'Labor Of Love' Kurkowski To Umpire Little League World Series

OAK CREEK, WI — An Oak Creek man was announced as one of the 92 volunteer umpires who will work the seven Little League World Series tournaments this summer, culminating in the championship game in South Williamsport in August.

That man is Steven Kurkowski, of Oak Creek. He's a veteran Little League umpire, and been assigned to tournaments in each of the last several years, making the calls that proud parents scrutinize, dissect, and second-guess with every pitch, ground ball and tag either from the stands or broadcast on television around the world.

He's a retired U.S. Department of Homeland Security Special Agent, and has also been a Deputy U.S. Marshal, U.S. Customs Service Special Agent and Coast Guard member throughout his career.

"The road to being assigned to any one of the 7 Little League World Series is one that requires patience, hard work, dedication, and a love for the Little League organization as a whole," Kurkowski told Oak Creek Patch.

And what a labor of love it is. Volunteering as a Little League umpire requires long hours, cross-country travel and no pay. "It's a program that I love and totally support it as best I can."

His love of the game might be best characterized last year when he drove to Westfield, Indiana for the day to watch games at the Little League Baseball Regional tournament only to turn around and and make the 576-mile drive out to Williamsport for 3 days to watch some World Series games.

Here is a list of Kurkowski's Little League Assignments:
2013 Big League Baseball Regional Tournament, Wyoming, MI
2014 Big League Baseball World Series, Easley, SC
2015 Junior League Baseball Regional, Fort Wayne, IN
2016 Little League Baseball Regional, Indianapolis, IN
2017 Senior League Baseball Regional, Peru/Oglesby, IL
2018 Junior League Baseball World Series, Taylor MI and the Junior League Baseball Europe and Africa Regional Tournament, Kutno, Poland.

Kurkowski's umpiring work is actually year-round. With the support and blessing of his wife, Rebecca, Kurkowski assists in a yearly umpire training program for youth umpires, a local rules clinic for managers, coaches, board members and parents, and has attended weeklong rules clinics at the Little League headquarters in Williamsport Pennsylvania.

Back home, young ballplayers and their families can see Kurkowski working the diamond across the area in South Milwaukee, Franklin, Glendale, West Allis, Greenfield, Burlington, Lakeland, and Kenosha for local Little League games.

He's a volunteer at Hales Corners Lutheran Church, where he participates in several ministries, including as the director of security and safety. He is currently serving as the 1st District Alderman in Oak Creek, and as fate would have it, the city's Little League complex is located in his district.

Kurkowski knows not too many people get the chance to do what he does on the baseball diamond, and has a reverence for the game that so many cherish.

"Now you may say ... wow, something every year. That is why [i feel] I have been blessed, because that is certainly a rarity for this to happen," he said.

Submitted Photo