PHOTOS PROVIDED Phil Levesque umpires a past Little League World Series game.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit five years ago, Phil Levesque was selected to become an umpire for the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. That assignment in 2020 was eventually postponed until 2022 when he was able to come to the Series as part of an umpire deferment from that 2020 Series since it was canceled because of the pandemic.

A longtime umpire, Levesque was beyond happy in 2022 to be umpiring at the Series. Imagine his surprise when he got word he’ll be back this summer to umpire the 2025 Little League World Series in South Williamsport.

“Being assigned to return in 2025 was a shock,” Levesque said. “Sharing the news with family and friends, especially those connected to Little League, was emotional in 2020 and again this year. I received an overwhelming outpouring of congratulations and support.”

Levesque is a 2000 graduate of Lycoming College and taught at umpiring school in South Williamsport while he attended Lycoming. He moved to Williamsport last August after spending nearly 20 years in New Hampshire previously.

Levesque grew up in Sanford, Maine, and his father was an umpire when he grew up. One day in 1992, Levesque was at a game with his dad and no umpire was available. Suddenly, Levesque found himself umpiring as a 13-year-old kid.

“It was a humbling learning experience and I was fortunate to be in a supportive environment. I wanted to keep doing it, but after a few games, I knew I had a lot to learn about the rules and how to umpire,” Levesque noted.

That taste in 1992 as a 13-year-old turned into a 30-plus years of being a baseball umpire, and now he’s twice been able to umpire the highest level of Little League.

“The Little League World Series, and the opportunity to umpire the best Little League teams in the world in front of thousands of fans from all over the world, is a unique experience,” Levesque said. “While it’s an honor to be selected, there’s also a feeling of responsibility to make sure the kids on the field have an amazing and memorable experience.

“The LLWS and the Little League program as a whole are all about the kids and being there to support their experience,” Levesque continued. “Whether on the field, in the stands, or on the hill overlooking Lamade, the Little League World Series is something I wish everyone who loves baseball could experience first hand.”

He coached the 2014 Little League Baseball East Region tournament in Bristol, Connecticut; the Senior League Baseball World Series in Bangor, Maine in 2016; the Little League World Series in South Williamsport in 2022; and last year, he was at the Little League baseball East Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut as a crew chief member.

The Lycoming graduate also has umpired at numerous levels. From Little League through high school and American Legion ball, he also umpired competitive college summer leagues throughout the New England Region.

After Levesque first umpired that day years ago in 1992 in Maine, he began going about attending an umpire clinic in his hometown in Sanford that was taught by Jack Leary, who umpired in Massachusetts and umpired the 1992 World Series. It was at that clinic that Leary told Levesque he was going to be an instructor at an umpire school in Williamsport during the summer and Levesque asked for information to register.

The then-14-year-old had the 18-year-old age requirement waived by Little League and he was able to register and rode with Leary to Williamsport. It was there he discovered Lycoming College, where he would later enroll and graduate from. Levesque still has an active relationship with Lycoming College as he’s a chair on the Alumni Association Executive Board and was an appointment to the board of trustees last year.

“Similarly, I’ve maintained active involvement with Little League since 192 in a variety of capacities,” Levesque said.

That includes being an umpire, coach, league president and assistant district administrator, among other roles.

“What I’ve always enjoyed about umpiring and donating my time in other volunteer roles, especially within Little League, is the camaraderie and deep sense of community that is at the heart of Little League,” Levesque said. “You get to be part of an organization that is dedicated to using baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities.”

“That’s an incredibly noble pursuit for a game with humble beginnings,” Levesque added.

While he’s already umpired the Series in 2022, Levesque is beyond excited to be able to come back this year and do it again.

“The umpires who have been selected are starting to communicate with each other, and we’re all excited to meet in person at orientation in May and then arrive for the LLWS in August,” Levesque said. “I have so many great memories of umpiring in 2022, including the electric environment of an 11-inning game played over two days between Japan and Latin American, during which I was umpiring behind the plate, and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Levesque then paused.

“Well…maybe not the 11 innings,” Levesque joked.