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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2018 9 By Andi Henderson "Y-E-E-E-R O-U-T!" yelled the gravelly-voiced umpire as the 18-year-old softball player raced to the base just after the ball reached the glove of the third baseman. Actually, it was a third base girl who plays for USA Softball. And the umpire was Mike Corbett, a 31-year veteran of umpiring and a Four Seasons resident. Corbett has been honored by the USA Softball Association with a place in the (National Indicator Fraternity) NIF Hall of Fame. To get this recognition, an umpire must have been chosen for National Championships at least three times. Corbett has been selected four times. He will receive his award in January and will be retiring from softball this year. The NIF is an elite group of umpires for USA Softball, numbering only a few umpires, compared to 50,000 umpires nationwide. Corbett has been "umping" for 31 years. He enjoyed baseball as a boy growing up in New York City. He did not play in college, but in 1986 became interested in umpiring while playing softball at Norton Air Force Base where he was stationed. After retiring as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force in 1991, he joined the San Bernardino and Redlands Police Departments, and continued umpiring. To become a certified umpire a person must study the rules book, take tests and practice under a mentor. Corbett has mentored many rookie umpires. While umpires are paid for each game, Corbett doesn't do it for the paycheck. "I don't do it for the money. The pay is only pennies. I really like officiating girls' fast-pitch softball. I do it for the players. When you have two good competitive teams playing it's great." While enjoyable, there have been moments when a coach doesn't agree with one of Corbett's calls. "You learn how to read their faces when they come out of the dugout at you. If the veins are popping out on their faces and neck, I usually just tell them to stop a few feet from me and take a breath before speaking. That usually works!" All it takes for a coach to be thrown out of a game is one curse word. To be an experienced umpire takes years of practice. The way an ump stands is important to seeing the strike zone. Looking through the "slot" and working angles is an acquired skill. Umpires in Charge (UIC) sit in the stands and rate the umpires so they can suggest ways of improvement. "One thing an umpire has to do in close plays is sell the call," Corbett said "I see the play, picture it in my mind, and then quickly shout out the call." When he demonstrates this call, it shows with conviction that he saw it correctly and means what he says. "I listen to what they (UICs) say," said Corbett. "That and going to mechanics clinics, rules clinics, and studying helped me be a better umpire." One must pass tests with an 85 percent or higher. Corbett has really enjoyed his time as an umpire whether on base or officiating as the home plate umpire. "I'm going to miss it," he said. Resident Ump Reaches Hall Of Fame Corbett holds the indicator in his left hand while making a call

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