Best view in the ballpark

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Kevin Macho and his friends Brad Parker and Jeff Thompson have the best seat in the ballpark umpiring at the Little League World Series Western Regional this week in San Bernardino, California.

“When you’re selected for something like this, you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing all of the volunteers who have been giving their time at the local little league level, the district level and the state level,” Macho said.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for somebody who just absolutely loves the game of baseball,” he added. “I love it down to my core. I started watching the Cubs in 1983 on a 13-inch black and white in my parent’s room.”

Macho, 43, started umpiring for La Center Little League in 2009. He serves Washington District 6 and works games for La Center, Battle Ground, North Clark, Highlands and other little leagues in Clark County. Parker, 41, has been an umpire for six years. He lives in Albany, Oregon. Thompson, 57, has 20 years of service. He lives in Gresham, Oregon.

The Western Regional runs through Saturday. The winner of the northwest and west brackets advance to the Little League World Series August 16-26 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Macho said hundreds of umpires apply for these regional tournaments every year. He, Parker and Thompson were three of the 14 selected.

“We could have flown, but we decided to do this the old fashioned way and drive,” Macho said. “It’s a pretty cool opportunity to ride down with your buddies and talk baseball. A lot of learning happens when you talk about situations that you’re in and what you would do.”

Parker and Thompson have umpired at little league regional tournaments before. Macho is a regional rookie.

“That means I carry their bags and I fetch them water,” Macho said with a laugh. “I guess if there was a pink backpack, I would be the one carrying a pink backpack.”



After coaching his own children in La Center, Macho thought becoming a league board member and an umpire were the next logical steps. He thanked all the people who helped him along the way.

“It’s just amazing how many hands go into somebody actually becoming a very good product as an umpire,” Macho said. “This organization has been just amazing from the very beginning. No matter what level I’m at or get to as an umpire, I will always come back to Little League. They are the ones who made me who I am.”

He also gained a better appreciation for the game by seeing it through the eyes of an umpire and not just a player, coach or a fan.

“Everybody makes mistakes. Having done that on the umpiring side, you are much more aware of how important it is to treat umpires with respect. They are volunteers,” Macho said. “If we end up treating the umpires awful, we are going to run some of the umpires off and they are not going to come back and we need them. It just gives you both perspectives.”

Macho hopes this regional tournament will make him a better umpire and student of the game. Just like when he was a little leaguer, reaching the World Series is still the ultimate dream.

“You get to go down and be with people you enjoy being around, do what you love and become better at your craft,” Macho said. “Just everything about it is an amazing opportunity.”