Tim Stevens, who started umpiring high school baseball in 1979, is working games in Ridgefield this week, part of his plan to work with all 22 umpires associations in the state in his final season and as a way to promote umpiring as a great way to be part of the sport
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
Call it a farewell tour for an umpire, as well as a recruiting trip.
This week’s stop is Clark County.
Tim Stevens, who first started umpiring high school baseball in the Northwest in 1979, showed up in Ridgefield on Thursday to work the bases in a game between W.F. West and Lynden on Thursday night.
Those teams are in town as part of the Baseballism event, featuring 36 teams playing in various locations throughout the county this week.
Stevens is in town not only to say goodbye to the career he loves but also to inspire a new generation of umpires.
“There are a lot of people like me who are getting older and leaving the sport,” Stevens said. “We’re not being replaced in numbers. We want to draw attention to the fact that there is a shortage of officials. We need younger people replacing old guys like me as we walk away.”
Stevens, who is the umpire-in-chief for all Washington high school umpires, is taking a statewide tour. There are 22 umpires associations in the state, and Stevens plans to work at least one game in his final season with each association.
This week, he is in Clark County working with the Evergreen Baseball Umpires Association (EBUA). Oh, it turns out, the person who will be replacing Stevens as the state’s umpire-in-chief is Mark Allen of the EBUA.
Before the change of command for next season, Stevens is going on a whirlwind tour, from the Palouse, to Tri-Cities, to central Washington, to the Bellingham area, and more. This week’s stop in Clark County is No. 3 of 22 associations.
Then he is hoping to go out with quite an honor in his final season.
“Hopefully, fingers crossed, my local association is going to submit me for the state tournament, so I can go out at the state championships,” said Stevens, who is based out of the Snohomish County Baseball Umpires Association.
That would cap the end of a career that started with a curiosity when Stevens was a youngster.
“I never was much of a player. A lot of kids grow up wanting to be ballplayers,” Stevens said. “I was intrigued by the umpiring thing.”
He took a PE class in high school that was all about umpiring.
He worked his first high school baseball game in 1979. After moving to Washington, he started working WIAA games in 1985. In the late 1990s, he was named the umpire-in-chief for the state. By the way, he also worked minor league baseball before becoming a Division I college umpire for more than 20 years.
Now, it is time for him to say goodbye. Before he walks away, he wants younger people to know how great of a journey it has been for him. Baseball players, coaches, and yes, umpires, are part of an extended family.
“That’s the part I’m going to miss the most, the community,” Stevens said.
Of course, umpires also have to have thick skin.
“Umpiring is the one profession where you are expected to be perfect and get better from there,” he said with a smile.
He also understands that younger umpires are getting out of the game due to abuse from fans. There are going to be missed calls. Stevens said younger umpires should rely on more experienced umpires to get through tough times and to learn. An umpire is always learning. And then, older umpires start teaching.
Fans can also help increase the numbers of officials — in all sports, not just baseball. They can commit to understanding that the men and women making the calls are humans. They are part of your community. They are there to do a job and they are doing the best that they can.
There are three ways everyone could help, Stevens said.
One: “People get into umpiring if they can.”
Two: “If they can’t get into umpiring, leave well enough alone,” he said, asking folks to stop abusing umpires. “Let these people grow within their community.”
Three: “Let other people know umpiring is an opportunity. Get young people involved. And let everybody know we are all humans underneath.”
The umpire-in-chief for Washington high school baseball is leaving that post after more than 25 years. He is going around the state to say goodbye, to his fellow umpires, and to coaches.
Then he will pass the leadership position to Allen of the EBUA.
“I feel comfortable walking away because I appreciate his leadership,” Stevens said. “I feel confident he is going to follow well in my footsteps.”
Note: Tim Stevens is expected to umpire the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. games Friday, March 20, at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. That site is hosting an eight-team bracket for the Baseballism Kickoff Classic. There are seven other four-team brackets throughout Clark County on Friday and Saturday. All games are free. For bracket information and game times, go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Anz1T6Y1Ib8B0Cq91bLWSW7bEX0xbyNS/view
Also read:
- Plenty of NBA connections expected in town Sunday for Vancouver Bears game
Former NBA stars Gary Payton and Robert Pack will coach opposite each other when the SuperHawks visit the undefeated Vancouver Bears in a marquee USBL matchup. - State’s umpire-in-chief goes on recruiting trip in his final season as a baseball umpire
Tim Stevens is spending his last season traveling to every Washington umpire association, working to address the shortage of officials and encourage young people to join the ranks. - Clark County Baseball presents Baseballism Kickoff this week with action all over the region
Thirty-six teams from across the Northwest, including two state champs, are competing in free high school baseball tournaments at local turf fields in Vancouver, Camas, and Ridgefield. - The Study of Sports Podcast March 13, 2026: We discuss the state basketball tournaments, the incredible run from Columbia River boys, the state placing for Evergreen girls, and more
Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss a series of subjects around the WIAA’s state basketball tournaments, plus we get into some Mariners baseball talk and NFL free agency/trade cancellations - Falcon Baseball Academy to host inaugural Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market at Prairie High School
Prairie High School’s Falcon Baseball Academy will host its first Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market on May 2, inviting local vendors and community members to support the school’s baseball program and student activities.
