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Each year, the Big League Softball World Series
brings together the finest players from around the world AND some of the best
officials. Umpiring at the World
Series is not only an enjoyable experience for these volunteers but also gives
recognition of the many hours they have spent on the ball fields each
summer. Of course, simply umpiring
many games won’t get you an invitation to this series. You must be an outstanding official to
be recommended by your regional director. Only the “best of the best” make appearances at Little League National
Championships.
The umpires profiled below have distinguished
careers. They pay their own way to
Kalamazoo, usually taking a week’s vacation. This year’s group represents ten states, Canada and Puerto
Rico. Their best efforts will be given to the game they love so much. These 13 men deserve our appreciation
and gratitude! We salute the 2010
Big League Softball World Series Umpire staff!! |
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William Andrews brings 15 years of umpiring
experience to Kalamazoo from his home in sunny Seminole, Florida. He has umpired in the Little League
Southern Regional Tournaments in 2002 for Seniors,
2004 for Big League and 2007 for Majors. In addition, the electrician has also officiated high school softball
for nine years and football for four years. Unfortunately his wife, Susan, will not be able to
accompany Bill to the series.
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Terry Coburn, our umpire coordinator, has
been an important fixture at Kalamazoo’s World Series since 1983. This local favorite
from Vicksburg, his wife Sally and daughter Kate have volunteered
countless hours to make this tournament a success. Terry, an avid hunter and fisherman,
recently retired from Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
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Robert Gadling Jr. brings an impressive
umpiring resume to Kalamazoo from Alexandria, LA. He has been a “man in blue” at multiple state and
Regional tournaments in Indiana and Louisiana and is currently the Louisiana
District 3 umpire consultant. This
self-employed umpire also officiates high school baseball/softball, wrestling
and football. Robert also enjoys
reading and coaching football.
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Robert Gitchel and his girlfriend, Deb Ezell, will make the short drive to Kalamazoo
from Gobles, MI to umpire in his first World Series. The golf course foreman has been calling balls and strikes
for the past eight years. He has
worked the 9-10, Major and Big League State
Tournaments and the Major and Big League Central Regional Tournaments. In addition, Bob also officiates for
high school softball and baseball and A.S.A and N.S.A. travel ball. In his spare time Bob enjoys boating,
fishing, hunting and playing golf.
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Jim Goodwin and wife, Krisna, will make the trek to Vanderberg Park from Bristol,
Tennessee where Jim is the Assistant District Attorney General. He has been umpiring since 2002
and is an active member of TN District 5 Umpire Association. He has attended
and taught numerous Regional and National umpire clinics and has umpired in
nearly all levels of baseball and softball at the State level. Jim even had the honor of umpiring in
the 2004 EMEA Major Baseball Regional Tournament in Kutno, Poland. Jim lists photography as his main hobby
and owns his own photography studio.
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Ryan Goss has been umpiring for 25 years and is the Umpire Consultant
for softball in his hometown of Indianapolis, IN. This will be the stay at home dad’s second World Series as
he also called balls and strikes at the Little League World Series in Portland,
OR in 2005. Ryan also officiates
high school basketball, baseball and softball. Joining him in Kalamazoo for the week will be his wife,
Luci.
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Richard Graves, Jr. and wife, Janet, (who
“becomes an umpire widow when the season starts”) will travel west from their
home in Valley Lee, MD to attend this years World Series. Richard has umpired for the past 16
years at numerous state and regional tournaments in addition to serving as the
chief umpire for District 7 in Maryland. He has also attended umpire clinics in
Bristol, CT and Williamsport, PA. This propane delivery specialist is proud of his family and his goal is
“keeping the FUN in baseball and softball for everyone.”
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Dan Hrigora was raised playing Little
League Baseball and played in the “longest known game” lasting 17 innings (and
losing 2-0) in 1964. This San
Diego, CA area manager for AT&T Quality Group started umpiring full time in
1998 and has worked several regional tournaments, has been an instructor at the
West Region week-end umpire clinic and a District ADA
for 11 years. In his spare time, Dan enjoys adult
baseball and golf.
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Luis D. Lugo-Santos brings a wealth of
tournament umpiring experience to Kalamazoo from his home in Guayanilla, Puerto
Rico. This construction laborer
also enjoys coaching various levels of Little League and has attended several
baseball, softball and harassment clinics. Luis enjoys playing baseball, listening to music and working
with children. Joining him this
week will be his wife, Julissa Torres Torres. |

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Thomas Soccio's week in Kalamazoo will be a
family reunion!! Joining him from
their home in Lewistown, PA will be his wife, Karen. Also making appearances will be daughter, son-in-law and
grandson, Gina, Jeff and Eli and son and grandson, Seth and Quintin. This Accounts Payable Manger for
Overhead Door Corp-PA Division has umpired for 23 years and his resume includes
an impressive list of tournaments and clinics. Tom is currently the PA District 5 assistant to the DA and
lists church, family time, his dogs, and college football, softball and
baseball among his interests.
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Charles Thomas III and wife, Christina,
will travel east from their home in Salem, OR to participate in his second
World Series. In 2005 he was
selected to umpire an exhibition game at the Little League Softball World
Series in Portland, OR. This
Nursery Manager has umpired all levels of Little League since 1976 and has
participated in State and Regional Tournaments every year since 2000. This car buff has also officiated high school softball,
baseball and basketball.
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James Tremblay will make a relatively short
trek to Vanderberg Park from Windsor Ontario, Canada. Jim has 20 years of umpiring experience including the 1988
Junior World Series and many Canadian Regional Tournaments. He is in sales and married to Candy.
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Chris Villarreal, wife Elizabeth, and three
children: Colton, Chanie and Brittney, join us for the week from San Antonio, TX. This SIS Security Manager has been
umpiring for six years including two Regional Tournaments. He is on District 19’s training staff
and also officiates high school softball and football and youth football. In his spare time Chris enjoys golf,
pool and motorcycling.
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