Umpires

Federal Little League is seeking volunteer umpires. To volunteer, call Jimmy Rux at 240-520-6374. Flea market to benefit Hub Band A scrapbook flea market will be held Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Hagerstown High School.   It is a fundraiser for the Hub Marching Band and all proceeds will go to support the band. Tickets go on sale March 21, but tables to rent are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact lynn@yodane.

Minor league umpires settled their season-long strike, ratifying a six-year contract Tuesday that calls for a $100 monthly salary increase. Umps had said their salaries previously averaged $15,000 at Triple-A, $12,000 at Double-A, $10,000 in full-season A-ball and $5,500 in rookie leagues. As part of the new deal, per diems rise $3 to $28 at Triple-A, $25 at Double-A and $23 at Class A. They will rise gradually to $40 at Triple-A in 2011, $35 at Double-A and $30 at Class A. Umpires will return to work by June 12. They had been on strike since minor league seasons began April 6. Umps and the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation agreed to a contract April 27, but umpires rejected that agreement by a 2-1 margin on May 1. The sides resumed talks last Wednesday with the assistance of a federal mediator.

A journalist has to be flexible and willing to go the extra mile ? so Wednesday when I was sitting in the office throwing darts at the putting green and I got wind of a breaking news story, I sprang into action with my gazelle-like speed. I learned that the Hagerstown Suns were playing a rare, 10:35 a.m. baseball game, and that Major League umpires were going to show up in support of striking minor league umpires. Of course, no way did I want to pull myself out of the comfort of my dark and musty writers garret for the blue skies, green grass and sunshine of a baseball game, but I knew going into this profession that there would be sacrifices.

It turns out Smithsburg's extra-innings softball win over North Hagerstown on Monday isn't a win yet after all. In fact, as far as the books are now concerned, the controversial eighth inning of that game never really happened. So, until the teams meet again April 22 at North, Monday's game is officially tied 3-3 and suspended at the end of seven innings. Ed Masood, Supervisor of Fine Arts, Physical Education and Athletics for Washington County Public Schools, said he spent the better part of Tuesday on the phone with local and state officials discussing the matter and trying to come up with an equitable solution.

HALFWAY - Washington County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the Joseph E. Widmyer Little League field during District I Little League All-Star tournament play Tuesday evening after some parents and fans made their displeasure known when a home run was disallowed. Four deputies went to the field and escorted umpires to their cars, said Deputy Valerie Weaver. Weaver downplayed the incident. "We arrived and the arguing stopped," she said. No one was arrested or injured, she said.

COLLEGE BASEBALL HCC 19, Burlington 2 COCOA, Fla. - Ryan Harju had three hits and four RBI and Zach Barkdoll added three hits and two RBI to lead Hagerstown Community College's 15-hit attack on Burlington at the Cocoa Blast Tournament. Cole Bellon, Ralph Festa and Brad Brandt combined to throw a two-hitter in five innings. HCC 4, Iowa Lakes 0 COCOA, Fla. - Eric Miksitz allowed three hits in seven innings and Devan Ewell and Ryan Brady each had two hits in the game as HCC (3-3)

YOUTH HOCKEY Bulldogs earn playoff spot The Hagerstown U16A Bulldogs have earned a spot in the CBHL/PHAHA hockey playoffs. The Bulldogs will open the tournament Saturday against Greater Hampton and will play two more games Sunday. If they go unbeaten this weekend, they will qualify for the Southeast District playoffs in Fort Myers, Fla., March 17-19. BRIEFS Adult softball league seeks one team The Saturday Tavern Softball League is looking for one more team for the 2006 softball season.

Derby Day to be held at Valley Mall On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Mason-Dixon Council of Boy Scouts of America will hold Derby Day at Valley Mall. The Scouts will be participating in the annual Pinewood Derby, Raingutter Regatta and Space Derby in Center Court from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the customer service center at Valley Mall at 301-582-0700. Mark your calendars This year, Halfway Park Days will be on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway.

Hope you are not frozen. What a chilly weekend. The big game in my favorite sport is just two weeks away, and already plans for summer baseball are under way. Little League registration Registration for South Mountain Little League will be at the Community Center in Shafer Park on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb.12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 19, from 10...

Greetings, neighbors! Hope you are not frozen. What a chilly weekend. The big game in my favorite of sports is just two weeks away, and already plans for summer baseball are under way. LL registration Registration for South Mountain Little League will be at the Community Center in Shafer Park on each of the following days: Thursday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb.12, from 10 a.m....

Thumbs up to the 42 volunteer District 1 Little League umpires, who over a 16-day period called 63 games in five age groups in local All-Star qualifying tournaments. Some nights, as many as 24 umpires took the field to ensure  that our county's youth could chase their championship dreams. Thumbs up to the anonymous donor who pledged $30,000 to boost fundraising efforts to secure a mountaintop site associated with the Civil War Battle of Monterey Pass, the only battle to occur on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

At 81, Bob VanLaningham is the oldest umpire at Federal Little League, by at least 15 years. In his fourth season on the field, his one regret is that he didn’t start sooner. “I just wish now that I’d started years ago,” VanLaningham said. VanLaningham decided to volunteer as a base umpire in 2008, the last season his grandson, Zane Schreiber, played at Federal. When possible, there are two volunteer umpires at Little League major league games, a plate umpire and a base umpire.

Federal Little League is seeking volunteer umpires. To volunteer, call Jimmy Rux at 240-520-6374. Flea market to benefit Hub Band A scrapbook flea market will be held Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Hagerstown High School.   It is a fundraiser for the Hub Marching Band and all proceeds will go to support the band. Tickets go on sale March 21, but tables to rent are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact lynn@yodane.

Greetings, neighbors! Hope you are not frozen. What a chilly weekend. The big game in my favorite of sports is just two weeks away, and already plans for summer baseball are under way. LL registration Registration for South Mountain Little League will be at the Community Center in Shafer Park on each of the following days: Thursday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb.12, from 10 a.m....

Hope you are not frozen. What a chilly weekend. The big game in my favorite sport is just two weeks away, and already plans for summer baseball are under way. Little League registration Registration for South Mountain Little League will be at the Community Center in Shafer Park on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb.12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 19, from 10...

District 1 Little League will conduct an umpire/rules clinic starting Tuesday, Feb. 1, and continuing each Tuesday in February from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ on Leitersburg Pike. Come learn about the difference between obstruction and interference, the infield fly rule and more. The clinic is free for Little League umpires, managers and parents. If there’s enough interest, there will be one class on Tuesday, March 1, at the same time and place for women only.

A father's patience pays off To the editor: My father surpassed Job as far as being patient with me as a child and in later years as well. I was the youngest of six girls, with my two younger brothers following after me, and from birth seemed to have an agenda all my own. I was born to see if my parents could obtain sainthood without leaving the earth, as I tried to swallow a nickel, carved the furniture with "Z's" after seeing Disney's "Zorro" on television and really believed God gave us noses to hide marbles, peas and whatever else could be pushed up there.

Players, coaches and fans were in amazement when umpires decided there was not enough daylight remaining to continue a 14-14 struggle Wednesday between No. 4 Smithsburg and North Hagerstown at North. The setting sun had just fallen behind the apex of the school building as a scoreless seventh inning finished. The Hubs prepared to take the field for the eighth as the umpires made a quick -- and surprising -- decision to end the game. "I was surprised," North coach Steve Myers said.

It turns out Smithsburg's extra-innings softball win over North Hagerstown on Monday isn't a win yet after all. In fact, as far as the books are now concerned, the controversial eighth inning of that game never really happened. So, until the teams meet again April 22 at North, Monday's game is officially tied 3-3 and suspended at the end of seven innings. Ed Masood, Supervisor of Fine Arts, Physical Education and Athletics for Washington County Public Schools, said he spent the better part of Tuesday on the phone with local and state officials discussing the matter and trying to come up with an equitable solution.

Derby Day to be held at Valley Mall On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Mason-Dixon Council of Boy Scouts of America will hold Derby Day at Valley Mall. The Scouts will be participating in the annual Pinewood Derby, Raingutter Regatta and Space Derby in Center Court from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the customer service center at Valley Mall at 301-582-0700. Mark your calendars This year, Halfway Park Days will be on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway.