Little League gig big-time exposure for Calgary umpire
CALGARY It isn’t just players who yearn for the big stage.
The officials, referees, linesmen and umpires do as well.
So when Brad Johnston got an opportunity to set up behind the plate for the Little League World Series U.S. final in Williamsport, Pa., on the weekend, he was as excited as the young guys out in the field.
“Absolutely,” the 36-year-old Calgarian said. “You want to be the guy that gets called at the end. Most officials would go into it with that mindset. I know I certainly do. You want to be the one there at the end that they trust to get the big assignment. It means a lot to get those calls. The prize is the opportunity to work the game.
“For anyone who hasn’t been there, it’s one of those completely unique sporting venues. The grounds are something else and to see the atmosphere created, it’s pretty special.”
Johnston worked the U.S. final between Lufkin, Tex., and Greenville, N.C., a come-from-behind 6-5 Lufkin win. The Texas side went on to the championship game, where it was soundly beaten by the Tokyo Kitasuna 12-2.
Only three Canadians had previously umpired either a semifinal or final in the 71-year history of the Little League World Series.
During the two-week tournament, Johnston appeared in 11 games. He described the process of being selected for one of the four annual major Little League championships.
“Well, be a good volunteer, show that you’re a pretty good umpire,” he said. “In Canada, we actually have an evaluation system where you have to achieve a certain mark at a Canadian championship the previous year. All the guys who achieve that mark get put into a pool and then our national umpire committee select those four umpires.
“I was picked by a committee of my peers, if you will, based on my performance last season. I’ve been at it a long time. I’m 36, I started when I was 13, so this is season 24 for me.”
Originally from Oakville, Johnston came to Calgary in 2009 and continued his umpiring career. Besides Little League, he works games for Baseball Alberta and the Western Major Baseball League. He’s a crew chief in the WMBL, where he does about half the Okotoks Dawgs home games.
His other big volunteer position is national umpire coordinator for Canada, which he has held since 2012.
But getting to do the Little League World Series, a historic event watched in countries around the globe, was particularly special.
“The cliche answer would be just another game, but no,” Johnston said. “I think the announced attendance was 26-something thousand. That’s a lot of people. It’s the ABC-TV game, televised all across North America, and I’m sure Japan picked it up and Korea. Not just another game. But you approach it the same.
“In terms of pressure or scrutiny, you don’t feel it too bad. You hear the odd thing, because you can’t not. It wasn’t too bad. More people just means more noise but not necessarily understandable noise.”
In the Williamsport stadium, the competing teams’ family, friends, etc., are right on top of their respective dugouts, so most of the commentary — good or bad — is typically coming from those areas.
“That’s where the real groans come from,” Johnston said, wryly. “The other side of it, Little League baseball is very accommodating and they preach sportsmanship and you don’t really hear too much. They do a very good job of creating a positive atmosphere.”
After this high-profile assignment, it’s back to the usual duties for Johnston.
“I’m not going to venture out to do minor league ball in Tennessee somewhere, for $1,500 a month — not that I wouldn’t enjoy it ...” chuckled Johnston, who works for the provincial government in Health and Safety. “In the Baseball Canada system, I’ll try to work through that and hopefully one day I’ll get an international assignment. Those are future goals.”