Baseball Victoria Umpire of the Year Casey Cooke was recognised with positive feedback for his umpiring last weekend.
Mick Barnes, coach of Mitchell Majors C Grade in MWBL, expressed his appreciation for Cooke’s professionalism in a high-pressure game.
“As a coach that was playing for a grand final spot, I believe that it was one of the best umpiring I have seen in a long time,” Barnes said. “Considering that the game went 9 innings in 4-3 game, there was a fair bit of pressure. I thought the umpiring was spot on and it’s a credit to Vic baseball and this gentleman. Well done.”
For Cooke, it feels great to receive such positive feedback.
“It means that the changes and efforts I’ve put into my behaviour and work ethic aren't going unnoticed, and that they're hopefully having a greater effect on the perception of myself and other umpires,” Cooke said.
With five full seasons of baseball umpiring under his belt, Cooke has learned a lot, from grassroots competitions to national tournaments. He credits the camaraderie and instruction from fellow umpires with helping his development and says the most enjoyable thing about umpiring is improving his skillset.
“Getting a deeper understanding of the rules, getting (hopefully) more accurate with the strike zone, and getting better at managing situations is something I find really rewarding,” Cooke explained.
Cooke, who was announced as the BV Umpire of the Year during May’s awards night presentation, is eager to continue crafting his skill.
“This summer I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work at a higher level, either within the season itself or at a national level,” Cooke said. “Having the award just means that there will be greater expectations on me, both personally and from teams.”
Cooke hopes to one day umpire internationally, but for now he’s happy to keep working hard and hopefully inspire more baseball enthusiasts to get involved behind the plate.
“It’s something anyone can do, and most of it is surprisingly easy. It keeps you involved in the game, just from a different angle,” Cooke said. “I'd encourage anyone who's keen to ask around their club or attend a training session and see how they like it.”