Please enable Javascript to watch this video Chesapeake, Va. It's game time!

1. 3 Man Umpire Mechanics Softball

The PenSouth Conference Softball Tournament is held in Chesapeake, Virginia. Here's what happened: Head Coach Red Lindsay on the left, talking strategy with assistant Jason Burns. It's the bottom of the second inning when senior Alissa Upton has her own approach to the game: just hit it up the middle - and that's what she does - the Dukes have a rally going. After a two out walk, captain Shelby Alton has her own plan of attack - 'hit it where they ain't' - she takes the Braves pitcher deep to right center field, and it bounces off the Indian River sign. The double drives in two runs and the Dukes have an early lead. It's the bottom of the fourth. The bases are loaded for Kaleigh Arnett; she would drive the 2-2 pitch to left center.

Two more runs would cross the plate and the Dukes are up five to one on the Braves. Those five runs would be more than enough for pitcher Morgan Haywood.

She was in command all day as she secures her 14th win of the year. The Gloucester Dukes advance to next week's regional tournament. The second game of the afternoon featured the defending 5A state champs, Great Bridge Wildcats, against their cross-town rivals, the Hickory Hawks. The Hawks get going early - lead-off hitter Sarah Martin with the infield hit. Then, two batters later, Lauren Duff comes to the plate. She would hit what would look like a long foul ball out, but watch as the ball goes off Bryce Skyova's glove and somehow gets back into fair territory and over the wall.

THREE UMPIRE MECHANICS Starting Positions There are only three different positions you will ever be in at the start of the pitch 1. Standard position 2. Rotated position 3. Counter-rotated position 1. Standard Starting Position A. Use when there are no runners on B. Use when there is a runner on third base only 2. Rotated Starting Position. THREE UMPIRE MECHANICS FOR NCAA A Quick Reference No attempt is made to show exact positioning or to detail the umpire movements. Starting Positions There are only three different positions you will ever be in at the start of the pitch 1. Standard position 2. Rotated position 3. Counter-rotated position 1. Standard Starting Position. Holding area and Point-of-Plate Mechanic. The correct term for college is holding area, not holding zone. When your CCSUA Chairperson of Education and Training was working closely with the SUP Regional Adviser and the NCAA National Coordinator of Softball Umpires to revise the CCA Manual a few years ago, we discussed selecting one term for consistency.

The umpires twirl the finger signaling a home run. Duff would touch them all for her ninth homer of the year. It would give the Hawks a two-to-nothing. Lauren Beth O'Conner would add a third run with this fly in the fourth inning. The Hickory Hawks advance to their thirteenth straight regional tournament after taking down the Wildcats three to nothing.

Interested softball teams still have time to register for summer league play. Below, local teams can find information concerning summer league registration. Terre Haute’s largest and longest running softball league, the Terre Haute Church League, is looking to have another banner year. Having registered 34 teams in 2011, the league is expecting 40 teams in 2012.

3 Man Umpire Mechanics Softball

Church teams wishing to participate in the 2012 program can still register for play by contacting Todd Heim at (812) 235-6500. The church league offers men’s play on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Co-ed play is scheduled for Friday evenings. The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation program for 2012 hopes to continue the growth in its number of participants. The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation program will register its team with the national ASA program again in 2012 and utilize licensed ASA umpires for the 2012 season. Newly appointed Director of Parks and Recreation, Bruce Rosselli, has made it known the department is dedicated to improving the adult softball program. As in the past, men’s league play will be offered on Sunday and Tuesday, with co-ed action taking place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

A coaches meeting has been scheduled for April 10 at Torner Center. Interested teams can obtain further information concerning costs, fee deadlines and scheduling by calling Torner Center at (812) 232-0147. Another long-standing program, the Brazil YMCA program, will be offering league play for men, co-ed and church co-ed teams for the 2012 season.

Men’s league play is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, co-ed action is slated for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Church co-ed is played on Monday night. Teams have until April 16 to register.

For further information, contact the Brazil YMCA at (812) 442-6761. With the summer-like weather, many local adult softball squads have already participated in tournament play.

This past weekend witnessed three local teams participating in the Battle For Bucks tourney hosted by Midwest Sports Complex in Indianapolis. The best finish for the local teams was the Eagles 291/Honey Creek Collision team. Playing in the men’s class “E” division, the Eagles 291/Honey Creek Collision teams finished fifth with a 4-2 mark. Also playing in the “E” division was the Crawlworks team, who finished with a 2-2 record. Vengeance, playing in the “D” division, finished with a 1-2 mark. This weekend will see Vengeance and Outkast participate in the McCracken American Cancer Society fundraising tourney. They will be playing in the 20-team C/D division.

Also participating will be several local co-ed players as a part of the Sticks and Jiggles team. Teams in search of tourney action can consult the various softball websites.