August 26th : My Journey to Williamsport 2018
   I began my Little League umpiring 'career' in 1980 while still in High School. This had been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old and played in the State Little League Championship game - to make it to Williamsport.
  Well I finally made it. The year went by quickly, and we received regular updates from
Williamsport, with things that we had to do to get ready for this tournament. 
  We were called the "17th Team" by our supervisor and his staff.

My Scheduled Events

February 10, 2018 - East Region Umpire Clinic - Bristol CT
May 2-6, 2018 - Orientation in Williamsport
July 21, 2018 - Maine State Tournament - Machias, Maine - 2:00 - HP, 4:00 1B
July 25, 2018 - Maine State Tournament - Machias, Maine - 5:00 - HP (Championship Game)
August 7, 2018 - Spent the day at Bristol for East Region Tournament
August 14, 2018 @ 1:00pm- Check-in at Hotel in Williamsport
August 14, 2018 @ 7:00pm - Meeting with Tournament Management and Coaches
August 15, 2018 @ 9:00am - Ground Rules/Photos at LL Headquarters
August 15, 2018 @ 5:30pm - Little League Parade (Downtown Williamsport)
August 16, 2018 @ 11:00am - Opening Ceremonies - Games begin (1:00pm)
August 16, 2018 @ 1:00pm - Home Plate - Korea vs Puerto Rico ESPN (Volunteer)
August 17, 2018 @ 4:00pm - 2B - Idaho vs Michigan ESPN (Lamade)
August 17, 2018 @ 8:00pm - RF Line - Georgia vs Hawaii ESPN (Lamade)
August 18, 2018 @ 1:00pm - 1B - Carribean vs Australia ESPN (Volunteer)
August 19, 2018 @ 9:00am - 3B - Korea vs Mexico ESPN (Volunteer)
August 19, 2018 @ 1:00pm - 2B - Latin America vs Japan ESPN (Volunteer)
August 19, 2018 @ 7:00pm - MLB / LL Classic - Mets vs Phillies (Link on right)
August 20, 2019 @ 3:00pm -3B - Iowa vs Michigan ESPN (Lamade)
August 20, 2019 @ 8:00pm - LF Line - Georgia vs Texas ESPN2 (Lamade)
August 21, 2018      All games postponed due to Rain - reschedule or 8/22
August 22, 2019 @ 7:30pm -1B - Hawaii vs New York ESPN (Lamade)
August 23, 2018 @ 3:00pm - RF Line - Japan vs Caribbean ESPN (Lamade) 
August 24, 2018 - Scheduled Day Off
August 25, 2018 @ 10:30am - Challenger game at Volunteer Stadium
August 25, 2018 @ 12:30pm - 3B - Japan vs Korea ABC - International Championship
August 26, 2018 @ 10:00am - Home Plate  - Japan vs Georgia ESPN - 3rd Place Game
My Past Little League Tournaments
2005- SLBB East Regional - West Depford NJ
2009 - LLBB East Regional - Bristol CT
2011 - LLBB Asia/Pac Regional - Hagatna, Guam
2015 - Big League World Series - Easley SC
2018 - Little League World Series - Williamsport
Troy's Journey to the 
2018 Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
My goal was to show the entire journey through the year. 
Perhaps to answer questions, see what the umpires have to do, what kind of planning actually takes place, 
and the fun that we all had.
I dedicated this season to 3 gentlemen who I looked up to for their dedication to Little League and to umpiring. Thanks to Ken, Bob and Paul
LLWS Umpire Staff
2018
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Logo of the 2018 LLWS
This is my trading pin for the World Series
We were each given 2 luggage tags by one of the crew. Great idea.
Here is the ring we designed. We got together as a group, looked at all the styles and designs. We then picked this design - the rings will meet us in Williamsport.
This is a photo that a very good friend of mine and I had taken while attending the Bristol clinic. Paul S is from New Jersey and we became instant friends when we worked the Eastern Majors Regional in 2009 at Bristol. Since then Paul also has worked the Senior League World Series in Bangor.
Here is the entire umpire crew for the 2018 Little League World Series. This was taken on Lamade while we were learning the ground rules.
My first view of Lamade Stadium. This is from the top of the hill
We stayed in the Grove
Door tag
Luxury suite
Casey at the Bat on center field hill
Lamade Stadium from press area
Volunteer Stadium
A foggy start to the day
The famous Lamade Stadium
Lamade from behind the stadium
Working a night game
Frank Policano -East Region UIC giving his insights during a meeting -
In a meeting
Sitting next to Jorge in one of the meetings
Our Umpire supervisor - Tom Rawlings
Ground rules at Lamade - they aren't as simple as you would think
Still doing the ground rules
Visiting the Museum
More museum
And another
Having dinner with Steve Keener - President of Little League on Friday night of our orientation
A statue of Mr Stoltz - founder of Little League. This is at the gate of the complex (behind Volunteer Stadium)
Joe Ouellette and I were asked to go to Bangor East, to take part in a ceremony. They were gracious enough to congratulate us for our World Series assignments. We each threw out a first pitch, then we got to call the game. Thank you to Bangor East & West Little Leagues.
Uniforms have been delivered.
State game in Machias. Our crew for my first game.
These 3 guys have an assignment in the post season. Steve and Owen are both heading to Bristol for the regionals.
Well the 2018 State Tournament is in the books. Congrats to Saco and good luck in Bristol. Here is the crew for the Championship game.
Taking a quick break
Not as close at it looks - he slid right into the tag
Selling the call
My Photos
#1 - John Sivley - Kentucky
#8 - Danny Gill - Florida
#9 - Mark Smith - Virginia
#15 - Kyle Wier - Texas
#23 - Collin Campbell - New Mexico
#25 - Tim Hughes - New York
#26 - Jorge Martinez - Columbia
#27 - Gary Panozzo - Texas
#32 - Jeff Pruitt - Minnesota
#37 - Ryan Gibson - Michigan
#53 - Ed Moran - Delaware
#55 - Wayne Kurtz - Canada
#72 - Troy Lare - Maine
#86 - Tomoyuki Tada - Japan
#89 - Shawn Simpson - California
#91 - Mike Debelak - California
2018 LLWS Teams





United States
Great Lakes -Grosse Pointe Woods Mich 
Mid-Atlantic - Mid Island LL-Staten Island NY
Midwest - Grandview LL - Des Moines, Iowa
New England -  Coventry LL - Coventry RI
Northwest -     Coeur d'Alene LL - Idaho
Southeast -       Peach Tree Georgia
Southwest -      Post Oak LL - Houston TX
West -                Honolulu LL - Hawaii

International
Asia-Pacific -     South Seoul LL - Korea
Australia -            Gold Coast Cougars
Canada - Whalley LL Surry - British Columbia
Caribbean - Radames Lopez LL- Puerto Rico
Europe-Afr -Catalunya LL - Barcelona,Spain
Japan -             Kawaguchi LL - Kawaguchi 
Latin America - Vacamonte LL - Panama
Mexico -           Matamoros LL - Tamaulipas

Champion - Honolulu. LL - Hawaii
Pre-Tournament
In Williamsport
Guys getting their stuff into the lockers
Tarp on Lamade Stadium. They were still setting up everything.
Game 1 crew. Great guys to work with.
Walking in the parade
The parade was a blast. We passed out lots of candy and gum, then we got to walk and 'high five' the kids along the route.
2018 umpire crew with Ozzie Smith.
Game 1 action
The museum at the original LLWS field.
The original LLWS site, before it moved to Williamsport.
A shot of our locker room
One of our game assignment sheets
Hangin with Gerry Davis - MLB umpire crew chief
Group photo with Gerry's crew. Great guys one and all
Tickets for the MLB Classic
Linda and I at the Classic
All 3 mascots goofing off
All of the kids with the Phillies and Mets on the field
Game action
Working the Japan - Panama game at 2B
Great back story. This is a player from Australia - he is trying to talk me out of needing a hair cut. His manager asked me to tell him needed one. Great kid and ball player.
1B during the Australia game
New video board a Lamade
New video board at Volunteer
Plate meeting Korea vs Puerto Rico
Calling balls and strikes
Korea vs Puerto Rico
The Hulk beating up my pal Jorge
Umpire hangin out with Dugout at the Challenger game
Little League CEO - Steve Keener
Umpires with Vlad Guererro
Game action Japan vs Georgia
Another Umpire fan!
More game action
Korea vs Puerto Rico
Japan vs Korea
Japan vs Georgia
Game 1 crew
Having a chat with the review guys
Game 1 Korea vs Puerto Rico
More game 1 action
Alumni breakfast
Waiting for ESPN
Tourist Stuff
Philadelphia
Heading to Williamsport
River boat ride
In downtown
Gettysburg