Quietly and unassumingly, a local guy had his name called as part of the umpiring crew for regular season Southeastern Conference Women’s Softball game approximately a decade ago.
A few months ago in his same low key fashion, Emerus Addison called the Women’s College Series In Oklahoma City. “I played baseball as a kid growing up in Greenville,” said Emerus Addison. “I never really had a desire to become an umpire. One day one of the coordinators in a local high school league asked me to officiate some games and it all started from that point.”
Addison made the Port City proud as he was part of the crew that just oversaw the most recent College Softball Championship where the UCLA Bruins took home the trophy.
Putting in time in local little leagues, scholastic athletics and in different regionals and super regionals in college play, Addison has developed an impressive resume that is highlighted by being listed second alphabetically on the National Fast Pitch Softball League Umpire’s Roster. His rise up the umpiring ranks is something that he has taken very attentive note of throughout the journey.
“There is a comradarie among umpires that makes the profession a really close knit family,” he said. “Along the way, there was always somebody more experienced and more connected giving me an opportunity. And I want to pay it forward by helping someone else who has a desire to do this.”
The closeness within the profession bodes well particularly when the human side of all umpires comes out. Addison said that he has officiated games where great Olympians like Monica Abbot and Cat Ostermann are blowing away the competition.
“You think for just a split second that ‘these are some of the best in the world.’ Then you have to block it out and do your job,” he said. “And when you make a mistake, you have to admit to it, have amnesia about it and move on. In situations like these, it’s important to have the support of your fellow umpires who understand the highs and lows of what we do.”
“We work in crews and we often pray together, talk with one another on chat lines and communicate on a regular basis during the off-season,” Addison added. “I’m really appreciative of these guys.”
Working full time for the Mississippi Department of Education, Addison can appreciate what it takes to remain in the profession. Being an effective umpire requires lifelong learning and nonstop education. “You must attend lots of camps and study film extensively,” Addison explained. “There is also a lot of on the field training and collaboration with your peers on the field. Umpires learn a lot from one another.”
Fitness, teamwork and education are the three most critical areas to an umpire’s success. Addison has comfortably carved out a space where his talents and passion can take him to higher heights or keep him firmly grounded where he is currently established.
“I thought about becoming a major league umpire,” he said. “But most of the older umpires at the time I started said that to have a shot at the majors, you have to have gone to umpire school before you hit your mid thirties. So, that ship has sailed.”
