Bradley, ME, Postmaster Chris Parker has been umpiring Little League baseball for 32 years. He has umpired four major tournaments in the United States, including the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. He is currently the Umpire-in-Chief of the Senior League World Series that is held in Bangor every year.
In 2005, an umpire from Guam, in Bangor for the tourney, told Parker and his assistant that he would seek an opportunity to repay them for their hospitality. This year, he invited the pair to umpire the Asia/Pacific 11-12 year-old regional tournament in Guam, which determines which team goes to Williamsport. Held during the second week of July, 11 countries participated: Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Saipan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, Indonisia and New Zealand.
Above left, Parker recites the Little League pledge with young ballplayers during opening ceremonies in Guam. Above right, Parker umpiring the plate at the tournament, wearing a pink shirt intended to raise breast cancer awareness.
