I had been assigned to work on a crew with Adam Poirie (Ontario) and Jeff Chipley (Alberta). I was the crew chief, and old guy on the crew.

Our opening game of the tournament was between New Brunswick and Alberta, with Adam on the plate. We were all a bit unsettled before & during the game. We worked a fine ball game, as Alberta just kept the pressure on New Brunswick all day. When the dust settled in the game, Alberta had picked up their first victory by a score of 9-7.

Our second game on Thursday was the showcase game of the day. Vaughn was playing Manitoba right after the opening ceremonies. This game was also being showed on tape delay, on local TV. I had drawn the plate assignment in this game. The game was 2:20 for five innings; your typical Bob plate game. Manitoba committed 6 or 7 errors, and Vaughn destroyed the baseball. The final score in the game was 24-8 (that is not a typo 24-8).

We then moved into Friday, where our first game was the 8:30AM game between Vaughn & Saskatchewan. It was Jeff’s turn to work the plate. This game was very intense, and both starting pitchers pitched well. The team from Saskatoon committed a few costly errors in the game, and Vaughn cruised to victory. This game had a couple of arguements in it, but everyone remainded in the ball game.

The second game of the day was Quebec-PEI, and Adam was back on the dish. The game was rather routine, other than the 1st base umpire/crew chief ended up leaving in the forth inning. Due to a medical issue, I had to leave the game part way through, and Miles Parr stepped in and worked the final three innings. All was well after this point. The rest of the game continued to cruise, and Quebec picked up the victory. PEI ended up going 1-4 in the tournament, and finished 11th, but they were able to play with Quebec most of the day.

We then moved into play on Saturday. I was assigned the plate, at 8:30 AM, between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. New Brunswick was 1-2, and Nova Scotia was 0-3. However, they both still could finish 3rd in the pool, and move into the quarter finals. Nova Scotia jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but New Brunswick chipped away tying the game in the game at 7 in the top of the 6th. Nova Scotia was able to get 2 runs back and they won 9-7. Now they would have to wait and see what Newfoundland did against Ontario. After Newfoundland lost, New Brunswick got 3rd, Newfoundland 4th, and Nova Scotia 5th in the pool, all at 1-3.

I was then assigned to work 1st base in the quarter-final between Vaughn & Ontario. This game was very intense, and drew a huge crowd. A spot in the semi-finals against Quebec was on the line. I worked this game with Patrick Trembley (Quebec) and Alen Mijic (Ontario). The Ontario pitcher threw 3 pick-off attempts away. Vaughn ended up winning 3-1.

On Saturday night the assignements for Sunday came out, and I had two games to work. I was working 3rd base in the 9-10 game between Manitoba and Nova Scotia, and working the plate in the Bronze Medal game.

The 9-10 game saw Nova Scotia open a 13-2 lead in the early innings, but Manitoba’s bats then came alive. I worked this game with Roberto Bruni (Quebec) and Wayne Chimdemi (Ontario). Manitoba closed the game to 13-9 and had a couple runners on. The final in 7 innings was Nova Scotia 19, Manitoba 9.

My final game of the tournament was the plate in the Bronze Medal game. Vaughn was playing BC. I got the opportunity to work with another 3 different umpires in this game. Dennis Ouellette (New Brunswick) worked 1st, Dean Oberle (Ontario) worked 2nd, and Jerry Tergaskis (BC) worked 3rd. BC’s starter hurt his shoulder warming up in the 2nd, and they had to bring another pitcher in. BC slowly built a lead, and kept pitching well. The final reliever pitched even better than the first two. BC ended up taking the Bronze medal by a score of 8-1.

It was now time to be a spectator, as Quebec was set to take on Alberta in the Gold Medal Game. Quebec was hot off coming back to beat Vaughn in the semi-final. Quebec had trailed the game 7-2; took an 8-7 lead; had Vaughn tie the game at 8; and then got a triple and a hit to win the game. Alberta had advanced by shutting down BC 3-0, in their semi-final. Alberta had not lost a game in the tournament. This game was featuring a 6-man system. Dave Forde (Manitoba) had the plate, Alen Mijic was at 1st, Patrick Trembley was at 2nd, Mitch Broser (Ontario) was at 3rd, Jeff Chipley was on the left field line, and Roberto Bruni was on the right field line. Quebec built a lead early, and never looked back. The final score was Quebec 8, Alberta 3.

I had the privledge of working with 9 of the other 14 umpires at the tournament. The umpires I did not get to work with were: Brian Lees (Alberta), Dave Forde, Miles Parr (Manitoba), Mitch Broser, and Craig Powers (Ontario). We also had three great supervisors, who taught us all a lot: Andy Callaghan (Nova Scotia), Jamie Killingswerth (Ontario) and Trevor Greive (Ontario). Working the baseball was great, and so were all of the people who I met this week. I believe the best part of working these tournaments are the people who you meet. Thanks to everyone for making Vaughn 2011 such a fun experience.

Game 2 was for the win in the one pool. The Saskatoon Braves (3-0) took on Abbotsford (2-0). BC scored 2 runs in one inning. Saskatchewan scored 1 in the 7th, and ended the game with their batter striking out with runners on 2nd & 3rd. This game was very intense.

Baseball Canada also has a website for the event. Pee Wee Western Championship

See everyone when I return.

Bob

In extra innings, the team batting gets to put runners on first and second base. Then they start batting. The Americans scored two runs in the top of the 10th. I thought Cuba would have a tough time scoring. But, following one out, a Cuban player hit a three-run homerun and the championship was won. For me, I had about five close calls at first base – none of them easy. The game was very intense as well as exciting. Both teams had very good pitchers who threw the ball in the mid 90 miles per hour range. The American pitcher went seven innings, while the Cuban pitcher went nine innings.

We have one more day in Tokyo – Sunday. A few local umpires have offered to take anyone interested on a tour of Tokyo. We are planning to go for about 5 to 6 hours, stopping at about half a dozen landmark places. This is just another example of the hospitality shown by our Japanese hosts. At the ballparks we are given a meal, delivered to the umpire’s dressing room. Bottles of water are always available. And, when we go to a restaurant for a meal we are not allowed to pay. It is almost an insult if we insist on paying. Their hospitality is second to none.

I almost hate to say it this way but I have never had this much fun, or been treated with this much hospitality, at any of the national championships I have umpired at. That is not to say we have not been treated well in Canada. What it says is that these people go out of their way to ensure that we feel as comfortable as possible that sometimes I pinch myself thinking I cannot believe how fortunate I am to be here. There are so many good umpires across Canada who could have been selected for this event. They would be so deserving to be here, yet I am the one here. There are so many good memories that will definitely last a lifetime.

One of other thing of note from today’s final game. Saduhara Oh (not sure of the spelling) – Japan’s equivalent to Hank Aaron – was on hand tonight for the opening pitch ceremony prior to the final game. I asked if we could have a picture taken with him and he agreed. We have a photo with the six-man final game umpire crew. I also got a close up picture taken with just him and I. This is quite a treat.

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to read my posts. I hope you have been able to follow along as I went on the most incredible baseball trip of my life to date. I also thank you for your comments. It means a lot to know that people are reading my posts.

See you at home, work or on the field soon.

Elemer

I also managed to go see a temple that is right near the Tower. I have heard the name of the temple but it escapes me right now. There was some incense burning in an urn and a number of people coming and going. Most come to sit and have some quiet time to themselves.

Later Wednesday night I went to a baseball game between Chunichi Dragons and Yakult Swallows. It was a lot of fun – almost like a home football game. There were songs, cheerleaders, some prizes and fireworks after the 5th inning. I think the Dragons had more fans in the stadium than the Swallows. However Yakult won 4-2.

Today was semifinal day. I worked the USA vs Japan game in the evening. I was at 1st base. The USA won the game 4-2 but I think they must have felt some pressure because they didn’t look too comfortable on the field and they blamed the umpires for a few calls going against them. I don’t know what the big deal was – they won the game.

Friday is another day off. The American umpire and I have talked about going to a couple of different places tomorrow. The bullet train to Kyoto was an option, but a round trip will cost over $500. A little rich for my liking.

Lastly…. I have been assigned to the Gold Medal Game as the 1st base umpire. A local Japanese umpire, who umpired at the 1992 summer olympics in Barcelona will work at home plate. There are three Japanese umpires, myself, a Korean and a Chinese umpire working in a six man crew. The game will be between USA and Cuba.

Elemer