PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten umpire Leroy Fraser has returned to the Friendly Island after officiating nearly a dozen games at the Little League World Series Tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
"I realized the honour I have to be an umpire with just 26 players, 4 coaches, 2 mangers and 34,126 fans and not to mention the millions around the world on TV watching," said Fraser. Upon his return he met with local ballplayers Wednesday to share his experience in the United States.
"I was a bit nervous," said Fraser. "All those people watching. I did not want to make a mistake."
"I wanted to get the calls right and represent St. Maarten." He went on to tell the young ballplayers it takes hard work, dedication and training to reach the highest levels of sport."
Umpires working the World Series are volunteers. One official is selected per Little League Region. Fraser not only represented St. Maarten but the entire Caribbean. He chose to wear number 37. "Thirty-seven, that's how old I am. The number 37, that's the amount of years St. Maarten Little League is in existence. "The number 37 that's the amount of square miles in St. Maarten," said Fraser with pride and a grin.
"Everyone there knew me by the second day," said Fraser. "They put all our faces up on the big scoreboard.
"Now that my two weeks of umpiring at the Little League World Series have come to an end I must say I am a much better umpire than I was."
Time to give back
"As an umpire I want to give children HOPE." He explained, "Help Our Players Excel."
"Help them follow their dreams so they too can be as successful."
Fraser will be back in his umpire uniform Saturday as St. Maarten Little league resumes play after the summer break.
Windward Islands Bank takes on Super Klean at 1:00pm and at 3:00pm GEBE faces Fast Shoe Repair at the Stadium on Pond Island.
