FOA Member Dave Buck Umpires CWS Fruitbelt member Dave Buck umpired the 2004 College World Series in Omaha, NE, and was featured in a Herald-Palladium article concerning his experience there. Below is the content from the article:

Area ump gets taste of World Series July 15, 2004 By JASON MITCHELL / H-P Sports Writer It wasn't the major league World Series, but that didn't concern Dave Buck. Being one of the eight people selected to officiate the College World Series is just fine for the longtime area official. "The entire College World Series is televised now; it's becoming a bigger deal every year," said Buck, former president of the Fruitbelt Officials Association. "It was a great experience." Buck, who officiates collegiate baseball in the Mid-American Conference, the Big Ten and the Big East, met several criteria to earn a spot in the officiating rotation. "They take into account your regular season schedule, your ratings from conferences and the number of conference tournaments you've worked," said Buck, now in his 10th year of officiating collegiate ball. Buck had worked previously in NCAA regionals and super regionals, and participated in his third super regional this year. Prior to umpiring college ball, Buck worked in the minor leagues, finishing up in Triple-A in 1994. In his first College World Series game, Buck worked the plate and had to eject a player for a flagrant collision at home plate. "The coach came up to me later and told me it was the right call," Buck said. He worked second base and first base in the championship series between Texas and eventual champ Cal State Fullerton. Buck said the base officials wore microphones throughout the College World Series, and the second base umpire had to wear a "hat cam," a cap with a small camera in it, during the championship series. Buck said he had only one really significant call while at second base during the championship series. "A guy came off the bag on a throw," said Buck. "The only camera angle that showed I was right was the one on my hat. I'm glad I wore it." Buck is an instructor and web designer at Computer Training Center in south St. Joseph. He's still a trustee with the Fruitbelt Officials Association, and is in charge of the organization's website. These days, Buck only officiates basketball and baseball. During the winter, her works area high school basketball games as well as college games in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference.