MAU Awards & Recognition
Annual MAU Awards
Each year the MAU Awards an Umpire of the Year and Rookie of the Year to deserving members, as well as a Sportsmanship Award to an area high school baseball team.
Gary Mitchell
Umpire of the Year
The Mid-America Umpires was founded by Gary Mitchell, a dedicated high school and college umpire from Republic, MO. With a vision to elevate the quality of umpiring in Southwest Missouri, Gary sought to pass on the knowledge and training he gained from NCAA supervisors to help umpires advance their careers beyond the high school level. Gary officiated in the Missouri Valley Conference, numerous NCAA D-II Regionals, two D-II National Championships, and an NCAA D-I Regional at LSU. After a courageous battle with cancer, Gary passed away on February 26, 2010. In his honor, the MAU established the Umpire of the Year award in 2017.
Gary Mitchell
Umpire of the Year
Award Winners
2017
Curtis Eaton
2018
Lester Ratcliff
2019
Chuck Foley
2020
Bob Palmer
2021
Cody Massey
2022
BJ Sartin
2023
Stacey Cogdill
Casey Campbell Rookie Of The Year
Casey Campbell was a dedicated and passionate umpire whose commitment to justice and fairness was evident in every game he officiated. After attending professional umpire school in Florida, Casey quickly advanced in his career, officiating at the 2021 MSHSAA Final Four and working collegiately in several conferences. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Casey devoted countless hours mentoring aspiring officials, offering guidance, encouragement, and motivation to help them succeed. His dedication to nurturing the next generation of umpires left a lasting impact on many. Tragically, Casey passed away on November 25, 2021, as the result of an accident. In his memory, the MAU established the Rookie of the Year award to honor his contributions to the development of young officials in the association.
Casey Campbell
Rookie of the Year
Award Winners
2021
Kyler Propps
2022
Dennis Hill
2023
John Boyles
Jack Steck
Sportsmanship Award
For over fifty years Jack Steck umpired high school and college baseball in Southwest Missouri. When Jack showed up, you knew you had a “big game.” He was respected by everyone for his fairness and demeanor. Jack was a people person who could calm an upset coach with a gentle word and a smile.
When Jack passed away in 2022, the Mid-America Umpires wanted to create a fitting award to recognize and memorialize his dedication and contributions to the sport of baseball in Southwest Missouri. Sportsmanship is defined in the dictionary as, “fair and generous behavior or treatment of others, especially in a sports contest.” Jack Steck epitomized sportsmanship and we could not think of a better way to remember Jack than to recognize an area high school baseball team each year for their outstanding sportsmanship.
Jack Steck
Sportsmanship
Award Winners
2022
Fair Grove High School
2023
Galena High School
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