Testimonials - from Keystone Umpires

Being a part of Keystone Umpires I was surrounded  by some of the best umpires around. They saw my potential, mentored and  guided me as I was a sponge and soaked everything in. Now I can pass  that knowledge on to the groups I run in my local  area, where I am the UIC (Umpire in Charge) in Mifflin County. If you  have the right attitude and willingness to learn, you can go far with  Keystone Umpires. Such as umpiring college or high school baseball. Our  organization is a family atmosphere. We help  one another and the bonds that we have are amazing.  We have become  lifelong friends.  One of the most important things is that Keystone  will never put you in a position to fail but to succeed! We work  together to improve ourselves and our organization

When I was asked to join Keystone Umpires, I was honored.  I had heard about them from a fellow umpire, and I was thrilled for the  chance to work with someone who cared as much about me as he did about  my umpiring experience. I have been an umpire for 35 years, and never  have I been a part of an organization who devotes so much time and  energy to making sure we are performing at our best. From the way we  look on the field to the numerous training sessions offered throughout  the year, Keystone makes sure that when their umpires are working the  game, the coaches and players are getting a crew that is second to none.  I am proud to be a part of such a professional organization. It truly  is a next-level umpiring experience.

Patrick McGrain

2025 will be my 10th year of umpiring and 3rdseason with Todd and the Keystone Umpire family. The commitment, pride and. Knowledge to this amazing brotherhood of officials is extraordinary. Todd is not only an amazing umpire and assignor, but also truly an ambassador of the game here in Central PA and beyond. His commitment to his team comes before anything else. His guidance and knowledge have helped me greatly improve my performance on AND off the field. To share the field as the 3rd team with some of the best umpires Pennsylvania has to offer has been amazing as well. I have improved my game tremendously with the wisdom of the Keystone family. My goal is to improve and better myself one pitch at a time and I can’t think of any place I would rather be than with Todd and the Brother’s at Keystone Umpires. Looking forward to many more years under Todd’s leadership.

Joe Lower - PIAA Official and all levels from 19u down to little league

I was, for lack of  better terms, a little league umpire, working for a small local group.   I enjoyed it but was only getting 2 or 3 games a week and was not  growing as an umpire. 

I reached out to  Todd and he got me in contact with his assignor and I began doing  tournaments under that group, which eventually became Keystone Umpires. 

During that time I have had the opportunity to grow and work with fellow umpires that I consider mentors, as well as friends. Thanks to those decisions, I have been able to go from doing LL games, to tournaments, to HS Varsity and now college. 

That is truly a testimony to what being a part of Keystone means to me.

Keystone has helped improve my umpire skills immensely. I was referred to Keystone

last year, as a newer umpire, returning to the field for the first time in many years. Even

though Keystone has nearly 300 umpires, Todd is incredibly generous with his time on a

1:1 basis, to discuss and help you reach your goals. He takes the time to consider

individual needs and potential to put us in a position for success. I can’t thank him

enough for the opportunity to be assigned with more experienced and nuanced umpires

who are willing to teach and evaluate on the fly. In addition, off season opportunities to

see live pitching and get “dialed in” are plentiful. It is a solid organization for anyone who

wishes not only to begin, but also have the opportunity to “level up”. Officiating at all

youth levels can be challenging, and the shortage of umpires is widespread. Belonging

to Keystone provides an opportunity for feedback, learning, and support. I believe Todd

has built a successful model to recruit and, more importantly, retain umpires so we can

support each other.

Jason Godin, Mt. Carmel, PA

PIAA and Keystone Umpire

2024 was my first year with Keystone. I had coached my kid’s baseball and softball teams until their careers ended and still wanted to be a part of the game. I began umpiring youth games in the league that I had coached in. A post-game conversation with a fellow umpire got me linked up with Todd Galbraith and the great group of umpires at Keystone. That decision led to a tremendous summer of personal growth as an umpire. I learned something each time I was on the field. That is a direct result of working with very talented and knowledgeable partners who were always willing to give advice, teach, and mentor.  It is uncommon how much these men are willing to share their time and knowledge in order for others to improve. A love for the game and a willingness to learn is all you need to get started. I feel honored to be a part of this group. I couldn’t be happier that I have been accepted into it.