Local umpire group responds

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November 21, 2008

Says new contract request ‘not way out in left field’

By Todd Wills The Corsicana Daily Sun Fri Nov 21, 2008, 09:40 PM CST

The secretary/treasurer for the Corsicana Umpires Association said Friday that his chapter’s request for an increase in how much they get paid per high school baseball game worked is fair in comparison to other umpiring groups from Tyler to Greenville.

“I don’t think we’re way out in left field with other chapters in the area,” Michael Middleton said.

The Corsicana umpires are asking for $120 per umpire for two games worked in a night — traditionally a timed junior varsity game followed by a varsity game (the Daily Sun originally reported that the umpires were asking for $150 per umpire, according to school officials).

According to Section 1204 of the 2008-09 Constitution and Contest Rules approved the by the University Interscholastic League, the governing body of Texas high school sports, umpires who work games with a gate of up to $150 — most small area school don’t charge fans for admittance — are to get $75 each for the doubleheader.

The Corsicana group’s request for an increase has drawn ire from the District 14-2A schools, who this past Tuesday signed a resolution to not pay more than the UIL standard fees, and to report any schools that try to pay more.

One local school official reiterated Friday that the contracts going out from the Corsicana chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials — the local umpires — is not within compliance of the UIL.

“We have to abide by the Competition and Contest Rules,” said Mike Baldree, Superintendent of Blooming Grove schools. “”If we don’t, we’re sunk.”

Middleton, in his 18th year as a high school umpire, said Friday that the Corsicana umpires are just trying to get a pay rate comparable to other chapters near Corsicana.

Middleton forwarded research in an e-mail that said the Tyler chapter is getting $170 per umpire for two games worked under 100 miles roundtrip, and $190 for games over 100 miles roundtrip. The Greenville-Kaufman chapter is getting $170 per umpire for two games.

The Waco branch, which is more in line with what the Corsicana umpires have requested, is asking for $110 per two games plus travel per umpire, and $120 per umpire for two games for schools outside of a 40-mile radius.

Middleton said it’s not the umpires’ fault that most 2A and 1A schools don’t charge at the gate, which he says could help the schools pay the extra fee for the umpires.

“They make people pay for seventh grade football,” Middleton said. “I don’t understand why they don’t (for baseball). It would offset the cost of officials.”

Middleton said he also doesn’t understand why the UIL doesn’t tell schools what to pay an exterminator or “Joe the Plumber,” but they do set fees for umpires.

He said this current situation is another example of the longtime power struggle that has gone on with the UIL and TASO.

“They’ve been butting heads for I don’t know how long,” Middleton said.

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Todd Wills may be reached by e-mail at twills@corsicanadailysun.com.

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