By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
In less than a week, Dowagiac's Larry Brewer will head east to live out a dream.
After spending 18 years umpiring youth baseball, Brewer has been selected to umpire the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Brewer called the honor a "dream come true." He will be making his first trip to the World Series after having worked many a state tournament games and several regionals.
Brewer said that he got into umpiring because as a parent in the stands he felt "he could do a better job." What he found out is "it's a lot harder than it looks."
So 18 years ago he donned the mask and chest protector and started umpiring local Little League games. Brewer worked his way up the ladder and is now the head of umpires for District 15.
He begins working umpire clinics in February and by the time late April arrives he is working six days a week.
Brewer also officiates high school athletics and even worked a state football final. But when he leaves for Williamsport on Aug. 14, he knows that the next 12 days of his life will be challenging and rewarding.
"They say the opening ceremonies will just choke you right up," he said. "I have never been there before, but I watch it all the time on television. I have talked with some other guys who have been there and they all told me to do what got me there. They said be yourself. Don't change. Relax and have fun."
Brewer is not the first Dowagiac Little League umpire to make the trip east to the promised land. Bryan Wild umpired the World Series a few years back.
"I'm not nervous at all, but the closer I get to it, thinking about the thousands of people who will be watching the games, I probably will have a few butterflies."
Brewer said that once the games begin, however, it's just another baseball game and he has a job to do.
Last week, Brewer actually got a little break from umpiring. After working three straight weeks, he finally got a night off. He recently umpired the 11-12 year-old state baseball tournament in Petoskey and did the Senior Division state tournament in Grandville.
He said that being chosen to participate in the World Series is an honor that not many umpires ever get to experience.
"This is a crowning achievement," Brewer said. "I guess I never expected to get to go to the Little League World Series. I don't know what is going to top it. This will have to probably be one of the highest accomplishments I will ever have in my sporting association."
Brewer also noted that there are a lot of good umpires in Michigan and throughout the state.
"My going will hopefully help put Dowagiac a little more on the map," he said. "I hope I can make Dowagiac proud, because this is where I got my start."
Although this might be his crowning achievement, Brewer has no plans to rest on his laurels. He expects to continue umpiring for years to come.