Yellow Pages
BURLINGTON — In most professions, notoriety follows accomplishment. But for umpires, referees and judges, anonymity can be the sign of true greatness.
So when Dani Baird and Lori Bish chatted while they sat together Monday night as featured speakers for the opening ceremonies at the ASA Girls’ 14A Western National Championship, it was the first time they had spoken with each other at length.
But they were no doubt on the field many times together, Baird as a four-year member of the Oregon Ducks and Bish as a veteran Pac-10 umpire.
A 15-year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department, Bish’s 21-year umpiring résumé is about as complete as it gets.
For the past 16 years, she has called Pac-10 games and, most recently, was one of just two American umpires at the 2006 World Games and 2008 Olympic Games, both in Beijing.
“It was really the culmination of a dream,” Bish said. “When you work for something so long, you just kind of have to pinch yourselves.”
That journey began with a lot of tournaments like the one that will take place in Skagit County this week. It continued through years in the Pac-10, ASA National Championships, three College World Series, 11 Canada Cups, the World Games and, finally, the Olympics.
She called the opening ceremonies at the Olympics an unforgettable experience.
“The whole umpiring corps was crying,” Bish said. “It was so emotional. To share that with so many friends was amazing.”
Tournament fans won’t get a chance to see Bish in action this week — she is the tournament’s umpire-in-chief. But she said she hopes the players can gain from this tournament.
“I hope they get a sense of accomplishment,” Bish said. “I hope they learn to feel disappointment with loss, to be grateful when they win and how to do both with grace.”
Eric Francis can be reached at 360-416-2131 or by e-mail at
