LUBBOCK, Texas -- The College Baseball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday this year's recipient of the National Collegiate Umpire Award -- honoring a lifetime of excellence in umpiring. The award -- sponsored by Honig's Whistle Stop, a provider of umpire gear -- will be presented as part of the College Baseball Night of Champions on June 30 in Lubbock, Texas.
The recipient of the 2012 award is Rich Fetchiet, who has umpired college baseball for 35 years. He has worked three College World Series at two levels of NCAA baseball. His resumé also includes serving as a coordinator for eight NCAA Division I collegiate conferences, service on numerous NCAA committees and assignment to five major international competitions, culminating in the Olympic Games.
"Knowing who some of the other nominees were made the notification of selection overwhelming to me," Fetchiet said. "I remain beyond humbled. Perhaps what makes this recognition so special is knowing that it comes from my friends and colleagues in college baseball umpiring. I am deeply grateful and appreciative of this award and look forward to the celebration in Lubbock."
Fetchiet's selection was the result of a nomination and screening process by past and current NCAA national coordinators of umpires, NCAA regional advisers, umpire conference coordinators and four collegiate head coaches.
"The final ballot included three names, and the entire vote count was separated by a mere three votes," said Mike Gustafson, executive director of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. "That Rich won such a close vote speaks to his work on and off the baseball diamond."