Angie was the mascot for the now defunct North BayCententials.  His nickname was “Casey Jones” and his costume looks justlike Angie except 100 pounds heavier, crooked nose and all.  Angie hasalso played “Nipper” the Police Dog for Crime Stoppers.  If you have everumpired with him, it is crime the way he howls in call his game!! Another stint that Angie did was play Polkaroo the Kangaroo (somewhat the wayhe covers the bases).

 

TheFast Pitch Umpires Committee would like to wish Angie well the 2009Bantam Girls Canadian Championship and are confident that he will have asuccessful tournament. 

Congratulations on a job well done inZone 11 and the Fast Pitch Umpires program is thrilled that you are apart ofthe Best Blue Crew in Canada, the Softball Ontario Umpires Program. 

Great job Angie!

 

 * Photo courtesy of MarianneBaier

*photo courtesy of Doug Cundall