These umpires love officiating

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 4, 2010

C.J. Langley enjoys wakeboarding when not officiating at games for the 10-and-under Babe Ruth softball league at Johnson Park. | Courtesy photo

For those who are curious who has been calling their daughter out or safe at first base for Babe Ruth softball in 2010, meet Giavann Nurse and C.J. Langley.

For more than a month, Nurse and Langley have been calling games for girls softball at Johnson Park.

Nurse, a 12-and-under umpire is officiating his second year; and Langley, a 10-and-under umpire just completed his first year.

For Nurse, a rising senior at Straughn High School, “it all started around last year.”

“I needed a job and they needed umpires,” Nurse said via Facebook message. “I was clueless to the softball rules.

“I signed up, and after a few days of vigorous studying, I got it down pat,” he said.

Langley, who just graduated from Pleasant Home, said the reason why he wanted to be an umpire was for the “extra money.”

“I just came to talk to Ms. (Andalusia youth sports coordinator) Barbara (Tyler) and asked if there were any jobs,” Langley said. “I just needed some extra money.”

Ever since they started officiating, both say they have enjoyed it immensely.

“It is really enjoying calling games, but it does get challenging when the games are close and you have those coaches that are just tough on everything an umpire does — even for the good or the bad for them,” Nurse said. “But overall its a very fun job.”

Langley said his best-called game this summer came between Straughn-Black and the Titans in the 9-to-10-year-olds.

When they are not officiating, Nurse enjoys playing basketball, and Langley likes wake boarding.

Langley will attend Lurleen B. Wallace Community College at McArthur Campus in Opp in the fall.