MONROE - The words "Play ball" have served as a life slogan for Scott Marty.
Marty, a 1983 Monroe High School graduate, grew up as an avid baseball fan. He recalls the talks and times he went with his grandpa to watch the Brewers play on muggy summer days at Milwaukee's old County Stadium. That ignited his love affair with baseball.
Decades later, Marty is in his 15th year as a certified umpire for high school baseball games.
"Baseball has been a love affair in our family," Marty said. "To see that passed on to my sons, Mitch and Tyler, it's been awesome to be able to see that."
Marty played baseball in the 1980s in high school at Monroe. He had a tryout for the University of Wisconsin baseball team before the university eliminated the program as part of budget cuts.
Marty was a Monroe assistant baseball coach for seven years. He spent five years as an assistant under former coach Romey Cherney and two years as an assistant under former coach Steve Christensen. Cherney coached Monroe baseball for eight years and was an umpire for 27 years.
"I just thought one day, 'Why don't I try umpiring?' Marty said. "Romey Cherney was my mentor. It (umpiring) was one of the only things I haven't done in the game. It just felt like a natural fit. I absolutely love it. I've always been a huge baseball fan. Umpiring is a great way you can stay involved with the game."
Marty has umpired games in the Big Eight Conference, the Badger Conference, the Rock Valley Conference and Southwest Wisconsin Conference this year.
Marty umpires about 30 prep baseball games every spring. His son, Mitch, played his final baseball game at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville last weekend and also is an umpire.
"He's probably a better umpire than me," Scott joked.
Umpires are charged with the task of calling balls and strikes, signaling safe or out on close plays, and dealing with coaches, players and fans.
"Any time there is a close call you will hear it from the fans," he said. "You can't have thin skin. If you have thin skin you will suffer as an umpire."
Marty said the biggest challenge of being an umpire is knowing the rules.
Marty said a big part of being an umpire is being a good communicator with coaches and players.
Marty said he hasn't seen many changes to the game.
"I don't think the game has changed that much," he said. "I think there have been some rule changes and there is a rules emphasis every year. You just have to adjust to the rule tweaks every year."
Marty said he has noticed a trend of bats getting more expensive.
"My son and I always say it's the not the sword it's the swordsman," Marty said.
Marty said the new 100-pitch count rule for pitchers has had an effect on games this year, but teams and not umpires are responsible for policing it.
"I do think games are higher scoring this year," he said.
He gets booked to umpire games by conference commissioners. For nonconference games, high school officials can contact him to work. The farthest he has driven to umpire a game is the Wisconsin Dells.
"If you live in Monroe and you are into sports you can't be worried about driving one or 1 1/2 hours for a game," he said. "I don't mind that."
Marty said there is a big need for good umpires.
After filling out a form to be an official on the WIAA website, prospective officials have to pay a $30 fee and take an officiating test.
However, umpires are not required to take the test on an annual basis. If an umpire wants to move up a level or stay at the master level, which is where Marty is, then they must retake the test, but there is not a target score needed to pass or to continue as an umpire.
"Taking the test is just a pride thing," he said.
As a master level official, Marty said he has to umpire eight games a year.
As young candidates get into the world of umpiring, it can be a challenge. Marty said he's willing to help train newcomers and help them get games.
There is a cost to working as an umpire in baseball and softball. Umpires are required to wear masks, chest protectors, shin guards, shoes and certain pants, shirts and a cap. Marty said he just purchased a new mask for $200. The chest protector is about $100, the cost of several shirts and pants, shoes and shin guards can run about $250 to $300.
Marty said he usually updates his equipment as needed each year. He said he is paid $60 to $75 for a varsity game.
"I've probably spent close to $1,000," he said. "If you work enough games you can get it paid off quickly."
Marty, a 1983 Monroe High School graduate, grew up as an avid baseball fan. He recalls the talks and times he went with his grandpa to watch the Brewers play on muggy summer days at Milwaukee's old County Stadium. That ignited his love affair with baseball.
Decades later, Marty is in his 15th year as a certified umpire for high school baseball games.
"Baseball has been a love affair in our family," Marty said. "To see that passed on to my sons, Mitch and Tyler, it's been awesome to be able to see that."
Marty played baseball in the 1980s in high school at Monroe. He had a tryout for the University of Wisconsin baseball team before the university eliminated the program as part of budget cuts.
Marty was a Monroe assistant baseball coach for seven years. He spent five years as an assistant under former coach Romey Cherney and two years as an assistant under former coach Steve Christensen. Cherney coached Monroe baseball for eight years and was an umpire for 27 years.
"I just thought one day, 'Why don't I try umpiring?' Marty said. "Romey Cherney was my mentor. It (umpiring) was one of the only things I haven't done in the game. It just felt like a natural fit. I absolutely love it. I've always been a huge baseball fan. Umpiring is a great way you can stay involved with the game."
Marty has umpired games in the Big Eight Conference, the Badger Conference, the Rock Valley Conference and Southwest Wisconsin Conference this year.
Marty umpires about 30 prep baseball games every spring. His son, Mitch, played his final baseball game at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville last weekend and also is an umpire.
"He's probably a better umpire than me," Scott joked.
Umpires are charged with the task of calling balls and strikes, signaling safe or out on close plays, and dealing with coaches, players and fans.
"Any time there is a close call you will hear it from the fans," he said. "You can't have thin skin. If you have thin skin you will suffer as an umpire."
Marty said the biggest challenge of being an umpire is knowing the rules.
Marty said a big part of being an umpire is being a good communicator with coaches and players.
Marty said he hasn't seen many changes to the game.
"I don't think the game has changed that much," he said. "I think there have been some rule changes and there is a rules emphasis every year. You just have to adjust to the rule tweaks every year."
Marty said he has noticed a trend of bats getting more expensive.
"My son and I always say it's the not the sword it's the swordsman," Marty said.
Marty said the new 100-pitch count rule for pitchers has had an effect on games this year, but teams and not umpires are responsible for policing it.
"I do think games are higher scoring this year," he said.
He gets booked to umpire games by conference commissioners. For nonconference games, high school officials can contact him to work. The farthest he has driven to umpire a game is the Wisconsin Dells.
"If you live in Monroe and you are into sports you can't be worried about driving one or 1 1/2 hours for a game," he said. "I don't mind that."
Marty said there is a big need for good umpires.
After filling out a form to be an official on the WIAA website, prospective officials have to pay a $30 fee and take an officiating test.
However, umpires are not required to take the test on an annual basis. If an umpire wants to move up a level or stay at the master level, which is where Marty is, then they must retake the test, but there is not a target score needed to pass or to continue as an umpire.
"Taking the test is just a pride thing," he said.
As a master level official, Marty said he has to umpire eight games a year.
As young candidates get into the world of umpiring, it can be a challenge. Marty said he's willing to help train newcomers and help them get games.
There is a cost to working as an umpire in baseball and softball. Umpires are required to wear masks, chest protectors, shin guards, shoes and certain pants, shirts and a cap. Marty said he just purchased a new mask for $200. The chest protector is about $100, the cost of several shirts and pants, shoes and shin guards can run about $250 to $300.
Marty said he usually updates his equipment as needed each year. He said he is paid $60 to $75 for a varsity game.
"I've probably spent close to $1,000," he said. "If you work enough games you can get it paid off quickly."
