Let's play ball...

To Richard Siegel of Whitenack Court, lifelong baseball fan, baseball rule junkie and umpire come-lately, it was the stuff of dreams.

Mr. Siegel, who's been umpiring in the Hillsborough Little League for five years recently attended the three day Sun Belt Umpire's Camp in Charlotte, N.C. where he spent his daylight hours umpiring on a ball field under a Southern sun.

When the sun went down, he and a group of fellow umpires in training, moved from Knight Castle, the home stadium of the Triple-A Minor League Charlotte Knights to the adjacent training facility for the National Basketball Association Charlotte Hornets, laid out a baseball diamond on the gymnasium floor and put in a few more hours before retiring to their Radison Hotel quarters.

Then, in the hotel lounge, it was another three to four hours, until past midnight, discussing baseball rules and hearing umpiring anecdotes from their Major League umpire instructors.

Mr. Siegel gives and idea of what every minute of the experience meant to him when he speaks of the end of his first day, a day which began with a predawn flight to the Carolinas.

"It was the end of 12 hours on the field. We were in the lounge talking and listening to (American League umpires) Richie Garcia and Eddie Hickox. These professionals love to talk about umpiring. I remember thinking how tired I was, but I said to myself,'I'm not moving.'" The session finally broke up between 1 and 1:30 a.m.

Mr. Siegel said this part of his education in the camp -- hearing the baseball experiences of Garcia and Hickox -- was among the highlights of his stay. The camp is organized annually by Steve Spano an International League (AAA) umpire.

Others included getting one-on-one instruction from the major leaguers on working the plate, being in position for calls on the bases (including rundown plays between bases, double steals and wild pitches) and the details of being a thoroughly professional umpire, including such routine activities as putting on and taking off the mask and folding your cap.

"With them (the professional umpires) there's a correct way to do just about everything. Every motion is choreographed. There's a body language for professional umpiring. It avoids any suggestion of indecision," Mr. Siegel said.

Mr. Siegel said instruction included dealing with the complaints from players and managers.

"If they're questioning a play, that's fine, but if they get personal in their comments, then, they've crossed the line."

He said there's a proper way to throw a player or manager out of a game.

He said the umpire points two fingers of his right hand at the nose of the protester; gives a quick firm "you're out of here" command; and follows with a sweeping motion of the arm to tell all in view what's happening and who's in control.

Mr. Siegel, a member of the boards of directors of the Hillsborough Little League, started umpiring in the township league as an offshoot to being an involved parent and manager.

He recently has been doing games in Picataway and Flemington as well as umpiring in Hillsborough.

"I believe the game becomes more meaningful to players when it is properly officiated," he said.

Mr. Siegel, 43, has been expanding his umpiring horizons. He's worked some high school junior varsity games and is seeking certification to umpire at the varsity level.

He has joined the Somerset-Hunterdon Chapter of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which is the group that assigns officials for high school and middle school contests in this area. He is scheduled to take a state qualifying exam in May.

"I only wish I had started umpiring earlier," he said.