Sante Delvecchio Umps In Williamsport

Individuals get involved in sport for a variety of reasons with some taking up Coaching, Managing, Training or simply becoming a volunteer.

One part of sport that normally goes unnoticed until a controversial call is made is the art of officiating and regardless of the sport it’s not only demanding at times it’s downright demining.

One aspect you have to have is “thick skin” so as not to allow the numerous negative comments from individuals who have no understanding of the rules, let alone the game.

They cheer as they want to see their Son or Daughter achieve greatness and possibly become the athlete that either parent was able to achieve.

Officiating is and can be extremely rewarding, but only the strong survive and one such individual is local Umpire Sante Delvecchio.

Many may have seen him on one of the many diamonds throughout the summer months and most noticeably the championships played at Hastings Park in August.

Delvecchio (51) had the privilege of not only attending, but officiating in the Little League World Series of Baseball at Williamsport.

He will be the only Canadian that was chosen to officiate and other “outsiders” includes one from Puerto Rico, with the remaining umpires from the US.

He first had to attend an orientation camp in May, which includes on-diamond evaluations, both behind the plate and on the bases.

Delvecchio was the Umpire-in-Chief at the Canadian Little League Canadian Championship held at Hastings and now adds this 16 team tournament to his already impressive resume.

As a seasoned umpire with more than 30 years of calling games he has attended Williamsport in the past, but only as a spectator, but often pondered the idea of what it would be like to attend as an Umpire.

An umpire is eligible to be selected for a World Series assignment once every four years, but being chosen to work a Little League Baseball® World Series is a one-time opportunity.

Now he knows and we congratulate him on all his success and as usual – we’ll see him on the Diamond!

Little League Baseball® World Series (Aug. 18-28; South Williamsport

Ricky Castle (Moscow, Iowa), Bruce Cline (Dayton, Ohio), Mike Cook (Bridgeport, W.V.), Sante Delvecchio (Vancouver, BC), Gary Difabio (Carmichael, Calif.), William Freeman (Southington, Conn.), Jeff Frese (Stockton, Calif.), Sean Guilday (Kunkletown, Pa.), Brian Henry (Lakemont, Ga.), Brent Hicks (Simsboro, La.), Jason Kelley (Deerfield, Wis.), William Lopez Pellot (Isabela, Puerto Rico), Joe Smith (Rising Sun, Md.), Juan Solis (Rockport City, Texas), Johnny Stewart (Abingdon, Va.), Robert Zepeda (Rosenberg, Texas)