By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
Joey Weaver has four main areas he tries to instill into his work. Weaver believes in communication with his fellow workers, approachability for all involved, hustle and proper mechanics.
Combine those beliefs with 26 years of experience and it adds up to the 2006 Alabama Coaches Association Division I College Umpire of the Year Award for the Brewton resident.
It is not the first time Weaver has received such an award. He received the top umpire award for the junior college level back in 2003. The Alabama Coaches Association also has a top umpire award for the high school level in addition to the two college divisions.
Weaver received the honor through a vote of committee members and Alabama baseball coaches. This past year Weaver served as the crew chief at the Alabama Junior College State Tournament and worked at several key games for Division I schools such as Alabama, Mississippi State, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Troy and South Alabama. Weaver also served as an instructor at several umpiring camps and has worked in Major League Baseball's minor league system.
This year Weaver is scheduled to work at events such as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and Gulf South Conference Tournaments along with the Division II Super-Regional.
Twenty-two of Weaver's 26 years of umpiring have included work at the Division I level.
Weaver also officiates local basketball and volleyball
games.
Weaver has continued to work games this spring despite a knee injury.
as important for umpires to stay in shape as much as the
players. An umpire has to be physically as well as mentally strong.”