William Ross - The Man Behind The Mask

Officiating youth baseball is a tough job; so much so, finding qualified candidates willing to say “yes” is hard to find. You can hardly blame someone for deciding the late nights, blazing heat, and constant scrutiny are too much to endure. Yet, for one man, this is not the case. The pros outweighs the cons for William Ross, and at least 4 nights a week, you can find him in full attire behind the plate at a ballpark in Bowling Green/Warren County. But the story goes deeper than balls & strikes, there is something special about this man behind the mask. Something so special anyone, young or old, takes immediate notice. Between innings, Will will make his way over to the bleachers & chat with fans. In an intense game, he reminds parents & coaches the object of the game is equally about teaching young players how to act & behave, as it is about pitching and catching. If a player is struggling, you will often see him down on one knee, eye to eye, offering a friendly smile, a high five and words of encouragement. He maintains both a calm demeanor & an authoritative presence which keeps emotions in check. Mr. Ross lights up with excitement when players are triumphant, yet also shares deeply in their trials. Yes, the man behind the mask is not just an umpire, he’s a loyal friend. Sadly, Will Ross has recently been diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of lung cancer. While our hearts are broken to hear this news, our hope is our community will come together & give back to Mr. Ross what he has given us & our players…love & support. Would you join us in giving? Please click the link below for Will’s Go Fund Me page, set up by all of us in BG/WC, who have been touched by this mans’ kindness.