Keeping his eye on the ball

Look for McCreary umpire Donnie Whitehead on ESPN

Don’t be surprised if a familiar McCreary County face pops up on ESPN as an umpire eyeing the strike zone at home plate or monitoring bases in the outfield.

McCreary County’s Donnie Whitehead has been umpiring women’s softball nationwide for a while, now.  For the 2025 season, Whitehead is already scheduled in California, Texas, and Florida.  Currently, umpiring for the SEC, Whitehead also works in the Big 10, Atlantic Coast Conference, Missouri Family, Sunbelt Conference, Ohio Valley, Mountain West, and just picked up the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

“Dean Chaney is the one who got me started with refereeing and umpiring,” Whitehead said.  “He talked me into doing basketball and baseball.  After about six years, I did a softball game for a buddy of mine, and I liked it better.  I quit baseball and went to softball.   Softball is faster and has more action.  It is just more exciting.”

Whitehead did a summer camp in 2019, but COVID shut everything down in 2020. The following year, in 2021, he umpired three conference weekends.  After that, it was uphill with a full schedule in 2022 and afterward.  He experienced his first Division 1 game televised by ESPN in Evansville, Indiana on March 7, 2021.

According to Whitehead, softball umpires are like family.

“One of the best aspects of the job is meeting people who treat you like family,” Whitehead remarked.  “95% of the umpires working with you are supportive and want to see you grow and become a better umpire.”

Whitehead speaks glowingly of his mentor, Liz Hammersmith, who recognized Whitehead’s talent early on and was instrumental in pushing Whitehead to move forward with his Division 1 career.

Umpiring at the college level is unlike the high school and elementary levels because umpires seldom deal with upset coaches or parents.

“At this level, if an umpire knows the rules and mechanics, the coaches may question you but they don’t blow up about a call,” Whitehead explained.  “And of course, outbursts from parents just don’t happen.”

Whitehead’s participation in McCreary County athletics is extensive.  He played ball at Stearns Elementary, Pine Knot and Whitley Middle Schools, and McCreary Central.  As an adult, he coached elementary basketball and Little League baseball from 2003-2017, and still occasionally referees high school and middle school basketball.  His sons, Seth and Alex, umpired for a while.  Whitehead says his best experience was being able to call a game at Morehead State with his two sons.

“The ESPN guy saw us and asked if the three of us were brothers,” Whitehead recalled.  “I just laughed and kept walking, but Seth stopped and talked to him.  Later, the ESPN guy kept commenting on us throughout the game.  When Alex got hit by a ball, the commentator said, ‘Little bro must be OK because big bro and Dad are laughing at him!’ He even looked it up to see where we were from and commented that we might be the first father/son/son Division 1 umpire team.”

Whitehead advises any young person who wants to move up the ranks as an umpire or referee to do three things.

“First, know the rules,” he said.  “Secondly, know the mechanics of the game.  Finally, hustle and always be in the right position to make the call.”

Whitehead is passionate about being a role model to young McCreary Countians.

“I know sometimes McCreary County gets a hard time from some people in other counties,” Whitehead reflected.  “But when I go out-of-state, I don’t get any flack about where I am from.  I came from a county that was once considered one of the poorest in the state and nation, but I’m proud of McCreary County.  I want any young person from McCreary County to know that if I can travel nationwide, umpiring Division 1 softball, they can do it, too.  All they need is the “want to” to do it.”