A Legacy in Blue
Meet Megan Herz, a softball umpire from Madison, Nebraska
Sometimes it helps to know a guy.
Especially when that guy is your dad. Megan Herz, a softball umpire from Madison, Nebraska, has the great fortune of having a dad who knows a thing or two about calling balls and strikes.
“I grew up listening to guys in the umpire circle or sitting with my dad’s crew after a football game. My dad (Paul Herz) is a local legend up here.”
At 16, Megan made a travel softball team and needed a part-time job to pay for the opportunity.
“I made the team, and my mom and dad said, ‘That's great! Glad you made it, but you gotta fund it because there are four kids in this house’”.
So she started umpiring the same game she would be playing. She cut her teeth with ASA (now USA Softball) summer ball.
“I had to deal with a lot of volunteer coaches who didn't know the rules. Some were coaches I played against, and since they knew me, they pushed me during games. I think that experience built me into a really good umpire. They pushed me like a coach would push you; not so much to make me want to quit, but so that I would get better.”
After graduation, Megan moved out of state to play college softball for two years and eventually got her degree. It would be a while before Megan made it back to Nebraska, but when she did, she picked up where she left off.
“I had a different last name when I moved back. When I applied for the ASA State Tournament for summer ball, the assignor didn’t recognize me. So he called my dad and asked who this ‘Megan’ girl was. Dad starts laughing and says, ‘That's my daughter!’ Because of the reputation I built before I left for college, all of a sudden I had phone calls up the wazoo.”
Megan took advantage of this local notoriety by taking games at the high school level. Her willingness to develop relationships with ADs and travel allowed her to create a healthy high school schedule. But even with her growing experience, it took her a while to think she was qualified to umpire at Nebraska’s high school softball tournament.
“I kind of shied away from applying for state because I was under the impression that they always pick the same guys, and they're not gonna pick me. But eventually I did apply, and once I let them know I was interested, I started getting really good district assignments, and eventually got the ‘Congratulations’, you got picked for State email!”
Megan’s first state softball tournament was memorable for many reasons.
“During the season, we use a 2-umpire crew, but at the state tournament, they use 3-umpire crews. When I was selected, I didn’t have any experience with this system, so I felt behind the ball. I thought, Oh, man, what am I doing? This is terrible!”
But Megan, like so many officials, embraced the opportunity and, in turn, was able to participate in a historical moment in Nebraska softball tournament history.
“On one of the games, I worked with Renee Williams and Jessica Schenck. I was on 3rd base, Renee was on first, and Jessica was behind the dish. We had a great game and then went upstairs to the umpire’s room, where Jim Bewley (an NSAA evaluator) was waiting for us. He told us to turn around and go back downstairs so Dan Masters (the NSAA director for softball) could take a picture of our crew. I had no idea why.”
It turns out that Megan, Renee, and Jessica had comprised the first all-female umpire crew in the 30-year history of the tournament.
“They put the picture on the NSAA socials and told the story. It was one of the really great moments that I’ve had in softball.”
Megan has umpired two state softball tournaments and is starting her third year umpiring at the college level. There is no doubt she has a bright future ahead of her. But future aside, Megan will always remember where it all began for her.
“I've umpired with every single member of my family–my three brothers, my mom, and my dad. You can definitely call me a legacy umpire. Not very many people can say that.”
Tune in next week as I share my interview with Megan on the Her Call Podcast. She will discuss her methods for learning the game and growing as an official!
This was a good one. Thanks for sharing!
Great read, MK!