www.oakvillebeaver.com 22 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 Umpire Hundeck hits the big time in Little League By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF When Peter Hundeck heard that his name had been put forward to umpire in the Little League World Series, his initial reaction wasn't exactly in line with the advice he doles out to young umpires. "It caught me totally off guard," the Oakville resident said. "Then my stomach got a bit of nerves because you're representing your country." In addition to umpiring games at every level from rookie to senior, Hundeck also schedules umpires for Oakville Little League, helps out at umpiring clinics and, as a crew chief, mentors young umpires. Hundeck said once he got by the initial shock, the umpiring instincts kicked back in. Having worked provincial and district championships, he is no stranger to games with a lot on the line. "You feel the excitement a bit more because you're part of it. But once you're on the field, that goes away. You've got a job to do," he said. "You've got to know the rules, you've got to be calm when things get crazy -- keep your wits about you." Oakville will host this year's senior Little League championship in August. Hundeck will work that tournament, although he won't be able to umpire in the championship game because he'll have to go to Bangor, Maine for an umpire's meeting at the international tournament, which begins two days later. Wes Snihur, the district 1 administrator for Canadian Little League, said the CLL usually nominates an umpire from the host organization. He said Hundeck was an ideal candidate. "He's such a great volunteer and his umpiring skills are so good," Snihur said. "His name was at the top of the list. We didn't have to go much further." Hundeck began umpiring in the early 80s when his son was playing. He picked it up again when he retired in 2003. Last year he attended the Little League umpire school in Williamsport, Pennsylvania last year, giving him the final requirement for working the international tournament. The 59 year old said his reason for umpiring has never changed. "I really do it for the kids," he said. "Parents tend to be the ones to push and put pressure on the kids. My job is to make sure it's a fun game and a fair game for the players." Though he does mainly junior and senior games, he still thinks it's just as exciting to see a rookie ball player get his first hit. And as for those parents, often the most vocal about an umpire's call, he said he's learned to tune them out, drawing on his experience as a hockey referee. "You've got so many things to focus on. To someone watching, they might think it's just calling balls and strikes or calling outs on the bases but there's a lot more to it than that," he said. "There are some diamonds where (spectators) are only three or four feet away. Those can be pretty hard. But you just hear the noise, you don't really know what they're saying." While he can't teach selective hearing to the umpiring newcomers, he can help them in other ways. "You have to realize on every play you're only going to make half the people happy, then it's not personal," said Hundeck, who was encouraged to see 26 new umpires join the organization this year. "You have to be assertive. It builds character for a 12year-old to stand up to an adult and explain the rules." In August, it will be Hundeck standing up -- or standing on guard for thee -- to represent Canada. RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER STEEE-RIKE: Oakville Little League umpire Peter Hundeck will represent Canada at the Little League World Series in Bangor, Maine. Hundeck will also be calling balls and strikes when Oakville hosts the Canadian Senior Little League World Series in August. Shepley earns best finish on Futures Tour By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Jessica Shepley fired her second straight round of oneunder-par to post her best-ever finish on the Duramed Futures Tour. Shepley shot a 70 last Sunday -- she had an openinground of 74 -- to finish second at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship. That left her four strokes behind Mindy Kim of Diamond Bar, California, who took the lead on the opening day of the three-round tournament and never relinquished it. Shepley, who finished the tournament with a three-day total of 214, would turn out to be her biggest threat. She raced up the leaderboard on the final day, vaulting from seventh to sole possession of second. "Obviously, everyone plays for that," the Iroquois Ridge grad said, "to be there Sunday trying to make a run." Kim and Shepley were the only two golfers in the field of 143 to shoot or break par in two rounds on the 6,274-yard Leawood South Country Club course that tested players with deep rough. "It was a very difficult course with tough conditions but I just stuck with my game plan and was pretty successful," she said. "I knew what I was hitting off the tees and I was smart about what pins to hit to. I did what I needed to keep myself in there. I hit good shots and tried to make pars." The result was Shepley's best in four years on the tour, topping her sixth-place finish at the season-opening tournament in March. Shepley earned $9,000 for her finish, lifting her from 46th to 11th on tour's money list. That's a significant jump See Shepley page 23 The true story of a man, a pig and their journey to the table. Look for this innovative series Look for this innovative series in The Hamilton Spectator Saturday May 24 The Hamilton Spectator Saturday, May 24 to June 7. h il d June 1003