Representing a first for both NCAA Power Five conferences or Major League Baseball, the Atlantic Coast Conference is utilizing an all Black umpiring crew for this weekend’s baseball series between UNC and Virginia.

Long-time ACC umpires Linus Baker, Damien Beal, Greg Street and Randy Watkins will work together for this weekend’s series, making history at Boshamer Stadium.

“I approached [Senior Associate Commissioner, Championships & Senior Woman Administrator] Kris Pierce in the winter and asked permission to have an all Black crew and without hesitation, she gave me the go-ahead,” said Troy Fullwood, the ACC Supervisor of Umpires. “These guys are ACC umpires, veteran guys that have been umpiring a long time and they deserve this opportunity to be a part of history. Hopefully we’ll get to the point where this is not a first, but this is the norm.”

This assignment happens during the middle of the ACC’s Winter Unity Week and the league’s celebration of Black History Month.

The series began on Thursday, with UNC defeating Virginia 3-2. Friday’s game is slated to start at 3:30 and Saturday’s series finale will begin at 2 p.m. It is the first conference series of the baseball season for both the UNC and Virginia programs.

 

Photo via ACC Baseball.

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