Reference Umpire situation

Good Afternoon Shiloh All-Star Parents:

After numerous phone calls after the game on Sunday I wanted you to know that I contacted the person over the tournment to discuss this matter, I felt you deserve to know what response I recieved to my letter. No matter what they decide to do our girls will play strong. Let the coaches handle the umpire issues. Please support our girls in a professional way they need your support. Coach Chris and I will take care of the complaints about any unfairness that has taken place.
Thanks for your assistance in this matter.


My name is June Reid and I am the head coach of the Shiloh All-Star 8U team. I am currently not at the tournment due to family plans but am in contact with all my players and my other coaches. At this time I am requesting that the two umpires who umpired the Shiloh and Mill Creek game on Sunday (8U) not be allowed to umpire any more Shiloh games. Some of my reasons are listed below and are from the Tri-County as well as the Mill Creek Game on Sunday (same plate umpire):



At the Tri County after time outs were called by the umpire (homeplate) he allowed a runner on the opposite team to advance (more then one time)


one of my girls threw the bat and he gave her a warning (no problems here), one from the other team did it and it hit my catcher in the feet. It was not called I asked for a time out and questioned it he said she did not throw it,


at Tri-County (Mill Creek) game the other coach questioned my team mobing an outfielder into the infield (which made 7 on the infield) the plate umpire told my team to put her back in the outfield. (I have left my assistant coaches with the rules so they were able to dispute it)

My second baseman catches the ball the runner returns to first umpire in the field calls time out. She throws the ball back to the circle and the runner advances and plate umpire says it is alright. she is safe at second base.


the plate umpire told my assistant coach that if the fans in the stand (who were responding to some imappropriate calls) did not quiet down he would have my team thrown out. (seems like you should kick the fan out not the softball team)


another player (my team) has two strikes next ball comes in and it hits off the bat and goes directly to the ground. Plate umpire calls her out on strikes (refuses coaches questions)


These are just a very few of the issues that I have faced with this umpire. I am a middle class, white, female who coaches a 8U softball team of whites, blacks, hispanics, and other races. I am not saying this is race related but it sure feels that way. I have no problem with umpires calling games but it must be equal for both sides. My team would probably (it would have) lost to Mill Creek past date but we should not have to play and have to question the umpires for almost every other call. These are young girls learning to play the game they should not have to play the umpire as well.


Is it possible to keep this set of umpires from umping the Shiloh games from now to the end of the tournment? These hard working girls should have the same opportunity as other teams to play without extreme predijuce of the umpire (I wish I knew the names for you but I assume you have them)


I would be glad to discuss this matter with you via telephone and wish I could in person.

Thank you for listening to this issue,
Coach June Reid
Shiloh 8U All-Star Coach
C (404-307-7440)

I will speak with our Umpire in Chief and discuss your concerns with him. I also spoke with one of our board members last night who talked with Chris Polk regarding the same situation and he and I discussed it at length last night after I received your email.



It will be difficult to guarantee you that these umpires will not be calling your games due to their schedule being set for certain fields and depending on where you are in the bracket at any given time.


However, I will speak with the head umpire tonight and see what we can do
Thank you,

I hope that they will attempt to put another umpire on our game Friday night. I know Coach Dave, Coach Steve, and Coach Chris will take care of the girls.