Saturday was the perfect day for Little League’s opening day in Powell. The sun was glistening on fresh grass, kids were happy to get a chance at bat and chasing fly balls, and spectators were thrilled by both fast-pitch plays and T-ball foibles.

More than 260 player recruits make up 24 teams of different age groups this year. It takes a lot of work to organize Powell’s Little League and the board of directors have managed to once again increase the number of players and teams — a remarkable turn-around for the program in a few short years. But they can’t play without volunteer umpires and they need your help.

On Saturday they started with two willing volunteers, meaning they both will need to be at games four days a week for the duration of the season. One case of the flu, a family emergency or a late day at work could upend schedules for dozens of families.

“Trying to get games scheduled, especially on weeknights, is a little rough,” said Mike Demoney, volunteer umpire and board member.

Bret Stutzman and Demoney are currently the only volunteer umpires available. Demoney’s kids are no longer in the league, yet he has volunteered to stay on to help and has been on the board for five years. He’s been umping for two seasons now and said the problem in recruiting umps seems to be worries by would-be-umps they might face unwanted scrutiny from an occasional disrespectful spectator, he said.

“It's hard to get people to want to do it anymore, especially when you look at the headlines,” he said. “It’s also sometimes thankless, but without us they wouldn't have games,” he said.

That’s not a great advertisement for the job, but it’s important for children to have the opportunity to compete and socialize, said League President Casey Borcher.

“Baseball is a great sport. I want to see it continue to grow in Powell and move in a positive direction by getting more kids outside and being active,” he said.

Borcher won’t be able to watch his own daughter play for a couple more years — she’s 2-years-old — but he was still willing to step up. This year they are offering T-ball players a fee-free season to add more incentives to parents to sign them up. Fan and player fun will sell the experience once the kids get signed up, he said.

“Baseball teaches children hard work, the importance of being committed and being a good teammate. I think that's important for kids to learn at a young age,” he said. “It’s not just winning and losing. It teaches lessons that life throws at you.”

It might seem easier to simply pay officials, but Little League University suggests leagues avoid paying umpires unless it’s the only option because it puts unsustainable financial liabilities on clubs. Paying umps, even as contractors, requires leagues purchase worker’s compensation insurance and hire a bookkeeper for payments and taxes. Doing so will drive up the cost per player substantially and, as a result, discourage families from signing up their kids, the organization contends.

Backlash from significant participation fee increases could cost the league numerous players and volunteers, the organization reported. Meanwhile, most volunteer coaches for Powell’s 24 teams have children or grandchildren playing in the league. The growth of Powell’s Little League  relies in part on the summer activity being affordable to all families, which is why the need for selfless volunteers is so great. Being an umpire, including starting mid-season, is a great way to support our youth. Board member Missy Heny said it’s never too late to volunteer.

“We’ll even train you,” she said.