Still loving the game

CELINA - When Connie Steinbrunner started getting involved with summer sports in Celina, softball was pretty much a pick-up style of play with an oversized softball and no organized league.

Steinbrunner was behind the plate calling balls and strikes for the Celina Recreation Department's Minor League and Little League Softball championship games at Westview Park.

"I just love the sport," said Steinbrunner, who during the school year officiates volleyball and softball contests. "I love working with the kids. As long you still enjoy it, it's not a job. It's a pleasure."

The job, with dealing with players, coaches and parents watching every call, isn't exactly one that you can get rich doing.

"When I first started, it was $2 behind the plate, $1 on the bases," said Steinbrunner. "We fought for the plate. We thought we were teenagers making big bucks."

"It always reminds when you were young, coming out and playing," said Steinbrunner. "Be a service to these kids is a joy."

One thing that Steinbrunner feels helped her was having good teachers.

"I had (summer umpires like) Tom Helentjaris and Dale Harter," said Steinbrunner. "Those guys were just great to work with. They encouraged you. In later years, Dale would come up and say 'You know, you're about the only girl I ever trained.' I said I still enjoyed it. Others have moved away and moved on."

With her experience, both in the summer and officiating OHSAA contests, Steinbrunner has been one of the key people to train the next generation of umpires.

"I've trained officials for years (for summer, where the minimum age for an umpire is 14). It makes a big difference," said Steinbrunner. "When you go out there, you're confident you know the rules, you know how to move behind the plate, you'll stick with it.

"It's hard to get officials. Now, they're paying big bucks (to play) and kids are traveling. They expect the umpires to be more perfect. Well, we're not. We're still out here for the right reasons, enjoying being with the kids, even in high school. That's what's going to make you a good official. You might be out here for the money. In high school, you get $70 (for baseball and softball), you get an hour and a half (of playing time), that's about $35 an hour, where you going to get that pay? The pay's kind of like a bonus."

There's plenty of arbitrating in the summer remaining for Steinbrunner.

"After all these years, I still look forward to coming out and working with the kids and coaches," said Steinbrunner. "It's the kids. As long as they enjoy it, that's what counts."