Houlton

It is a great time to dig out your baseball equipment to inspect it for the upcoming season. What makes it a great time? - There may be pre-season sales & if they they don't have your size, there is time to get it in before your season starts.

Major League Baseball and NCAA use the following standards - Let's go Toes-To-Nose to see what you need to look at:

• Shoes - Do they still fit? Is the protective part of your plate shoes, still intact? Are you laces in good shape? Can they still be cleaned up to look good? If not - perhaps it is time fo a new pair.
• Shin Guards - Do they fit your leg? Do you have great knee protection when you are in your plate stance? How are the straps holding up? Is the padding in good shape and clean? Remember that the last time your used these, you did sweat and there are still germs from the last season on the pads. If the pads are cracked, the plastic is cracked or the pads are older than 10 years - time to think about a new pair.
• Cup - Never thought of this? Is your cup made of metal? Yellow plastic? If so, time for a new one. How is the foam rubber? Do you have it taped on? This is the most inexpensive piece of gear you wear - you should have a new one that fits properly and offers the protection that you need.
• Chest protector - How is the padding? Straps? Is it clean? Does it stink? When you wear it, and assume your plate stance, does it protect your neck and collarbone area? Are your shoulders still protected? How about the sides of your ribs? It is important to make sure you are well protected in all areas of your chest protector coverage. If you are looking into purchasing a new one, make sure the fit is right and it will protect you for the level of ball you will be calling.
• Mask - Are your pads new? There has been concussion testing and found that the mask should have new pads yearly. This is because of the UV rays that our masks are subject to every day. How is the wire part of your mask? Is it bent? Cracks? The harness needs to be in good shape, not stretched out of shape.
• A new tip has come from MLB trainers. If you wear a titanium mask, you should have the 'wrap-around' style pads. This helps to absorb the impact, as the titanium does not bend or give on impact. There is also a new type of pad that is made by TW that has had great results and reviews - these both can be purchased through Honigs.
• Hat - Is your hat faded or 'salty'? If it is, time for a new one. A hint - if you have a salt stain on your hat, you need to hydrate more during your games!
• Sunglasses - These are now recommended. If the sun does all this damage to your gear - what is it doing to your eyes? Make sure they are good fitting, allow you to run with them on, and have good wrap-around protection from the sun. Make sure that they don't fit too tight, as the air needs to circulate to keep them from fogging.
• Shirts and pants - Are they faded? Try them on, do they still fit? Are they clean and neat? Are the patches all in good shape? If not, time to get a new one. Remember, if we look good & give a good first impression, the we are well on our way to having a good game. Remember the pants are gray in color. Charcoal or Heather gray? Depends on which tournament you are doing. Charcoal gray has been the popular color in recent years. Remember that MeD3 umpires have the primary color of black, however if you are doing tournaments, then navy blue and powder blue have been used.

Hope these hints help you stay safe this season - See you on the field!

We would like to thank the following umpires, selected by Little League Baseball, that are the 2013 SLWS in Bangor. We hope that you had a great week in Bangor.

• Paul Sammon - New Jersey
• Bill Bruce - Pennsylvania
• Douglass Pfaffember - Texas
• Wayne Beaumier - Texas
• Glenn Kugel - Oregon
• Ken Peterson - California
• Clifford Sands - Illinois
• Dave Lang - Wisconsin
• Richard Neff - Florida
• Keith Allison - West Virginia
• Gluseppe Mariella - Italy
• Aubrey Maduro - Aruba