3 N.S. girls softball championships cancelled at last minute over dispute with umpires

Three girlssoftball championships have been cancelled in Nova Scotia because of a pay dispute with the umpiresorganization.

The provincial championships for theunder 14, under 16and under 19 divisions were slated to take place this weekend.

Richie Connors, president of Softball Nova Scotia, said Nova Scotia Softball Umpiresisasking for increases togame fees, mileage rates and meal allowances for provincial championships.

"I think umpiring is an underpaid job and I certainly support some of those," said Connors.

Discussions have been ongoing since May, he said.

The proposed new fees would cost Softball Nova Scotia about $400 or $500extra per tournament, Connors said.

Softball Nova Scotia runs about 13 provincial tournaments per year.

'One of the hardest decisions I've had to make'

Connors saidthe umpires demanded a $200 administrative fee before any umpireswould be assigned to the tournaments.

He refused to pay it, saying it wouldn't be fair to pass those fees on to his members.

"It was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make as president. The last thing I wanted to see was kids not playing ball," he said.

Connors said there was "shock and disbelief" among coaches and players when they learned of thecancellations.

Highland Park Heat outfielderChistiana Dosman Banks said she was disappointed because this would have been her first provincial championships.

"It's the biggest tournament of the year and I was hoping to learn a lot of new things about softball during the week of practice we had before it," she said.

Pitcher Keely Matheson said she was in shock when she heard the news.

"If they could maybe make a compromise or something, so we can play baseball. I know that's all we really want to do," she said.

The umpiresorganization did not immediately returna request for comment Friday.