Manchester Umpire Chosen For Little League 50/70 World Series

MANCHESTER, NJ — A volunteer youth baseball umpire from Manchester is among 90 who have been selected to umpire at the various Little League World Series tournaments in the summer of 2019, Little League World Series officials announced.

Raymond Pushkal from the Whiting section will be headed to Livermore, California, to work at the Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball World Series. The Intermediate (50/70) age group, introduced in 2010 and implemented in tournament play in 2013 for players league-age 11-13, offers a transition for players between the standard Little League field size (46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths) and the Junior/Senior/Big League field size (60-foot, 6-inch pitching distance and 90-foot base paths).

Pushkal is one of 14 umpires named to the Little League Intermediate umpiring crew. Little League officials said the volunteer umpires were notified right around Christmas.

"Volunteer umpires are one of the most important aspects in the success of Little League programs around the world and in the Little League International Tournament," the organization said in a news release.

The selection process to become a World Series umpire is lengthy and rigorous. The process begins with a recommendation from the district administrator in their district to umpire in a regional tournament. Little League’s nine regional offices then consider all nominated umpires before selecting those who most closely meet the selection criteria.

The umpires volunteering at each regional tournament are evaluated and can be recommended for another regional tournament or for a World Series assignment. Once an umpire has earned a World Series recommendation, the umpire must indicate that they wish to be considered further.

Individuals who meet those qualifications are screened annually by Little League international and regional staffs for selection to umpire in a Little League World Series tournament.

"Appointment as a member of the umpiring crew for a World Series is the highest honor that Little League can bestow on a volunteer umpire," the organization said. An individual can be selected for a World Series assignment once every four years, but being chosen to work the Little League Baseball® World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Little League International said umpires chosen will receive a travel stipend to help offset the costs to attend their respective World Series events.

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