Shingleton

Though he never played Little League baseball, Gary Shingleton got his start there.

The Butler resident began umpiring Little League games at Memorial Park when he was 13. Nearly 40 years later, he'll be umpiring games at the NCAA Division III National Championships May 23 to 27 in Appleton, Wis.

"I never started playing baseball until I was 13,"said Shingleton, now 52. "I played in the Butler Prep League against 18 year olds.

"Some people there told me I was mature enough to umpire Little League, so I started doing it for $5 a game."

He hasn't stopped umpiring since.

While staying an active player until 1997, playing for Butler High School, Slippery Rock University and the Eagle County League, Shingleton worked his way up the umpiring ladder. He played on five Eagle County championship teams with the Butler Yankees, a team he founded.

Shingleton progressed to umpiring high school games and began working college games in 1987. He's done games in eight conferences, including the PSAC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Pennsylvania Athletic Conference and American Mideast Collegiate Conference.

Shingleton is president of the Chesapeake Basin Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association in Harrisburg, which consists of 145 umpires and services eight conferences and many independents.

Shingleton also is serving as crew chief for the Division IIIMid-Atlantic Regional this weekend in Newark, N.J.

"I'm more nervous about that than anything,"Shingleton said. "I'll be crew chief for seven other umpires there. There's a lot of details the crew chief has to take care of."

The national championship assignment will be the first of Shingleton's career.

Since 2005, a committee has determined the umpire selection for national tournaments.

"Coaches serve as evaluators and send their recommendations to conference coordinators,"Shingleton said. "There's a long process involved.

"I consider this a tremendous honor. It's like a lifetime achievement. You get a ring when you do a national event, and I'll cherish it," he added.

Shingleton said he's stayed with umpiring for 40 years because he always wanted to be involved in the game.

"Obviously, you play an important element," he said. "Whether you're the star pitcher, clean-up hitter or umpire, you're impacting the game.

"This is a lot better than watching the game from the sidelines or in the dugout."

Shingleton said he learned the business from umpiring giants Jim Senepole, Elmer Massey and Ed Vargo.

"All incredible mentors," he said. "I wouldn't be where I am without them."

Shingleton works an average of six to seven games a weekend.

"Generally, I do 30 to 40 games from March through May," he said. "It's a busy schedule, but a fun one."