Bulls to honour Mitch Ball at home opener

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on May 26, 2022.

The Lethbridge Bulls will open their season with a special pre-game ceremony to honor long-time umpire Mitch Ball, who passed away last year. Photo courtesy Cindy Adachi

The Lethbridge Bulls will open their 2022 season against the Sylvan Lake Gulls tonight at Spitz Stadium with a special pre-game ceremony for long-time umpire Mitch Ball, who passed away a year ago this month to COVID-19.
Ball was a fixture on the southern Alberta umpire scene.
“He was one of the top in the country as far as umpires and very well known here as a mentor to the younger umpires and always wanting to help train and advocate for them is as well,” said Kevin Kvame, Lethbridge Bulls president and general manager.
Ball was also well known for his ties to sports in southern Alberta.
“He also had ties with recreation in southern Alberta,” said Kvame.
“You know in Pincher Creek, Coaldale and Raymond and then the last number years right here in Lethbridge in the Rec and Culture department with the City of Lethbridge. One of his roles was to assist with the baseball facilities in the city reach their potential and he was very dedicated to that role as well. So just an all-around baseball person that always had a positive outlook on everything and a smile on his face.”
Ball’s life and legacy will be celebrated tonight as A&W is the game sponsor and the root beer was his favourite drink.
“You know Mitch, one of his favourite drinks was A&W Root Beer,” he said.
“It’s a great tie into the night. We’re going to actually partner with A&W to have everybody that comes to the ballpark get a free A&W Root Beer.”
One of the long-time Baseball Canada national umpires, Jon Ovo, will be attendance to give a toast to Ball and ask all of the fans to crack open their root beers.
There will be many other umpires joining in on the tribute as well while some groups will be announcing other tributes for Ball on the evening and plans are in the works between the Bulls and Spitz Stadium.
“So it should be a real special night to show the umpiring community what he meant to us even beyond umpiring and to the baseball community,” he said.
“It was always nice to see Mitch every day,” said Chace Wheatley, Bulls head coach.
“He always brought such a positive attitude to the field — even when he was umpiring — he still for the most part was really light hearted and just enjoyed being around the park all the time.”