Staff Writer
While most students grow up playing baseball, others have focused on umpiring the game. Many Costa students of all grade levels have taken up umpiring Little League baseball games as a paid job.
Mira Costa senior Jack Hadley was one of the first students to take a position as an umpire. Hadley was only 13 years old when he first started umping Little League games. He began working before any formal training program was established.
“Umpiring was a great way for me to make money,” Hadley said. “I also got to be around the sport I love.”
After the company A to Z Umpires took over the training of student umpires in 2012, it introduced a more complex training program. The students participate in training in which they go to a field and listen to a lecture then practice with veteran head umpires. However, the program was not well-accepted by the student umpires.
“Umpiring was easier and more convenient before A to Z took over,” student umpire senior Quinn McCauley said. “They made the experience less enjoyable.”
El Segundo senior Jack Dulgarian, also one of the first student umpires, and Hadley created the South Bay Student Umpiring Association, and it continued to grow throughout the next couple of years. The SBSUA now covers Manhattan Beach Little League, Hermosa Beach Little League as well as the Pony Baseball League.
“The program really teaches the kids how to take responsibility, manage authority and become a leader,” President of Manhattan Beach Little League Tom Tyrer said. “Learning the skills to umpire is a nice result but a secondary purpose.”
Sophomore Carson Hart began umpiring four years ago as a seventh grader, two years after the SBSUA had begun. He umpires for Hermosa Little League and plans to continue throughout high school. Hart and his fellow student umpires make anywhere from $30-$40 per game.
“It is a great job for me because I love to watch sports and it pays well,” Hart said. “I recommend it for anyone who likes sports; it is easy and fun.”
The student umpires know how it feels to have a bad call made on them and do their best not to make any.
“You need to do well to earn the respect of the coaches and players,” senior umpire Kevin Lopez said. “Parents and coaches will always try to argue a call, no matter who is behind the plate.”
“Student umpiring is one of my favorite high school memories,” Lopez said. “I loved being around the game and getting paid to do so.”
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