Nevin Jacobs umpires at the American Legion Northwest Regional Tournament

Powell has seen a good number of its young baseball players reaching high levels this summer, some to state tournaments, and one team to the Little League Western Regional.

But Powell resident Nevin Jacobs has seen his work on the diamond take him to new heights as well — as an umpire at the American Legion Northwest Regional Tournament in Cheyenne last weekend.

Jacobs, whose family moved to Powell when he was just 4 years old, was a standout athlete in a number of sports, which he continued during his college days at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.

After his collegiate days ended, Jacobs returned to Powell and began playing softball, which eventually led him to make the transition to umpiring.

“I just enjoyed being around the game and I wanted to be able to do something to give back,” he said. “There is just such a great atmosphere around here with great people in this baseball fraternity.”

Jacobs extended his officiating to the basketball courts and football fields as well, though it is his love and passion for the game of baseball that has helped him become one of the most respected umpires in the state.

And respect is key to his officiating.

“I like being around the players and seeing them grow in the game,” he said. “It’s a great game and my main thing is that I don’t like it to be disrespected.”

Though there are also those times when the downside of the profession comes about.

“There are always going to be those people that will let you know what it is that they know, or don’t know,” he said.

He has weathered through it, however, and had been a staple at the annual State Championship Tournaments for the last 15 years, and it was a year ago that he was nudged to take the next step.

“They thought I was ready to work at the regional and so I filled out the application,” Jacobs said.

The recommendation came from a high source.

“The umpires for Regionals are recommended by each State Umpire Director,” said President of Cheyenne Post 6 Baseball Phil Maggard. “For Wyoming, it is Darin Duncan, and he is currently the Umpire in Chief for the Region 8 Tournament in Boulder. Both last year and this, Darin has recommended Nevin.”

Last year, Duncan and veteran ump Tony Fontes were chosen to work the regional, with Fontes selected again this year.

“Darin (Duncan) was going to work the Region 8 Tournament this year, so it opened up a spot,” Maggard said. “There are only eight regionals, and six umpires for each. So Nevin is one of only 48 umpires in the whole country to be honored at this level.”

The opportunity is certainly not lost on Jacobs who, even with all the years he’s spent perfecting his craft, knows there is always more to learn.

“It is absolutely an unbelievable experience to work with these umpires who have so much knowledge,” he said. “When I’m not working a game, I’m watching them, and I’ve probably learned more this week than I have in the last 10 years.”

Jacobs has taken notice of something else, which shows the underlying passion for his profession.

“When you start to move up levels like this, you get to see a different level of play,” he said. “I’ve been able to see some pretty impressive young men playing here.”

Which just goes to show that umpires are as big a fan of the game as anyone, if not more so.

And it is that love and respect of the game that has brought Nevin Jacobs to this latest level of his profession.

Another Powell product doing us proud on the diamond.