Passing of Dennis Ormsby
OBITUARY – DENNIS ORMSBY
In December 2019 Dennis Ormsby passed way after a short and courageous battle with cancer.
Dennis started his umpiring career in Southland during the 2013/14 softball season as a level one umpire. By the end of the 2014/15 season, Dennis had completed the New Zealand Umpire’s Rules exam and qualified for his Level 3 certification at the New Zealand U17 Girls championships in Christchurch. At the end of Dennis’s second season he had officiated 109 games which included four national tournaments.
In the 2015/16 season Dennis was assessed and successfully passed his Level 4 New Zealand Umpires Badge at the New Zealand U17 Boys championships in Christchurch. During this season Dennis umpired 138 games and attended five national tournaments.
Over the next couple of years Dennis went about learning his trade and attending as many tournaments as he could. One of these was the International Friendship Series at the Blacktown International Sports Park in Sydney, Australia in July 2016. Dennis was appointed Home Plate Umpire on one of the finals, but due to the weather conditions no finals were played.
In 2018/19 Dennis was recommended to be assessed for his Level 5 certification in Christchurch at the National Fastpitch Championships which he successfully passed.
During Dennis’s short umpiring career he umpired in over 540 games from U13s to senior men and women and attended 31 tournaments.
Dennis’s passing is a huge loss to softball and the umpiring fraternity, his experience and workload both nationally and locally will be very hard to replace. Dennis was a positive person in umpiring and in life. He always gave 100% in everything he did, and he was a good umpire and friend who will be sadly missed.
In December 2019 Dennis Ormsby passed way after a short and courageous battle with cancer.
Dennis started his umpiring career in Southland during the 2013/14 softball season as a level one umpire. By the end of the 2014/15 season, Dennis had completed the New Zealand Umpire’s Rules exam and qualified for his Level 3 certification at the New Zealand U17 Girls championships in Christchurch. At the end of Dennis’s second season he had officiated 109 games which included four national tournaments.
In the 2015/16 season Dennis was assessed and successfully passed his Level 4 New Zealand Umpires Badge at the New Zealand U17 Boys championships in Christchurch. During this season Dennis umpired 138 games and attended five national tournaments.
Over the next couple of years Dennis went about learning his trade and attending as many tournaments as he could. One of these was the International Friendship Series at the Blacktown International Sports Park in Sydney, Australia in July 2016. Dennis was appointed Home Plate Umpire on one of the finals, but due to the weather conditions no finals were played.
In 2018/19 Dennis was recommended to be assessed for his Level 5 certification in Christchurch at the National Fastpitch Championships which he successfully passed.
During Dennis’s short umpiring career he umpired in over 540 games from U13s to senior men and women and attended 31 tournaments.
Dennis’s passing is a huge loss to softball and the umpiring fraternity, his experience and workload both nationally and locally will be very hard to replace. Dennis was a positive person in umpiring and in life. He always gave 100% in everything he did, and he was a good umpire and friend who will be sadly missed.