They’re not “Out,” but they’re running low.

Both the Stilly Valley in Arlington and Marysville little leagues are in need of umpires.

In Marysville, they ask the home team to find a volunteer ump for every game. It can be a challenge, especially this year, because Cedar Field is closed so some “home” games are taking place at Quake Field in Arlington.

Cedar Field is closed because in each of the past two years old light poles have fallen over during storms. At first the city said all the poles, lights and wiring needed to be replaced. But now it looks like a short-term fix may take place so the field could be used some this year.

Dan Lowes is a coach in the Marysville league. Despite volunteering a lot of time for that, he also is required to umpire 10 games a season.

He doesn’t mind it, “we take care of our own,” but he would sure appreciate more volunteers.

“We have no shows, and sometimes we’re double booked,” he said, adding even board members end up umpiring some games in upper divisions.

Angie Miller, a Stilly Valley board member and softball coach, said, “Parents are busier. We don’t get as many as we used to to volunteer.”

Donnie Wirt, who is in his first year as umpire in chief for Stilly Valley, said: “It’s quite a job getting people to commit. It’s a grind begging people to volunteer.”

Wirt said it’s his understanding that it’s hard to get umpires everywhere. Coaches often have to ump each other’s games.

“They’re afraid to get back there,” Wirt said of some people. “But I enjoy it. It’s the best seat in the house.”

All the leagues have lost umps, Miller added.

Wirt said there are a variety of reasons people are afraid.

No. 1 is people think they may be intimidated by parents.

“But I’ve never had a problem,” Wirt said, adding coaches are responsible for keeping parents in check.

Miller said the league impresses upon coaches that the umpires are human and make mistakes, but they are volunteers.

“Parents don’t seem to get as upset as they did in the past,” she said.

Miller added she would love to find some retired people to help. Wirt said he would like to see more junior and high school students volunteer.

“It’s easy to be intimidated at that age,” Wirt said, adding the league really tries to protect them from overzealous parents.

Wirt said he encourages prospective umps to volunteer out in the field or for younger games “to get their feet wet.”

A second fear is volunteers may be afraid of the ball hurting them.

“The upper division the ball comes pretty fast,” Miller said.

Again, the key would be volunteering for games with younger players. Also, umps wear protective gear to keep safe. In the Stilly Valley league, umpires can be reimbursed for equipment if they volunteer for enough games.

The No. 3 fear of umpiring is getting a call wrong. Major training takes place before the league starts.

“There wasn’t a huge turnout this year because the weather wasn’t great,” Wirt said.

But league officials still can help new volunteers who sign up.

Wirt said umps can’t worry about making mistakes.

“I still don’t get every call right,” he said, adding that’s why he’s a Boeing manager and not a Major League umpire. “I always second-guess myself at the end.”

But Wirt said everyone involved in Little League knows it’s supposed to be low-key, low-pressure.

“Coaches know – Let it go,” he said.

In Marysville, they also encourage parents to be good sports. On the league website, parents can take a Positive Coaching Alliance quiz. The free parent quick course encourages positive sideline behavior with the overall goal teaching kids to try hard to win and learn life lessons.

To make sure everyone stays positive, Wirt said at the pre-game meeting at home plate he makes sure parents, along with the coaches, hear his instructions.

“Embarrassing kids is where I draw the line,” he said. “I won’t tolerate it.

“There’s always chirping, but (umpires) don’t engage. You own the game.”

To volunteer, in Marysville contact Leo Carlos at carlos.4@frontier.com. In Arlington, contact Wirt at uic@stillyvalleylittleleague.com.