Randy Wetzel made no bones about it.
Wetzel’s first appointment as an umpire in the just-completed College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., was everything the Great Bend resident imagined — and then some.
“It was all that I expected and more,” Wetzel said. “It was one of the greatest experiences of my umpiring career that I have ever had.
“We were treated like royalty and being on the field for the championship game and watching the excitement of the kids was second to none. It was fun.”
Wetzel was the first-base umpire on Tuesday night when South Carolina repeated as national champions. The Gamecocks completed a two-game sweep of Florida, beating the Gators 5-2.
Wetzel, who waited over 20 years to umpire a CWS, seized the opportunity when it came calling. He umpired a total of seven games — one behind the plate, two at third base, two at second base, one down the right-field line (in the first of the two championship games) and finally, one at first base in the second title game.
The longtime umpire, who was born and raised in Great Bend, said he had a couple of close plays during Tuesday night’s final.
“I had two of ’em and I got both of them right,” Wetzel said. “I watched the replays (Tuesday night) and I got them both right.
“It was a great feeling. All of the close plays I had (during the CWS), the replays showed that I got them right. I didn’t hear any complaints from anybody.”
Wetzel said umpiring the CWS was high-energy and intense.
“It’s one of the most intense feelings you have, whenever you’re out on the field,” he said. “You just never know when the next play’s going to happen and you want to be ready for it.
“The intensity level is extremely high and kind of draining. Tuesday night, after that final out, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders because it’s so intense.”
Wetzel said he had a feeling that the Gamecocks would somehow come out on top.
“It seemed like they were a team of destiny,” he said. “In the first championship game, Florida had the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth inning.
“How they got out of that ... they were like Houdini. They did it in an earlier game, too, and I just kind of knew they were going to win the thing.”
Wetzel said it was almost overwhelming when he saw his name on the giant scoreboard as the umpires were introduced.
“There’s nothing like the feeling of them putting your name on the big board,” Wetzel said. “Exhilarating is a good word.
“It’s almost as good of a feeling as meeting the former President of the United States (George Bush Jr., who threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the opening day). Before the championship game, we had a flyover and if that doesn’t make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, nothing will.”
Wetzel, 56, said he would “love” to call another CWS, but he’ll have to wait until 2014.
“You’re not eligible for another three years, that’s the rules the NCAA has,” Wetzel said. “That’s my goal, to work one more (CWS) and then leave my hat on the middle of home plate and call it a career.”