News
Here you can find news around our community and other related themes.
May 9, 2014
Jim Evans European Classic 2014, April 6-11
After 2008 in France, 2010 in Czech Republic and 2012 in Switzerland the 4th edition of the Jim Evans European Classic umpire clinic took place in Austria. With the support of the Attnang Athletics baseball club the Amateur Baseball Umpires’ Association Austria organized this international clinic. Participants of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland and Tunesia learned and trained 5 ½ days under the supervision of the former MLB umpire Lim Evans and his assistant instructor Dick “Sarge” Nelson.
The schedule contained 2-men-system, professional techniques and rule interpretations and of course a lot of drills on the field. The 4 instructors emphasized footwork, proper use of eyes and communication. In the cage the students worked on a correct plate stance, tracking the pitch and proper signals.
The organizer had luck with the weather so it was possible to work on the field daily from 1- 6 pm. Classroom lessons started at 8 am and went throughout 12 noon.
Friday evening the clinic ended with the graduation banquet. As a highlight the certificates were handed over and the chairman of ABUA-A and the vice president of Austrian baseball federation were present as special guests. During a tombola a lot of nice prices were given away.
The resume of the clinic is clearly positive: The students learned a lot and had some laughs together, weather was fine, the organization was very good and also the finances were balanced.
Hopefully JEEC will come back again in 2016, this time maybe in Germany. ABUA-A wishes the future organizer good luck - looking forward to see all of you again! Till 2016 we wish all the graduates a lot of good calls and don’t forget: You learn from every single mistake.
Official gallery: http://www.umpire.at/jeec2014pics
August 26, 2013
Jim Evans European Classic 2014
After 2008 in Rouen/FRA, 2010 in Prague/CZE and 2012 in Wil/SUI the famous Jim Evans European Classic umpire clinic is back - this time in Austria.
ABUA-A will host the JEEC 2014 in Attnag-Puchheim, home of the Attnang Athletics, one of the most beautiful ballparks in Austria. The clinic will take place from April 6th to 11th, 2014.
Information and registration at http://www.umpire.at/JEEC.
April 19, 2013
Jean-Claude Ochs, ABUA-E treasurer
JC was born in Switzerland in 1972 where he grew till the age of 6. Then, his family moved to Canada in the province of Quebec. He has evolved in primary, secondary and college in this part of the world. Got married in Switzerland in 1994 with Graziella Martino, an Italian girl from Torino. Together, they went back to Quebec in 1995 so that he could acquire his diploma in psychology.
They currently live in Switzerland, where JC works as a policeman in the canton of Neuchâtel. Sports has always been a great part of his active life and baseball was a sport that he practiced since the age of 10. He is now responsible for the umpires in the Ligue Suisse Romande de Baseball and helps out in the Swiss Basball and Softball Federation when he can. His main hobbies are sports, music and rc planes.
November 23, 2012
Dick Runchey named Honorary Consultant to ABUA-E
College Baseball Foundation Hall of Fame Umpire Dick Runchey has agreed to become an Honorary Consultant to the ABUA-E. This year Runchey became the first umpire inductee for the College Baseball Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
Runchey has umpired at most every level imaginable in his career of over 40 years. A well-known and respected NCAA umpire by the time he retired in 1998, Runchey’s highlights include working in the minor leagues, 48 games at the College World Series (including 4 championship games behind the plate), the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1988 World Cup, the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and a MLB fill-in umpire in 1979.
Runchey is very familiar with umpiring in Europe and served as the IBAF Director of Umpires between 2003 and 2009. He most recently worked with the 4 European umpires who worked the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Florida, Germany and Taiwan. Dick continues to train and develop umpires at the MLB Umpire Camps in southern California and the Jim Evans European Classic.
“Having Runchey available to assist is a big plus for the ABUA-E.”, said ABUA-E President Tony Jones. “His knowledge and experience of baseball at an international level is invaluable and I look forward to getting his input on how we can improve umpiring across Europe.”
Article link:
http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2011-07-03/right-call-long-time-umpire-runchey-earns-inaugural-award
October 24, 2012
Foundation member Eivind Pagander Tysnes (NOR)
In the next few weeks we will present the ABUA-E foundation members. One of the first who joined our community was Eivind from Norway, an umpire of Norwegian Softball and Baseball Federation (NSBF):
Age: 26 years old
Education: B.Eng. in Civil Engineering
Job: Track Designer at the Norwegian National Rail Administration
Umpire CV: First umpire training course in the fall 2008, umpired first game in the 2009 Norwegian Baseball League (NBL), umpired first finals of the Norwegian Cup (NM) in 2010, got classified as NSBF Club umpire in 2010, took further umpire training in April of 2011, appointed member of the Technical Committee of the NSBF in 2012, graduated from Jim Evans European Classic 2012 in Switzerland, got classified as NSBF Regional umpire in 2012.
October 19, 2012
New Unequal kevlar chest protector
The first Unequal chest protectors are now shipped and already used by some umpires. ABUA-A umpire Sascha Pammesberger is one of the first to use it in Europe. He will give a review as soon he has gained enough experience with it.
Order this protector though ABUA Europe and get a great discount. Questions? Send a mail to info@umpire.eu!
Scene from game 3 on October 5th (Photo: Joe Yun)
October 19, 2012
Austrian best of five final series ended after 3 games
Austrian best of five final series ended with game 3 on Friday, October 5th, in Vienna. The Vienna Wanderers won the game against the Wr. Neustadt Diving Ducks and took the title early.
Here is a report about game in Austrian TV: Take a look!
Final Umpire Crew: A. Pichler, S. Pammesberger, O. Tscharf
October 2, 2012
Austrian final series
Austrian best of five final series going into game 3 on Friday, October 5th, in Vienna at 6:30 pm. Two of the three umpires of the final crew are ABUA-A members.
Scene from game 2 on September 30th (Photo: Joe Yun)
