We continue the pathway to officiating series as part of our
joint celebration of "Officials Appreciation Week" with softball coordinator Joanne Venditto.
SCIAC Officiating Hub
"The SCIAC has always supported student-athletes' achievements and provided opportunities for softball
umpires to advance.
As the SCIAC Softball Coordinator of Officials, I provide ongoing education through Zoom meetings during the spring season. Additionally, field clinics, classroom sessions, and observations during the fall season offer individualized training opportunities, emphasizing mastery of judgment and rules.
Our Coordinator selects umpires for our roster from those who have undergone the California Collegiate Softball Umpires Association comprehensive training program, ensuring proficiency in game management, rule knowledge, and mechanics. The California Collegiate Softball Umpires Association (CCSUA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training and developing college umpires. They offer clinics, camps, online meetings, and individual game observations to prepare umpires for officiating community college, NCAA, and NAIA conferences.
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SCIAC officials in the postseason and moving up levels
Many SCIAC umpires have advanced to officiate at NCAA postseason events, including Regionals, Super Regionals, National Championships, and even international championships. These umpires are a few examples of successful officials the SCIAC has developed. They all hold down regular jobs and continue to officiate softball due to the comradery among fellow officials.
Laura Head is currently the USA State Umpire in Chief. She is on the SCIAC roster as well as the Big 10, Big 12, Mountain West and WAC Division I conferences. She has worked the NCAA post-season regularly. She was selected to work international softball events for USA over the past 10 years.
Katrina Kershaw retired 9 years ago and continues to teach high school. She worked regularly in the SCIAC as well as the Pac-12, Big 12, Big West conferences. She also had the opportunity to umpire at NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals and was selected to work a National Championship.
Dan Cowan is an umpire on the SCIAC roster and has worked NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.
Scott Tomlinson is an umpire on the SCIAC roster, Big 12, Big10, Big West, Mountain West, WAC and formerly Pac-12 conferences. He has worked Regionals, Super Regionals and is a World Series Umpire. Scott is also the Lead Instructor for the CCSUA training group, creating the training program.
Victor Hawthorne works SCIAC contests this season and has also moved into Division II working the Pacific West Conference.
Mario Romero works the SCIAC contests this season and works the West Coast Conference (DI), the Pacific West and California College Athletic Conference (NCAA Division II).
Follow the SCIAC on Threads (@theSCIAC), X - formerly Twitter (@theSCIAC) and Instagram (@thesciac) with hashtags #SCIACtion and #SoCalSoGood. Watch all home SCIAC games, matches, and meets online through FloSports: https://flosports.link/SCIAC