12-year-old Gibson Miller of Kindersley recently won the Zone 7 Junior Umpire of the week, and was presented the award before the Edmonton Prospects versus Moose Jaw Miller Express last Friday in Kindersley. 

Gibson started umpiring at the beginning of the shortened 2021 baseball season and with the help of his Grandpa Rick, (who has 28 years of umpiring experience and is also one of the Umpire Mentors for Kindersley Minor Ball) Gibson quickly progressed into one of the best umpires in the Town of Kindersley.  

Being only 11 years old and playing in his first year of 13U baseball, he worked as many 11U baseball games as were offered to him during the month of June.   

In one month Gibson had acquired enough confidence and skills that he was offered a chance to work the inaugural game at the new senior baseball diamond in Eatonia. The July 8th game between the Eatonia Wheat Kings and the Kindersley Cubs of the Fertile Valley Senior Baseball League, would mark a pivotol moment, with Gibson umpiring his first game with his Grandpa Rick.  With a large crowd in the stands and a close scoring game , he handled the assignment as though it was just another regular season 11U game.

Now in his 2nd season of umpiring, Gibson receives calls from team managers in all divisions from 11U to 18U asking if he is available to umpire, and is also hoping to work another Fertile Valley Senior Baseball League game again this year.

Gibson is a 3rd generation umpire, as his Grandpa Rick, Dad and 2 Uncles also spent years umpiring while growing up in the Town of Kindersley.  

During the summer months when not playing or umpiring at the ball diamond, Gibson enjoys golfing, riding his bike, spending time at the lake, being at the batting cage and watching senior baseball in the Town of Kindersley.

During the winter months, he enjoys playing hockey, riding his snowmobile, hitting off a tee and blocking balls in full catchers gear in the basement.

Gibson's long term goal is to continue to progress his level of umpiring and has dreams of attending either the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy or the Wendelstedt Umpire School in Florida, and eventually umpiring in the MLB.

Submitted by Rick Miller