Becker High School Principal Dave Kreft recently was honored as one of the top MSHSL baseball umpires in Minnesota, as he was selected to officiate a pair of Class AA State tournament games. 

Kreft has been umpiring high school games for the past 10 years, after a successful stint as a high school baseball coach.

“Baseball has been a part of my life forever,” said Kreft, who played collegiately at St. John’s University. “Umpiring has been a great way for me to stay involved in the game.”

To be selected, Kreft had to apply to the MSHSL and then he was selected to be observed by one of the state’s baseball clinicians.   

“It was a game early in the season,” Kreft said, noting that he was in Sartell to officiate the game, the same location where he worked the state tournament. “Being observed is a great thing because it gives me important feedback in the areas of mechanics and positioning.”

In addition to the observation, there is also a pre-season meeting/clinic to attend, as well as a rules test that all umpires must pass.

Throughout the regular season, baseball umpires are paired with different partners so they can learn from one another. Kreft feels like that is a great way to get better because he can pick up pointers from different people.

In the state tournament, Kreft worked with a three-man crew that included Larry Midas, who just happens to be the husband of Becker High School Science teacher Sue Midas. 

In his first state tournament game, Kreft worked as the first base umpire for a game that involved Sibley East, his high school alma matter. In a twist of irony, twenty-eight years ago, he was a player for Sibley East on a team that just happened to make it to the state tournament.

The MSHSL and other states have been afflicted by a shortage of umpires that has caused postponement and cancellation of games due to a lack of officials.  Kreft would like to see more people get involved in officiating, as it is a great way to give back to a sport that someone may have enjoyed as a player.

“Relationships are key... just finding a connection to someone that is involved and can help you get started,” Kreft said. “It’s about stepping forward and getting involved because you never know where it will take you or how much you might enjoy it.”

As for Kreft, he feels that umpiring is a great way to get his mind off school for a few hours in the evening, although he laughs at the fact both positions might be a bit similar.

“I think it’s a great way for the Becker students to see me as a human being,” Kreft said. “They find out that just like someone else, I have hobbies and sometimes they even ask me about the games that I umpired.”

Each spring, Kreft umpires about 15 games during the regular season, as he is busy with both his job and running around to his own three children’s activities.

“I plan to do it again next year,” Kreft said. “I’ve made a lot of great connections with people through umpiring.”