Thursday, March 15, 2007

Opportunities to Participate in the State High School Baseball Championships

This year, the State High School Baseball 3A and 4A Championships will be held at Safeco Field on the Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day, May 25 and 26. Game times will be 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days.

The WIAA has opportunities for NBUA umpires to participate in this event as volunteer Team Hosts.    If you have ever wondered what it's like to watch games from the Mariners dugout in Safeco, this is your chance!   Additionally, you will be providing a great service to our state baseball community.   We need your help to make the event the best experience possible for the deserving kids who have earned their way to the finals.

The duties of the Team Host are primarily to escort and assist the teams.    There will be two hosts for each team.    We prefer that you come both days so you can be assigned to a team for their two games, one on Friday and one on Saturday.   However, please do volunteer even if you can only be there one day.   On Thursday evening prior to the games there will be a meeting at Safeco for orientation and a tour.    We will also need help escorting the teams that night.

On game days, your responsibilities will be to meet your team when they arrive and stay with them until they depart Safeco.   You will escort them to their locker rooms, to batting practice, back to the locker rooms and then to the field at their scheduled time.   You may be asked during the game to make a call to the Press Box to explain a situation that took place during play.   You will also escort the players who are requested by the media to a room for post game interviews.

The rewards for Volunteering are many.   Not only do you get to watch the games with the teams in the dugouts, but also you will experience the inner workings of Safeco Field as only the players and employees of the Mariners do.     There is no guarantee Safeco will be available ever again.   Food, beverages and free parking will be provided.   Last but not least, you can observe the umpires who were selected to work the games.  

We need sixteen volunteers if all Hosts can work both of their team's games.   We ask that if you do volunteer, you treat it as a game assignment and be present on time.

If you are interested or have questions please contact Ed Wiggins at ewiggins11@comcast.net or by phone on 425-442-9313.

I hope to see you there!