Local umpires relish DYWS opportunity
Aug. 9—LUMBERTON — For an umpire, working a championship event is the ultimate opportunity, and a being awarded the gig is a considerable compliment to his or her abilities.
Getting to work the Dixie Youth World Series at home? That's even more unique — and two local officials are getting that chance this week.
Alex Strickland and Anthony Maynor, both from Pembroke, have officiated games in this week's tournament, being played at the Dr. Raymond B. Pennington Athletic Complex in Lumberton, with both stating they've enjoyed themselves on the field.
"It's an awesome experience," Strickland said. "It's new for me, to get to interact and see people from all over, and just get to enjoy the atmosphere while the time's here."
Strickland has been umpiring for approximately 10 years, working everything from the high-school level to showcase ball, including previous Dixie Youth state tournaments. Roy West, the assistant state director for Dixie Youth Baseball, asked for Strickland's help booking officials for the tournament, then asked Strickland to apply, and he was selected.
"I enjoy the youth, because I want the kids to learn the right way, and get good officiating as they continue throughout their career," Strickland said.
Maynor, also from Pembroke, is a 24-year officiating veteran across a variety of levels and several sports, and as high as the collegiate level on the football field. He can now add the Dixie Youth World Series to an abundant resume.
"It's an opportunity to work — I hadn't ever worked a World Series, at this particular level, in Dixie Youth," said Maynor, who received the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Golden Whistle Award, its highest officiating honor, last month. "I've worked middle school, high school, I've worked some Legion stuff over the course of my 24 years, and I just thought it was a great opportunity to work a local world series, and also just to give back to the community, and to the local program."
Both have worked games in the "O"Zone division, for ages 12-and-under. Maynor worked Saturday's Florida-Virginia game. Strickland worked the South Carolina-Louisiana game on Saturday and Texas-Mississippi — a 16-15 marathon that, including a lightning delay, lasted over four hours — on Monday.
"Great game, just a lot of offense. A fun game to call. The kids enjoyed it, the coaches enjoyed it," Strickland said. "It's a tough game, sad that somebody's got to lose it, but that's just the nature of the beast."
The pair both worked a Florida-Mississippi game on Sunday, making their World Series experience all the more enjoyable.
"At this type of environment, when there's 14 umpires that work 'O'Zone, it's rare that you may get to work with someone you know, because you've got guys from as far as Texas and so forth," Maynor said. "But it was good to get to share the field with Alex, and I thought we worked together perfect on the bases, and we enjoyed it, we had a good time out there."
"It's somebody you feel comfortable with when you call with somebody who's been taught by the same group of guys and trained by the same group of guys; you pretty much can mirror image each other, as far as your calls and where you want to be in position and what not," Strickland said. "It was an awesome experience."
Both have enjoyed just being a part of the World Series atmosphere — and getting to do so from inside the lines.
"Overall a good experience, good games; didn't have any issues," Maynor said. "The sportsmanship, as far as the kids and coaches, was great. It's a very good atmosphere and I was glad to be a part of it. I was able to work two games, and that's all you can ask for."
Chris Stiles can be reached at 910-816-1977 or by email at cstiles@robesonian.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @StilesOnSports.
