SEBASTIAN — Sebastian River Area Little League is looking for volunteer umpires as its fall season gets underway, with games set to begin the first week of October.
Vice President Ryan Matthews said the league has had a hard time recruiting parent volunteers to work games for several years and is now turning to the wider community.
“I figure there’s at least a few retired folks in our town who love baseball and would appreciate the opportunity to get involved with the game again,” Matthews told Sebastian Daily. “Maybe they used to coach but don’t have local grandkids to keep them involved anymore.”
The league has more than 300 players this season and is trying to keep growing. Matthews said even one game every other week would make a difference for the kids.
Games are scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings, generally from 5:45 to 9:15 p.m., depending on the age group. No game can last longer than 1 hour, 45 minutes; most finish in about 90 minutes.
Umpires will be given safety equipment and uniforms. The league will also provide training and mentorship and ease new volunteers into games rather than putting them in situations they are not ready for, Matthews said.
Anyone interested in helping or who has questions can email sebastianlittleleaguepresident@gmail.com or send a private message to the league’s Facebook page, Sebastian River Area Little League.