Veteran Umpire Buys New Scoreboard for Ball Field

As an administrator in the local office of the Michigan Department of Human Services, Steve Semetko of Wyandotte did good things for people every day.

As a longtime umpire in the city, however, Semetko sometimes isn’t the most popular person on the baseball or softball diamond.

This softball season, Semetko changed all that. He donated $2,500 so the city could purchase a new scoreboard for the lighted softball field at at Pennsylvania Road near 20th Street.

“The scoreboard wasn’t working last year,” said Semetko, who also serves on the volunteer . “I inquired about it last fall when they were talking about the budget in the city. I got to thinking about it. I knew it would cost some money and the city wouldn’t have a whole lot of money.”

The city was hoping to find a sponsor to pay for half the cost of a new scoreboard as the other was more than 20 years old, Superintendent of Recreation Fred Pischke said.

"(It) was run-down and needed parts," he said.

Semetko decided to become that sponsor.

“I played a long time; since I was a kid,” he said. “I’ve been an umpire since I was in high school. I thought it was time to give something back. So that’s what I did.”

The city picked up the rest of the cost and the scoreboard was installed earlier this month by Spectrum Scoreboards. At the top of the scoreboard is a sign that credits Semetko for his contribution.

“A lot of people seem to appreciate it,” Semetko said. “It’s a beautiful scoreboard–a lot better than I thought it would be. It’s really nice.”

Semetko played for years in men’s softball leagues in the city and was part of championship teams in 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1994. The 1992 team was undefeated. He has been an umpire in six different decades dating back to the late 1960s.

“I can remember him doing my junior varsity games at Gabriel Richard,” Pischke said. “I didn’t care for his strike zone, but I guess that’s a personal thing at my end.”

On a serious note, Pischke said, the city appreciates the donation from a lifelong resident who has been involved in athletics for about 50 years.

“It’s something that will be utilized,” Pischke said. “We have freshmen softball games from high school that are played there, along with coed and men’s games and some youth games. It will be used all softball season long.”

These days, Semetko said he umpires at Memorial Park every week during the softball season. He also umpires baseball games and referees football, basketball and volleyball games. Games range from Catholic Youth Organization and middle school to high school and adult men.

“I did it right out of high school and I liked it, so I kept doing it,” said Semetko, who played football and baseball at Gabriel Richard, where he was part of the first graduating class in 1969.

He umpired in four different counties while earning a bachelor’s degree in finance at Ferris State University and continued umpiring during his 30-year career with the state of Michigan. His officiating career has taken him around the state.

Semetko said he gets $18 for calling balls and strikes at each men’s softball game. As for making the expensive donation to his city, Semetko joked, “I’ll be umpiring for free for a long time.”

Fellow umpire John Rzeppa said he has umpired “hundreds of games” with Semetko dating back decades. The two men attended school together and worked early on in the .

“It was a very generous gesture on Steve’s part to give something like that to the recreation program," Rzeppa said. "I’m sure he feels proud every time he comes out here and sees the scoreboard–as do the rest of us umpires.”