Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Darrel Mason

Mason Selected for Super Regional

By David Natali

Longtime NBUA umpire Darrel Mason has been selected by the NCAA Umpire Development Program to work this coming weekend in his first NCAA Division I Super Regional. Mason, who recently completed his fourth Regional assignment at the South Bend Regional, will be working a best two out of three series between Cal-State Fullerton and Tulane at Fullerton.   His first game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 7:00pm Pacific.

Tournament assignments have yet to be determined, but anyone who has worked with Darrel or seen him work should agree he will be easy to recognize on the field due to his hustle.   When asked about his next step towards the ultimate goal of the College World Series in Omaha, Mason said, "It is nice to know that hard work and hustle do get recognized."  

Mason began his umpiring career in 1984 at the age of 19 with NBUA and quickly progressed in amateur baseball. This success led him to pursue umpiring as a career. A graduate of Brinkman Umpiring School, Mason had an extensive minor league career that culminated with his final assignment in the International League and Major League assignments during the 1995 umpires strike.

Mason, wife Allison, daughter Jamie and twins on the way reside in Burlington, Wash.