While Blaine Kovach was coaching his Team Sask runners through third base, another Estevan local was officiating games in a separate pool at the Baseball Canada Cup in New Brunswick.

"It was my seventh national assignment, so I'm very familiar with that process. For me, that national assignment almost becomes more about meeting other officials and just having a good of umpiring baseball," said Umpire Kevin Culy, noting that his first time was in Quebec City in 2007, and he's participated in various national championships throughout the years since then.

Culy in action officiating a game.

"At a national tournament, you're evaluated by supervisors from Baseball Canada. This year was particularly rewarding for me, as I achieved an Accomplished evaluation for the overall tournament, which is a pretty solid evaluation, and my recommendation for coming back to the next national event would be to the senior level, which is as high as you can get in the organization."

Culy added that there are some notable differences between officiating at a national level, as compared to the local diamond.

"Usually at a national event, the officials that are there are pretty capable at ball, strike, out and safe, so it becomes more about how you manage the game, how you keep it flowing, and how you deal with conflict or anything that comes up during a game."

In the offseason, he'll be preparing to teach umpire clinics next spring.

He also encouraged people to get involved in officiating any sport, as such members are always needed.