Turbitt to become first female umpire to work World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Lisa Turbitt (Burlington, Ont.) is set to make history in March when she will become the first female umpire to work a World Baseball Classic event. Photo: Baseball Canada

January 23, 2020

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA- Burlington, Ontario’s Lisa Turbitt is set to make history in March when she will become the first female umpire to work a World Baseball Classic event as she’s been selected for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in March.

No stranger to making history, the veteran umpire and former winner of the Dick Willis Memorial Award for Baseball Canada’s Umpire of the Year had the home plate assignment for the first-ever Women’s Baseball World Cup gold medal game back in 2004 and in 2016 was part of the first all-female umpire crew to work a game in the Intercounty Baseball League.

“I am beyond excited for the amazing opportunity to attend the World Baseball Classic Qualifier,” said Turbitt. “I am grateful for the many, many people that have been there for me along the way and I am humbled by the positive reaction and outpouring of support.”

In addition to her numerous national and international assignments, Turbitt has added “Umpire Director” to her resume having held the role at the 2016 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, the 2017 World University Baseball Championship, the 2018 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in Panama and last summer at the U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan.

She has also impacted the role in her home province and throughout the country having instructed at numerous clinics and is a role model for young female umpires.