Recently, Baseball Canada.ca caught up with Lisa Turbitt, winner of the 2004 Dick Willis Senior Umpire of the Year Award, which recognizes Baseball Canada’s top on-field official. To learn more about Lisa Turbitt and some of the many memorable moments of her career, simply read below.
BC: You served as the home plate umpire in the gold medal game at the first-ever IBAF World Cup of Women’s Baseball this past summer. What was that experience like?
Turbitt: That was almost as unreal as getting the Dick Willis award. It was the highlight of my officiating career. You get that nervous feeling before the big game and then you settle down after the first pitch. It was an honor, especially having three female Canadian umpires on the field. With the closing ceremonies on the field, I also had a chance to further reflect on it. It was awesome. The World Cup was the pinnacle of my achievements.
BC: Aside from on-field umpiring, you also assist Baseball Ontario and Baseball Canada in coordinating and supervising female umpire development while also providing umpire course instruction. What are some of the more challenging aspects of your responsibilities?
Turbitt: All of it is challenging. Currently, I’m helping with the production of the Level II instructor’s manual for the provincial umpiring program. It’s a big project but it’s very rewarding. I strive to do everything as best as possible and with all we do, we’re constantly trying to do things better and make them more worthwhile and carry more impact.
BC: You started umpiring at the age of 11, which seems like a very early time for such a unique profession. What drew you to this activity?
Turbitt: I fell into it by accident. I was at my brother’s T-ball game and they needed an official. They were going to get a mom to do it and then my dad asked me, and the rest is history.
BC: Although you work as a full-time teacher, how much would you ever consider pursuing umpiring as a full-time profession?
Turbitt: I love being a teacher and I’ve wanted to do it a lot longer than umpiring. Umpiring professionally is not something I’ve ever seriously entertained – it’s completely different from umpiring amateur baseball. With my current situation (of teaching and Baseball Canada umpiring), I get the best of both worlds.
BC: What long-term umpiring aspirations do you have?
Turbitt: There are a few more things I’d like to do, such as international competitions. My ultimate dream would be to umpire in the Olympics. Certainly along the way, I’d like to continue furthering female umpire development.
Lisa Turbitt currently teaches a Gr. 7 class at Chris Hadfield Public School in Milton, Ont.
.png)
