Edgerton teen learns more than rules from umpiring softball

EDGERTON, Wis. (AP) - Victoria Pulcine has played and loved softball since second grade.

But the Edgerton High School senior never suspected the game to become such an important part of her life.

She has Jerry Burhans to thank, The Janesville Gazette (https://bit.ly/1Td4BtI ) reported.

At 16, she enrolled in his umpiring class at the Janesville Boys and Girls Club, where she and other students learned the rules of softball and baseball.

“I thought that umpiring was just calling balls and strikes, outs and safes,” Pulcine said. “The first day of class when everyone failed the pretest, I realized I was mistaken.”

At first, she pictured herself working a few softball games in Edgerton.

Today, at 18, she sees herself working as an umpire far into the future, even though the job has its challenges.

Explaining the rules when people are upset is the hardest part.

“You have to be very good at conflict resolution,” Pulcine said. “If coaches come out and start yelling at you, you have to calm them down and teach them in a calm voice what the rules actually say rather than coming back with a hot-headed response.”

She enjoys softball so much that she works in the scorching heat of summer, sometimes several games in a row.

“The most games I have ever worked were eight,” Pulcine said. “That was 10 hours straight of working in the heat.”

Her third softball season for girls and women begins in late May, when she will umpire her first tournament, either in Janesville or Milton. By the time the season ends in August, she will umpire up to 75 games.

She is certified to umpire baseball for boys and men but chooses to stay with softball.

Shortly after Pulcine graduated from umpire class, she attended the National Umpire School in Baraboo. After a long weekend of slideshows, drills and practice behind the plate, she received a certificate and a special flipping coin for her work.

“This was a great honor,” she said, “since I was one of the youngest umpires there.”

Pulcine has worked about 175 games since 2014.

Some were for the Class B State Tournament in Wausau in 2014, and some were for the Class A State Tournament in Watertown in 2015. Most were for the many tournaments in Janesville, along with some games during the week in Edgerton, Milton and the Burlington area.

Last fall, she umpired three college-level games in Madison. Now she is on track to umpire a national tournament.

“I never thought umpiring would take me this far,” Pulcine said. “I have had these incomparable experiences due to the guidance and faith from Jerry. He is not only my employer, but the best mentor I could ask for.”

Burhans is retired deputy chief umpire for the Amateur Softball Association of Wisconsin. He remains active as the chief umpire at local tournaments and is teaching his fourth umpiring class. Graduation is May 7 at the Boys and Girls Club.

“I’ve gotten a lot out of the sport,” Burhans said. “It’s in my DNA to give back. I love to see the kids make progress as they learn.”

He watched Pulcine mature into the job.

“I saw Victoria in the beginning, when she was not really able to deal with adults,” Burhans said. “Now, it’s old hat for her. It’s been a baptism of fire for her.”

He took Pulcine and another teenager to umpire college games in Madison last year.

“The coaches thought the umpires were in college,” Burhans said. “Victoria is an excellent umpire.”

Working the games has had a huge impact on her.

“Umpiring has helped me to be financially independent,” Pulcine said. “Being paid $35 per game, I can make about $500 for tournaments that last two and a half days.”

Second, the role has built and developed character.

In the fall, Pulcine will be a biology major at UW-Madison and plans to become a pediatric radiation oncologist.

Being an umpire has honed skills she will need as a doctor, including good communication skills and the ability to make quick, professional decisions, she said.

“The job has taught me skills I will use for the rest of my life,” Pulcine said.

She called creating a safe and fair environment for the players her reward for hard work.

She also enjoys the challenge.

“I like going home at the end of the day and realizing that I made it,” Pulcine said. “I like knowing that it wasn’t the easiest day, but I persevered.”

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Information from: The Janesville Gazette, https://www.gazetteextra.com