~ PVN staff report
LURAY, April 4 — In late February, Little League® released a list of more than 100 umpires selected to volunteer for seven Little League® World Series events in 2024. Among those names was Patrick Reed of Luray from the Southeast Region. Reed will join a field of 14 umpires from all across the country this summer to officiate the games of the 2024 Little League Softball World Series, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in Greenville, N.C.
“Being named an umpire at one of our seven World Series events is an honor that thousands of Little League umpires strive for each year and has long been known as an opportunity to showcase their hard work and give back by helping to provide a fun and memorable experience for the hundreds of participants from around the world,” Stu Hartenstein, Little League Director of Umpire Development and Operations, stated in a Feb. 23 press release. “As we look ahead to yet another exciting summer and continue to find new ways to enhance our umpire development opportunities, we are proud to announce the well-deserving volunteers who have been selected to serve at this year’s events.”
Reed is the only umpire in the Little League Softball World Series crew from Virginia. He’s one of only five umpires from the Old Dominion spread across all seven Little League World Series events.
The selection process to become a World Series umpire is lengthy and rigorous and has become an honor that only a select group have gone on to achieve, according to the press release. In order to be eligible to volunteer in a Little League World Series event, an umpire must first have competed in a region tournament event. After that experience is completed, the process for selection to work a World Series begins with an application submitted by each volunteer umpire through the Umpire Registry. Once received, the District Administrator may also provide comments to the region office for review.
Additionally, select umpires may also be invited to participate in a Tournament Umpire Identification Camp, held in person at one of Little League’s five U.S. Region locations to help assess their skills and provide further education.
The Little League International selection committee then considers all nominated umpires in coordination with the nine U.S. Region offices before selecting those who most closely meet the selection criteria. Individuals who meet those qualifications are then screened annually by the Little League International selection committee and region staffs for selection to umpire in a Little League World Series tournament.
“Appointment as a member of the volunteer umpiring crew for a World Series is the highest honor that Little League can bestow on an umpire,” the press release states. “To support their efforts, Little League International provides each of the selected volunteers with a travel stipend to help offset the costs to attend their respective World Series events.”
All of the umpires at the Little League Baseball and Softball Region and World Series events will once again be provided with Gerry Davis Sports uniforms as part of a three-year agreement with Gerry Davis Sports as the Official Umpire Uniform Provider of the Little League World Series.
“Volunteer umpires are one of the most important aspects in the success of local Little League programs around the world and play a pivotal role in the experience of all our players throughout the Little League International Tournament,” the press release states. “As a way to continually develop these volunteer umpires throughout the year, Little League International offers a variety of digital training and educational resources available on LittleLeague.org/Umpires, a bi-monthly Fair Ball Newsletter, access to the free Little League Umpire Registry, and formal training through Umpire Clinics and Schools around the nation. Additionally, the umpires for the 2024 Little League Baseball and Softball World Series will once again participate in a multi-day orientation.”
Founded in 1939, Little League® is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with approximately two million players (ages 4-16) playing baseball and softball in communities across every U.S. state and more than 80 other countries. Operated by more than one million volunteers, Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities.
For more information on the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.
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