Spring turning into summer is Dana Verge’s favorite time of the year. The change of seasons brings the sounds of the game: the crack of the bat, the ball hitting the mitt, umpires calling balls and strikes, little feet rounding the bases, and the roar of the crowd — it’s Little League baseball and softball season.
Dana Verge has spent the better part of his 70 years playing, coaching, umpiring or administrating District 2 Little League.
He started in 1952, playing Little League baseball on the Panther team the very first year Waldoboro hosted a Little League program. Waldoboro had four teams that year.
From there, he played Babe Ruth (Pony League), and went on to play high school ball at A.D. Gray for four years.
He attended business school for two years before he returned to Waldoboro to coach Little League for three or four years. After taking a break, he got into umpiring.
He was a baseball and softball umpire for five decades, at all levels, from Little League to high school. He volunteered his time as an umpire for Little League, including for District 2 playoffs.
He has been the administrator for District 2 Little League for 34 years. Gary Kenniston wanted to retire from the duties, and approached Verge to take over. “I said no, I am having too much fun umpiring,’” Verge said. “He knew how to push the right buttons.”
Over the years, Verge has been assisted by Ned Berry, Paul Kennedy, and recently Lee Smith. Verge’s current term expires in two years, and he is hoping Smith will take over.
“It is time to give a younger person the opportunity,” he said.
Verge’s duties as District 2 Little League administrator involve overseeing the five leagues in the district, ensuring all the paperwork is in order, the players are eligible to play, and playing on the correct teams. The five leagues, Oceanside, Five Town, Lincoln County, Medomak Valley, and Belfast, are spread across Lincoln, Knox and part of Waldo counties.
If an issue arises, such as a protest at a game, Verge is responsible for calling headquarters in Bristol, Conn., to get it ironed out. “I call Bristol on the spot and they tell me what to do,” he said.
Verge attends as many Little League baseball and softball games in his district as he can. Last weekend alone, he watched 10 games. He estimates he goes to two to three games a week during the regular season; more during playoffs and all-star seasons.
“I go somewhere about every day,” he said “I would not be surprised if I go to 15-20 a week during all-stars.”
It is the people involved in Little League that have kept him going for three plus decades, he said. “I would not have been in it all this time if it had not been for the coaches and people involved with Little League,” Verge said. “There are a lot of good people involved: 99% of the people are nice people and very dedicated. I appreciate it.”
All umpires in Little League are volunteers. “Nobody gets paid,” Verge said. “All these umpires doing Little League games do not get paid. They are all freebies. They provide their own transportation. People like myself and league presidents all donate their time.”
Over the years, Verge estimates he has watched thousands of games. The funniest thing he ever saw happen occurred in a Challenger Division game. The tradition was for the last batter to run around the bases. As a runner rounded third and headed for home, “he lost his pants.”
The most awesome play he ever saw occurred in Waldo County, when a girl playing Little League baseball leapt into the air to make a catch and fell over the fence, spoiling a grand slam.
He witnessed a triple play in Damariscotta during an East – West Babe Ruth playoff game. “You didn’t see many of them,” he said.
Verge estimates he has worked eight to 10 state playoff games in Little League, at all the levels. He has watched Little League All-star play grow from just one 11&12 All-star program to include three age levels in baseball and two in softball.
Over his lifetime, Verge said his favorite memory was playing baseball for the Friendship Townies in the Knox-Lincoln Baseball League. He coached the team for three or four years, before the league folded.
He is also very proud of starting a Challenger Division, for handicapped youth. “It is one of the best things I have ever been involved in,” Verge said. “It gave challenged kids the opportunity to go out and have some fun.”
Over time the Challenger program petered out, despite his best efforts to reorganize it. “I pushed and pushed trying to get it back,” he said. “It is the only thing I am disappointed with in Little League.”
He said he is most proud of all the support he has had over the years, including having the backing of the league presidents. “There are few leagues like we have, where you can get volunteers to do this,” he said of the umpires. “They give up paying games because they know we need help with Little League. I am grateful for their support that I have had over the years.”
Of his administrative duties, Verge said, “It has not been all gravy. I have had my share of problems. If I had too many, I would not still be doing it.”
Told he has been the face of District 2 Little League for three plus decades, Verge joked, “And a hard looking one too.”