Ocean Springs umpire also had role in regionals 18-year veteran worked 4 games
Mississippi was well represented this past week in the NCAA baseball
regional tournaments.
Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss all earned bids
last weekend, while a South Mississippi umpire also worked a game.
Terrance Mobley of Ocean Springs officiated the NCAA's Charlottesville,
Va., regional last weekend.
Mobley is a staff umpire of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,
completing his 18th year of umpiring. He worked four games in
the tournament.
"It was a wonderful experience," Mobley said. "The
baseball and the tournament officials were great. I was thrilled
to be given the opportunity."
Mobley caught the eye of NCAA officials last year while serving
as an instructor at a development camp in Phoenix.
"There is a lot of opportunity for young umpires right now
in baseball," Mobley said. "Young guys who have just
finished their high school or college careers playing the game
should look into umpiring."
He cited the example of Anthony Johnson, 23, who attended the
Jim Evans umpiring school in Florida and has been given a professional
contract in the Gulf Coast League this summer.
"I would be happy to help any prospective umpires in any
manner that I can," Mobley said. "It's a way to give
back to a game that has been good to me."
Prospective umpires should inquire with high school coaches or
game officials about how to begin a career.