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“STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE ONE!”  How many times have you heard those words?

“STEEEEEEERIKE TWO!”  Those words make you a little more nervous.  But really, how many times have you wondered who is the person reminding you of your status with those stressful words?

Meet David Teater, one of our MHED substitute teachers. David is a NCAA/NAIA/NFHS Certified Baseball Umpire.  He has been involved in baseball since 1967 and has coached for a long time, even before he had his own kids.  In 2005, after a few “run-ins” with umpires, he decided it might be a good idea that “if you can’t beat ‘em, then join ‘em” and began the process of becoming an umpire. He then became an umpire in 2006.

David umpires for NCAA Division II, NAIA, Junior College and High School during the school season, Men’s Senior Baseball League (former pros and college players mostly), college wooden bat and high school level showcases mostly during summer and fall.  A few things David enjoys when he is able to umpire at the youth baseball level are mentoring younger umpires or working games with low pressure (as compared to a college or high school playoff game) and working with umpiring friends.

When asked what his favorite thing about being an umpire is, David states, “I love the game!  Without umpires, it is just practice.  I am a shepherd for the game, keeping the sheep in line and the wolves from taking advantage.  I have no issues with taking charge and making people do what they are supposed to do according to the rules.”  In regards to the tougher aspects David says, “We are a part of the game.  If done right, it is quite a workout.  You never know what you are going to see on a baseball diamond during a game.  It really challenges me mentally and physically.  The rules are a labyrinth of complexity to apply.“

“There is always something crazy happening on a ball field.  One game at Missouri Western University in St. Joseph, it was so hot that a players cleat bottoms came off while he was running because the heat melted the glue holding the cleat plate to the shoe body.  It was 118 degrees that day and the temp on the field was 138 according to the field manager’s thermometer setting on the pitcher’s plate in the middle of the mound.  What a scorcher.”  David has made a lot of wonderful memories on the field.  “I have been able to umpire at Kaufmann Stadium, many minor league ballparks and at most of the Major League Baseball Spring Training parks in the Phoenix/Tempe Arizona area.  I have met many people, developed several close friendships and have many umpire friends from all over the world because of umpiring.”   He has been able to enjoy umpiring in Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona.  He hopes to keep working games at the highest level he is able and for as long as he can.  “I see myself as the 70-plus-year-old guy mentoring younger umpires one day if my health allows.”

David grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and received his bachelor and masters degrees at Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky.  He went on to get his Law Degree at the University of Kentucky then realized that was not the field he wanted to be in. He then went on to teach high school business in Kentucky for four years.  When he is not umpiring, he is teaching adult Army Civilians as well as substitute teaching with MHED.  His favorite substitute assignments are special ed. and social studies.

Thank you, David, for all that you do for MHED and for continuing to influence young people in your vocation.