: Umpires

Tuesday, July 8

Meet the Milford Little League Umpire Staff

 

Don Dozier  (District UIC, State and Regional Instructor) -

Don began umpiring in 1995 and became part of the district umpire staff in 1996.  In 2004 Don became the district 2 UIC.  Don has been a state instructor since 1998 and has served as a Southern Region umpire instructor for the last two years.

Don has umpired all age groups of Little League at the District and State level.  He was given the opportunity to call the Little League Regional in St. Petersburg, FL. and the Jr. Regional in Cartersville, GA and earned his World Series recommendation on both the small and big diamond in those tournaments.  Last year Don was honored with an opportunity to do the Senior League Regional tournament.  This year you will see Don on ESPN calling THE Little League World Series.  Just as with his regional assignments we look for Don to be in a class by himself!

 

Jim Knorr (Assistant District UIC, State and Regional Instructor)-

Jim has been umpiring Little League Baseball for 15 years.  He began umpiring games for East Marietta National Little League in 1993 and served as their Safety Director and UIC for 4 years beginning in 1996.  Jim has been a member of the D2 staff since 1995, working many district, state, and divisional tournament games at all age levels.  He is now a volunteer umpire for Milford Little League.  In 2000 he was selected to umpire in the Southern Region LLB tournament in St. Petersburg, FL where he received a World Series recommendation.  In 2006 Jim achieved his dream of umpiring in the Little Leaue World Series in Williamsport, PA where he was selected as the plate umpire for the International Championship  game.  In 2004 Jim umpired in the Southern Region Junior League tournament in Catersville, GA where he was the plate umpire for the championship game and received another World Series recommendation.  Jim attended his 3rd regional tournament in 2008 when he umpired the Southern Region Senior League tournament in Melbourne, FL.  In 2009 Jim will umpire the Big League Southern Region tournament in Ft. Lauderdale FL.  Good luck Jim!

 

 

Carlos Rodriguez Jr. (Milford L.L. UIC and State Instructor) -

Carlos began umpiring nearly 10 years ago when asked by a friend if he would like to umpire high school baseball.  Six years ago when his son Alex started playing Little League baseball Carlos gave up much of his high school umpiring assignments in order to call Little League games.  In his time in Little League Carlos has called district and state tournaments on both the small and big diamond.  In 2006 Carlos was honored to call the Jr. Regional in Cartersville, GA and earned a big diamond World Series recommendation.In 2007 Carlos was selected to call the Little League Southern Regional tournament in St. Petersburg, Fl. where Carlos earned his small diamond World Series recommendation!

 

   

Dave Hetzel (Southern Region UIC) -

Dave began umpiring Little League Baseball in 1987 with East Marietta National Little League.  He served on the Board of Directors of EMNLL from 1989 through 1994.  Dave became District UIC in 1991 and served in that capacity until he transferred out of the area in 1994.

In 1992, Dave was given the opportunity to umpire the Southern Region Little League Baseball tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Two years later, Dave was invited to umpire the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  This was the same year that MLB went on strike in August and for the first time, ESPN covered a number of the games.  Dave umpired the final gave televised on Wide Wold of Sports.  In 1995 Dave was asked to join the Southern Region Umpire Staff, a volunteer position that involves instructing umpire clinics around the region and evaluating umpires at regional tournaments.  Although Dave moved outside the Southern Region in 1994 he continued to volunteer and has remained active on the staff ever since.  Dave returned to the Atlanta area in the fall of 2003.  In 2005 Dave was appointed as Umpire-In-Chief for the Southern Region. 

  

Ted Collins (World Series Umpire Instructor) -

Ted began umpiring Little League baseball while still playing High School baseball in 1976.  At that time Ted was volunteering with District 10 in Floriday.  In 1996 Ted moved to the Atlanta area and joined the District 2 staff.  

Ted has been an instructor at the district, state and region level for several years and has been selected to instruct the refresher course for World Series umpires the past few years.

Ted has umpired many, many district and state tournament games.  In 2003 Ted was selected to umpire in the Little League Regional Tournament in St. Petersburg, FL. where he earned a World Series recommendation for the 60' diamond.  In 2005 he was selected to umpire the Senior Regional and earned a World Series recommendation for the 90' diamond.  

Ted brings great personality to the field and is a wonderful asset to the district.  He enjoys working with all of the volunteer umpires around the district and watching the young men and women participate in a sport he loves!

 

 

Bill Miller  -

In 2006 Milford Little League moved away from paid umpires and began using an all volunteer staff.  Even though he had never umpired before, Bill was one of the first volunteers to step up to the plate.

Bill has now umpired three years with Milford Little League and attended several district, state and regional umprie clinics.

In 2008 Bill had his first taste of umpiring a state tournament when he was invited to umpire the North Georgia 7 and 8 year old state tournnament in Cartersville, GA.  By all accounts Bill did a great job and had a blast!

Even though Bill's son aged out of the program at the end of the 2008 season, Bill has already signed up to umpire in 2009.

  

  

Ken Fitts-

While still playing baseball himself, Ken answered Milford Little League's call for volunteers in 2007.  To say Ken jumped in with both feet would be a BIG understatement!

In his first year, Ken became an iron man around the park, taking every game he possibly could.  He listened and soaked up everything he could. 

At the end of the year Ken was rewarded with several district tournament games as well as assignments in the 9/10 and Jr State tournaments.  Ken was also recognized by Milford's board of directors as Milford Little Leagues Rookie Umpire of the Year.

In 2008 Ken picked up where he left off in 2007.  He continued to improve his game and has again been rewarded with district and state level assignments.  Ken was also recognized as Milford Little Leagues Non Board Member Volunteer of the Year!

   

Taylor Colwell -

Taylor played baseball at Milford Little League until he aged out of the program in 2006.  That off season Taylor attended the district and state umpire camps.

In 2007 Taylor took the field and quickly began to distinguish himself as one of Milford's best new umpires.  Juggling playing in District 2's Jr's program at Chuck Camp and umpiring more than 20 games at Milford, Taylor managed to get it all done.

Taylor returned to umpire again in 2008 and had an outstanding year.  He was rewarded with several assignments in the 7 & 8 year old district 2 tournament where he again did an outstanding job!

We look forward to Taylor being a fixture at Milford Little League for years to come.

    

David Lyon -

David began volunteering at Milford when his son James was in our Pee Wee division.  David was a fixture running the pitching machine in the younger age groups for years!

In 2006 Milford Little League moved to an all volunteer umpire group and David was quick to step up to the plate.  He attended the district, state and regional umpire clinics in the off season leading up to 2006 and has been an iron man for Milford Little League ever since.  You can count on David to call any age group any time!

On opening day of 2007 David and his family was honored as Milford Little League's family of the year for their commitment to making Milford Little League the best it can be!

  

Derek Mendez - Derek began volunteer umpiring at Milford Little League in the spring of 2008. 

In his first year, Derek umpired in excess of 20 games obtaining a thorough knowledge of the Little League rules and umpiring mechanics and was ultimately recognized by the Milford board of directors as the 2008 "Rookie Umpire of the Year".

Derek has also completed numerous district, state and regional umpire clinics in an effort to further his mechanics and overall understanding of the game.

 His hard work and dedication was ultimately rewarded with a 7/8 District 2 Tournament assignement.

In 2009, Derek picked up where he left off in 2008 umpiring as many games as possible and doing a great job at it!

 

Chris Goss -  In 2009 we welcomed a new umpire to our ranks, Chris Goss of Hartwell, Georgia.  Chris has 6 kids ranging in age from 20 to 6 years old, so we have high hopes that he will be volunteering at Milford for many years to come!

When not umping at Milford Chris serves as a new church start pastor for Whole Armor of God christian Church in Atlanta. 

In his first year at Milford Chris has done a great job!  He has called many games in the minor division and hopes to call in our major division soon.

Thanks for everything your doing Chris to help make Milford the best it can be!